New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-29
FOR CANAL IMPROVEMENT.
BIG MA5s-MEETING TO BE HELD m
COOPER UNION TONIGHT.
LEADING COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS OF fK1
STATE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. o'BRiEN. OF
THE DOCK BOARD on THE IMPoR-


THE DOCK BOARD on THE IMPoR-
LANCE OF THE WORK
The massmeetng in Cooper Union this even
ing will be held under the auspices of the Ex.
ecutive Canal Committee. representing sixteen i'm.
portant commercial organizations In this State.
including the Chamber OF Commerce. Produce Ex-
change. Board OF Trade and Transportation and
Maritime Association OF the Port of New-York.
Mayor Strong will preside, and ex-M Mayors Hewitt.
Edison and Grant. and Gustav Schwab Simon Sterne
and A. b. Hepburn will address the meeting
President O'Brien OF the Dock Board. said yestee.
day. in speaking OF the meeting:
1T will be a gathering to discuss one Of the most
important questions which concerns the people OK
this city, namely. how to improve our Transports
ton facilities that merchandise can be brought
to the city cheaper than It be carried to COM
peting seaports II other ports can handle business
cheaper they will get the business conduct It at
a less margin of profit, causing a corresponding
shrnkage ir tte ca ming power and market value
OF our business property OF all kinds
"Of transportation routes the most powerful In
Its beneficial effects upon this port. which hrsS
gave this port It's commercial supremacy ~ tne
Erie Canal. With the exception OF the New-fork
Central and Erie railroads. every other transports-
ton route on this continent was planned ana puit
for the purpose of diverting commerce from this
port.
MILLIONS ARE SPENT.
The Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific Railway
and the Canadian Canal system were built at cost
Of hundreds OF millions Of dollars to carry business
away from this port TO Montreal The Reading,
Pennsylvania, Baltimore and Ohio Norfolk and
Western, Chesapeake and Ohio and other roads
to the south Of built at even greater ex-
pense to divert business TO Southern ports. The
Erie Canal has retained for this city its commercial
supremacy and has compelled the railroads TO ex-
tend their lines TO this port, and make themselves
tributary to prosperity. The importance OF the
Erie Canal to the commerce Of this city Is not
measured by the volume OF The freight which 1t
carries but by the fact that during the season Of
navigation II makes a lower freight rate to this
port thar can be made to any other port by any
competing line. The railroad dnerential is, and
always must be. against this port but the Erie
Canal Is strong enough 10 control the direction OF
business.
1T is proposed TO expend ssOoo00 in i'm
proving the Erie Canal that 1t will be stu
more powerful ia tor in retaining our commercial
pended by our competitors to win that prse-ths
commercial supremacy OF the world
Canada will have spent So $4,000 on the 81
s snd ous as ueh more
her railway systems. Chicago is constructing
spp Which will compe
Philadelphia contempiates like expenditure TO
Baltimore proposes to improve her position by a
ship canal, giving short cut 10 the ocean. which
to the Erie Canal
OTHER CITIES PROJECTS
I'm the country around the Great Lakes a num-
Der OF important projects under consideration.
The city OF Pttsburg alone and unaded is
veying a route for a ship canal into Lake Erie.
The State Of Ohio is making surveys. is about
to make them. for ship canal from Cincinnati to
Lake Erie. The cities OF ST. Paul and Minneapolis
are agitating for ship canal TO Lake Superior.
and far Northwest proposes to connect Lake
Superior with Lakes Manitoba and Winnipeg ard
the Saskatchewan River. so extend navigation
to the base of the Rocky Mountains.
ANY OF these projects will cost more money than
propose spend the Erie Canal. most Of
them many times much.
The first feet OF steam canaboats was put I'm
condition the Erie Canal this summer. The
OF steam will be beneficial in canal navigation
il has been In ocean and lake navigation But there
be little doubt that the cheapest OF all means OF
propulsion is electricity and that an electric towing
plant will be installed when II is definitely known
that the State will main and improve its canals.
Great are the possibilities for Improvement In the
boats and their means Of propulsion, the possible
improvements In the body OF the canal itself are
even greater
.'The present style OF lock was invented four
hundred years ago. when the only materials Of con.
struction timber and masonry The use OF
steel a building material renders IL possible 10
build locks Of much greater height than was here
tofore possible that the number OF locks on the
Erie Canal and the detentions of through boats can
be reduced one-haf, while on the remaining locks
the OF steel gates IN place OF wooden ones VIII
alone add IL the carrying capacity or the
canal. Such Improvements as these Will result In
routes, will give this city permanently the advan-
tage OF the lowest freight rate. and Will naugurats
q new era of prosperity in our city and State In
which all the people will share.