New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-14
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
THE CANAL AND ITS MAKERS.

yUyIy THE PROPOSED MONChENT ~ ihhSAAN
MEMORY SHOULD BE IN NETWORK CITY.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. In your very appreciatve editorial TO-
dsv upon the remarkable services which were
rendered TO the Empire State by the canal
makers occur two or three sentences WHICH
seem TO me TO require modification. Thus you
sav that communities (along the line OF the
canaD which owe their prosperity chiehy 10
the famous waterway nave stronger seh'r
mani in favor OF monument TO the caha-
makers than has been aroused elsewhere
Perhaps this is because the subject mas peeh
rtt,a discussed as yet In New-York City. and In
some other parts Of the State. Also from ths
time the canal was completed Tin lozo) ui'
tho recent vast expansion OF railroads. New
york CITY derived far more benent from the
co,ol than did any community, village or city
aInng the line OF the canal. not even excepting
Runalo In the final debate upon the passage
OF the bill On 1910 ordering the construction
Of the canal the members Of the Legislature
from New-York City were, almost to a man,
opposed to the bill. Senator Elisha Williams
OF Columbia, turning TO them said II the canai
10 IN he a shower OF gold, II will fall upon
Ney-YorI,. II a river Of gold, It will pour into
her Ian" All the augmentation OF Dewitt
Clinton and his many able coadJutors In their
long struggle to accomplish the construction
Of the Erie Canal were based chiefly upon the
claim that the canal would pour into New-fork
the commerce OF the great West. and would
thus make New-York City the great com
mcrcial metropolis OF America
For forty years and more these prophecies were
fully realized and New-York City acquired It's
primacy among American cities, from which
II will probably never be dethroned. chieny
through the impulse that was given TO its
growth by the Erie Canal The present enlarge
ment Of the canal by which boats that can
ride the lakes take their cargoes TO their
destination without breaking bulk. Is not oelhs
made by demand from communities along the
line OF the canal II is being made from a De-
mand In New-York City. in order TO get BACK
to the metropolis tra.tic especially In grain Tor
expectation. which is now being diverted 10
PHILADELPHIA. Baltimore and Newport News
to tho serious injury OF New-YoTk as a sea
port. Since Greater New-Yotk, which Will pay
three-nfths OF the taxes OF the State. VIII De
greatly benefited BY the enlargement OF the
canal. and since the region along the line OF
the canal Will derive some benefit from It, the
expenses of the enlargement be they what they
may. will be borne wisely and without much
gruGging by the State at large.
When the movement for monument to the
memory OF the distinguished citizens TO whom
the State OF New-York Is indebted for the IN
ception and the completion OF this, the great
est artificial channel OF inland navigation that
has ever been constructed In America, is fully
understood by people In New-Iork City. as II
quickly can DC by the efforts OF tho metropoli-
tan dai!.es. there can be no doubt that II
will be as heartily supported by Newly orkers
as II is by people in the interior OF the state
Valid arguments could be brought forward Tor
New-York as the site Of the monument. New
York CRY produced Gouverneur Morris. 70 whom
IS due the honor FOR the first definite conception
Of the canal. and hose labOrs were so valua-
lie IN an the first stages 81 It's INCEPTION and
NeW-Y0rk produced De witt Clinton, under whose
wise leadership. amid obstacles. vitupeFauon
and OblOluy which would have deferred per
son cast Ia less her0c mould, the conStruc-
tlon OF this work, 50 ftupcndous for that time.
was accomplished IN the short space of eight
years. Though the representatives or New
York CITY In the Legislature 81 1917 opposed
the canal. sil the most important Impulse Tor
It's actual construction came from New YORK
cry. through the laDOTs OF Dewitt clinton ana
MS able coadJutors. TIE Celebration o., the com
plction OF tho canal In lS2J IN Newly ork was
hy far the most magnificent and Imposing thAt
had ever taken place in America. The place
where the aquatic procession In the haroor ana
the civic and military procession IN the CITY
came together, at Battery Point, would be an
admirable site for Erie Canal monument.
which would thus be located In the midst or
The commerce Of the metropolis. and IN View or
all the shipping IN the harooTs. OF course
cites along the line OF tho canal especially
Syracuse Rome. Buffalo ard Albany. VIII press
their claims for the monument The Legisla-
tura Will decide among all these rival claims.
Permit me 10 say that | DO not think the
Latin inscription you quote. Isl monumentum
requir.s circumspice." applies 10 the Erie Canal.
The canal Is fine line running from Albany TO
Buffalo. Probably not one person In ten out OF
the $4,000 IN Greater Network has ever
seen this canal. or OF those residing In the
Valley OF the Hudson, the southern tier or the
northern counties OF the state. Furthermore, u
ia not impossible that the canal may at some
time be abandoned entirely, or may be passed
over TO the National Government as a ship
canal thus ceaslng 10 exist as the Erie Canal.
But the heroic work OF its founders. which has
had such momentous results In giving supremacy
To the Empire State and It's great metropolis.
deserves monumental tribute. and the seventy
NTH anniversary OF the completion OF the canal.
which occurs on October 30 1900. Will be a
most appropriate occasion FOR tho erection OF
this monument.
Perhaps the Latin inscription quoted would
naturally have q very restricted application.
unless we oppose all monuments. 1t would
hardly be carved on the pedestal OF the monu-
ment OF Peter Cooper. which Is Immediately
adjacent to the Cooper Institute nor over the
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