New-York tribune., 1895-09-07
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
NEED OF CANAL IMPROVEMENT.

NEED OF CANAL IMPROVEMENT.
srur PROPOSED SHIP CANAL ONLY A DIVERSION
INTENDED TO OBSCURE THE REAL ISSUE.
r, the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. Much satisfaction is expressed at an at
,.mnt TO discourage the voting OF 100000 by the
neope of this State for canal improvements at the
General election next November The friends OF
,his proposal. which is Republican in plan and
,~scce include merchants Of all parties but II Is
n.a that the Democratic leaders have become
alarmed at the prospective disbursement OF such
,srse sum by Republican State Administration.
They dare not oppose the proposition openly for the
,,Dmense vote in favor OF the canal amendments
.hows how strong public sentiment is among all
narties IN favor OF canal improvements.
The scheme is TO advocate the construction OF a
ship canal Buffalo to this city. so that vessels
NAV load with grain at Duluth and come through
without change OF bulk 10 this port. whence they
ould proceed direct to their destination IN Europe.
7, Il urged that this would do away with the ter
,,ral charges at Buffalo and this port, resulting In
,,uer frelghts from the West TO Europe. This II
Z, contended. would establish permanently the SUI
,renacy Of NeW-York the commercial metrop-
oils o, the continent and enable American grain
,roducers 10 compete successfully with those In the
Arsentine Republic and India
The friends OF canal improvement here are not
violently opposed to the consideration Of any such
scheme but they hold that II should not stand In
,he way OF canal improvement and that II Is ad-
vocated just on false grounds for the purpose
O, defeating the proposed 100000 vote.
The argument is deemed unsound regards
freight rates. which are radical consideration
In fact all turns on Il. IL is stated that the pres
On; rate for transporting wheat from Buffalo TO
Ney-York is about 3i2 cents" per bushel. Now
The current quotations show that wheat is carried
every day from Buffalo 10 New-York by the Erie
Canal for Il. cents per bushel. This is nearly one
half the figure named. and II topples over the whole
argument with which 1; conflicts.
II Is stated also that the lake rate from Duluth
20 Buffalo rs low two cents a bushel." Now
the actual rate from Duluth 10 Buffalo is three
cents Here II may be that for the purpose
OF boosting" the ship canal argument the lake
rate is depressed. while that OF the canal Is In
creased in view OF the millions Of bushels In
VOWED in this matter these errors are OF the
AS regards time the ship canal scheme is deemed
IN, az ShIcaeo we're 70 nroceed through the Erie
an ship @ Canal as 1t might Be called at the rate Of
seventy ove eigft hours in going from Buffalo A.
bany whence 1t might come to this port In @ twelve
sour is mentioned here but it IS probable that
the steamer could not make more than two ana ana
Sanks and be tolerabiy secure On the suez Canal
ne speed is four and oneha' I,es but that Is
such as could not be constructed between Buffalo
Practical steamboat men say that owing to this
tardness in the voyage and other causes grain
could not be carried proftably BY the ship canal
IN competition with the lake bargss and the canal
hosts This is the now. but it would be more
- when the Erie Canal has been improved by
means Of the 100000 that is to be voted Tor tnat
purpose Steamboat men say that barges carrying
0Oj0 bushels OF grain be towed from Duluth
10 Buffalo in four days The Minnesota boats, even
make round trip weekly between Cleveland and
Two Harbors. which Is near Duluth. 1t follows tnat
while the ocean bound steamer vending lis
way through the ship canal, the barses; which
are not costly would have made the trip from
Duluth TO Buffalo with all the saving in insurance
and other charges which that implies.
The ship canal project promises 10 save grain
freights the terminal charges at Buffalo and TINS
port But steamboat men hold that these charges
a constant reduction and that they
would not be sufficient 10 offset the heavy expenses
20 which the bound steamers would be sub)ect
from the time they left Duluth until they landed
their cargoes at Liverpool Such vessels wouid.
moreover have 10 compete with the fleet OF freight
steamers that assemblies here and carries wheat
regularly at BID. per quarter. or little less man
eight cents per bushe to Liverpool. Moreover they
a. not think that this port should feel enthusiastic
over a scheme that would make such lnroads on
The gains in her Shipping trade. Y. ".
NeM York. Sept ). ls9a