The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-20
AGAINST THE WESTERN COMMA
TION TO ABSORB THE ERIE
CANAL TRAFFIC.
THE LIMIT IS NOW $4,000.
COMPANIES WITH ANY LARGE CaPr-
TAI ARE BARRED FROM THE
TRADE.
AN INCREASE TO -FOUR MILLIONS
Asked of the Legislature for The
neheht OF the Recently Orga-
nized MiIIers' Corporation.

ALBANY, N. Y, Jan. 19.-Vig,orous
protest is to be made by the Canal Boat
association and the boatmen of the
canals in general against the bill pro-
posing to allow corporations with q
capitalization as high as 81 900 to
90 business upon the canals in competi-
Clon WIuh Doatmen. Up to last year it
was not lawful for any corporation to
90 business upon the canals; only in
olVldua1 boat owners and partnerships
having the privilege. Last year As
semblyman Hill, Of Erie, introduced
ana mad passed, contrary to the wishes
OF the boatmen and against their pro
test, bill allowing companies with a
capluaIzatlon of less than $50, 900 to do
such business. 1t was claimed that
thls was simply for the benefit Of a
small company headed by Capt. Marcus
Drake and doing a transportation bust
ness between Buffalo and Rochester
and clause was added to the bill for
bidding any railroad corporation to
own any part Of such company.
The sequel to this came sooner than
the canal men expected, for on Jan.
~ OF this year, company was incor-
porated to do business upon the canal
with the maximum capital, but with the
aVoWed intention to finally control the
grain, lumber and flour traffic Of the
west through that channel.
Following closely upon that incnr-
porat1on came the introduction Of a bill
by Assemblyman Parshall, Of Brook
lyn, increasing the maximum capital.
10 De allowed a company working the
canals, to 100000. The company,
Which, it is believed, desires to take
advantage Of this act, if it becomes a
law, has as it's mainstays such men q
Erastus Wiman, c. A. Pillsbury, the
Minneapolis flour king, and Ed. A.
young, one of the largest grain ship
pers OF the West. If the bill becomes
law this company will proceed to take
possession of the entire traffic in grain
and flour at least from the West, and
VIII form formidable opposition to
the big railroads. Already thew have
obtained valuabl docking privileges
from the city Of New York, and as some
or the stockholders are stockholders in
the steel canal boat combine, it is GER
tain that their operations are to be Of
stupendOus nature
AS an indication Of this this COMPANY the
consolidated Canal and Lake company has
promised the New York authorities that thew
Will increase the carrying Of -four by caaal
III one year IrOH l,UVO barrels to you. 600 and
that contracts for the carrying Of that VOL
ume Of material are already in existence.
The company has already ordered seventeen
lake steamers and thirty-fve canal boat con-
sorts. Taken in connection with the improve
ments at present being made to the canals,
and the proposed improvements asked Of the
national government, the Importance Of the
movement noted above can easily be seen.
Those capitalists who 1t is known are in the
combination started by this company are the
same practically who started a lake combina-
ton last year and it is intended to continue
this latter organization in conjunction with
the new company. Among the originators are
Charles A. Pilisbury, who, with his asso-
ciates of the Washburn- Crosby company and
the Consolidated Milling company, has a -four
output of r. 00O, 600 barrels annually; Bradford
G. Church, representing the mills of Duluth
and Superior, with output Of go 000 barrels
daily, and Edwin A. Young, Of St. Paul, rep
resenting the Jobbers union, distributing
nearly all the merchandise absorbed in the
six Northwestern states. 1t is believed that
by these means the general traffic in these
things that has lately gone by way of New
port News, will again be brought through
New York state.
The bill to allow the increase Of a canal
corporation capital to 81. 900, 900 will meet the
combined opposition of the railroads and the
canal boatmen, but the company will go on
nevertheless, even with the small capital al
lowed by law.