New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-03

The amount Of freight carried by the various
canals was follows:
champain canal ss9G5
Black River canal Hest
NaSusa aho seneca canal 3s'bl
During the season of canal NAVIGATION the whole
number of bushels of grain received the port Of
New-York 1oS9c2,7oC, OF which the canals car-
ried iS0769C0 or slightly 39s per cent; In 1892
while the total receipts at New-Ycrk during the
canal season were greater than those for 1893 the
proportion carried by the canals only % per
cent or 1912 per cent less. The increase in favor Of
the sees9n just closed was because Of higher rail
the canals and made the season profitable one TO
maintenance of the canals during the last fiscal year
was S2G,cS7 Il. This is the lowest expenditure for
these purposes In seven years In addition, the last
Legislature appropriated $4,000 for Improvements.
efficiency OF the canals. They consist in continuing
the policy of Ock-engthening. under what L. known
Canal bottoming out the Erie canal improving the
Erie BASIN and Black Rock IlaGbor. dredging the
OF Buffalo, repairing the upper and lower Mohawk
aqueducts and the Schohario Creek aquodact
feeders and reservoirs. building canal walls and
bridges, etc. More appropriation Of this Kind will
be required this year. and the detailed information
regarding them Will be submitted to The Legislature
by the proper officers.
SUGGESTIONS REGARDING THE CANALS.
I have alluded in other official papers the neces
SHY Tor maintaining the Cficency or TIE canal SNs-
tenn and extending its usefulness wherever pract-
cable The Erie Canal was built three-quar,ers Of
a century ago divert the food of agricultural,
wealth of the West from outlets to the sea by way
OF Canada the Mississippi River That policy
poured the Of the country at the feet
of New-York, and built up her great cities. As
much now as ever before in her history does the
State of New-York need the maintenance OF sub
stantial waterways. No narrow shorts.ghted pol
icy should permit this tde of commerce between
West and Eas; to be turned away from New York
To-day Canada aspires TO contest with us for the
traffic of rs Great Lakes she has already spent
upward of S60.0O,00 in improving and building
canals and in deepening channels. She is
ing a canal through her territory at the Sault
Ste. Marie. and is making channel fourteen feet
deep al way from Lake Superior through the
Welland Canal and the st. Lawrence River to the
sea. When tnat is completed 2gD-ton boat can
go from Duluth TO Montreal, Halifax or Liverpool
TO meet this competition the nited states Gov
eminent is making a tWenty-feet channel through
the lakes to Buffalo When that IT,. is completed a
5No-ton boat can come as far as Buiiaio; ana from
that point freight must find cheap and easy out
let 10 me sea9oar hr 1y ERE IL ~ z t
advantage Of the Erie Canal is vital.
now in the territory surrounding the Great Lakes
Here in these States, is already nearly half the
parallel in history to the rapid development Of this
region It's industrial and commercial p9ssibi,ies
world are there. great areas OF timbered land i'm
ms Ss e of of iron this eP Gson and S
be the greatest centres of wealth and population
products and those Of the vast country beyond
them must De through the Great Lakes TO
product fle Of this region development would he
checked if dependence was alone upon them But
railways and waterways together, not antasonatic
but mutually essential, viii, year by year, carry
increasing burdens from these treasures Of wealth
to the seaboard, and take back the products which
our industries or commerce supply in return. Tie
In 1850 the tonnage Is said TO have been ten mill
ions greater than the combined entries and clear
nT cnaraDnss Of Iiyorpoo and London States
manship would be shortsighted which would fail
to take consideration Of these facts IN outlining For or
to attract to and through own State this enor-
nous traffic should be the subject OF careful soHc-
To establish ship canal is. in the opinion Of
most persons %ho haye Even NE nd
The most practical suggestions are contained Ls n
ton during the last seven years IL consists ~
10 pass through at the same time thereby saving
expense and time OF tTansportatoh. nafr FER ihs
TO lengthen in the opinion OF the superlnshGTTiho
of Public Works haze been ,b 80 Tb results
canals has diminished inst cad of increasing, The
lencthenjng of the remaining four locks will not
change tine situation materially. Tor IL requires Oh
so that the time saved between Buffalo and Albany
by Iengthening the remaining locks would be less
Another plan proposed in connection win n the the
canal and the raising Of its banks; 50 as 10 eape
boats OF larger capacity TO be used ne uecpet'nS
Gt tne Enormously expensive undera
ing: the raising of the banks h9weVTs H4nth
Of water Something in this direction should IN IN
doubtedy be done when the 6reHen, PROVISION
should be made for the prompt anal SO that
accumulations in the bottom or the canal 81 '''"'
it's full depth may be enjoyed -, 400. ro.
II has seemed me. however. that me mos, p raos
tca plan for Immediately increasing the tonnage 3l
he Erie
Ter and more economical motive DOW Of abou TWO
miles hour while steam asnis lni az he canal
rate of about three miles me rs'n Kill, o an hour
II seemed to me- after personal Observation vi pr
motive bower With considerable saving IN cost
and a considerable increase IN 5pseu, -, i5st Iegs
iature upon my accommodating ana sem 10 LIZ i
demonstrated clearly the feasibility oi usT1 h iy
question as st to be determined is that of cost and
the estimates are quite Favorable To- a h stea,n
sust 81, now ssu ossbe to say definitely. but very
q, nsfimaes make the sayins ii cost OF
transportation at least p per cent ano tne nv, ~ i
trictv over mule or horse power would be nuch
greater If these results could be attained the pen
fit to the canal would be Immediately slea nrpn a
enargements, and need not cost tne Htile " plr s
fewer employees would be needed on each boat. no
money would be required for nohS 9s a' md "ngjne
would lie saved for freight ana dSlser ION i az p
expOsOn would be avoided. ~ me SIM I'M
inrrea sed tonnage and business OF the canals Moqt
provide more employment ana NOR readiiy
suggest Themselves 1t sho aid be clearly unaers'po1
moreover that the adcptioa OF eleculCi'S a., ~
i've nov,er does not mean the Abandonment OF
horse male or steam power II boat-owners prefer
70 have their boats propelled by these powers. me
idea is that whether the stat furnishes uie -,
tric power from its own plant or whetner nun h ~
ais or CORPORA tons furnish IL under contract 'n.I
viii be no compusion to use IT, but me end, ,ne
vii he TO supply 1t at such a low cost 10 poatih.n
w, ,hev viii find il advantageous TO apply IL 10
b,o fS In fh.
This plan need not interfere. eltier WIN any
,ror,er Enlargement or deepening OF the canal N
deed If plan Is found 10 operate satsdhc5G,y
tb next logical and necessary step would rohd"y pe
10 SO Improve the canal as 70 enable 'ht use ui
larger boats. But for the prescott am ludI oUli
rrnnulslon A fair trial and l. II accomplishing what
Is claimed for Il. new era OF acilvly ana pro-,
,oarl,v should BEGIN for our canals. 'Irdi mas Dtth
Carried during the last season rom Chicaso 20 10
P,ff,lo for as low cent a Dush,l, boailisH tan
carry il proftably at cents busheL II ny ShtaPsr
=. L.