New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-30
WHAT EX-MAYOR EDISON SAID.

| Ex-Mayor Franklin Edison said in part:
AS a merchant, have used the canals for about
lad ana o them e vns as
ling factors Of the commercial situation not only
tributary to the great lakes.
It Is not to my parRes to weary you With the he
De Witt Clinton and his co-laborers in the con
strUctlon Of what then called "Cl.Dtors Ditch ;
nor Will detain you with recital Of the struggles
and discourasemens which the friends OF the canals
have experienced in bringing them to their present
touching the canals. or canal policy, have been sub
tones to h E4I of the tSe iba ha's
ment, and as evidence of their wisdom must call
%bsn toll. TO % sse fart s 1D
question. viz, the Erie. Champlain and Oswego,
0l.7e7 On the other side OF the account is charged
all that had been paid on account Of the same canals
ary their name VIZ. So leaving balance
10000 per arnum from the date Of the celebration
down to the present day But ali this sinks into in
significance In comparison with the inestimabls
cause Of the possession and control By the people Of
these great commercial highways
A. b Hepburn the speaker, said in part
The canal countes-those touching this water route
State taxes in 1874 Network and Kings paid 81
per cent and New,York alone paid over IS per cent
paying citizen within this state interested in the
4 large portion OF the fund for the support OF our
public schools throughout the STATE raised by tax
upon the property OF the State as whole In 1891
1885, 2e7 y was raised and distributed among the
counties In proportion to the number Of children
between the ages Of five and twenty-one years In
money thus apportioned exceeded the total State
more than exempt from State taxation. They re-
csived a contribution from other counties for the
support Of local institutions Are not such counties,
although they do not lie along the line Of the canal
interested In the prosperity Of the State as whole?
Of tolls in 1882 At the close OF 1883 the total cost of
the Erie an asd
SCI u.s. and the total income derived from the same
hrty-four million dollars These canals had paid
ali cost from all sources and put ga O00 COO into
Of The s s n2 ra se sr . OF
plus earnings. at moderate rate OF interest would
these canals Hence they are free in a double sense
free TO the use of the public and free from burden
Surely these canals have proven an excellent in
vestment In the past and let MS not hesitate to en-
LEI us indicate the wisdom of fathers who
created rrT them end our good Judgment by pre-
serving them
A DUTY TO THE CITY.
Gustav II. schwabs remarks:
Gustav H. schwnb. after quoting statistics show
ing the falling off OF the trade of this port
NJ compared WITH the increase OF other cities said:
While the supremacy Of New-York as the chiefest
seaport OF the country IL not Immediately threat
ened 1t seems to me that we must LOOK to our
the export trade. and We must remember that what
has held as large a proportion Of the export trade
as we still control. in spite adverse conditions,
has been the preponderating position occupied by
New-York in the import trade. which is subject to
other conditions besides those OF cheap transporta
ton We do not look upon the competition OF our
sister ports in other spirit but that Of friendly
rivalry and wish them fun measure OF
cess but our duty Is 10 our own city and to ts
commerce and shipping interests. We should
recognize the axiom that there IL either retrogres-
sion or progress In commerce in every branch OF
activity and that to stand still is to recede. We
owe the commanding commercial position occupied
by New-York to the Erie Canal. II ,compshed
It's purpose when able to compete. Now that II is
a declining factor In the II should be reha-
btated and again placed In position where II
can exercise the same potent influence In drawing
ton New York Is entitled
The last speaker was Samuel Gompers who In
the course OF his speech. said:
Mr. Ciompers touched the value OF the canals
TO the workingmen OF the State. saying: II am
free 10 say that II there was but particle OF
partisan politics In this measure, Il there was any.
thing but advantage which could accrue to the
toiers from It's adoption by the people I would
not be here tonight to advocate Its adoption |
would whatever influence I could WELD 10
secure It's defeat at the polls AS matter OF fact
the proposition for the approp' aton for the deepen
Ing and Improvement OF the canals OF this State is
about the only healthy Il about 10 say sane)
question In the present campaign The average
politicians to-day represent hypocrisy Oh the one
side and !dlocy the othsr"
No improvements. he said. had been mede in the
canals during the last thirty yearsa fact which
spoke e.oguently against the way they had been
run; FOR. he asked, what private business would
stand such methods He said the measure should
pass.