New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-02
TEW-TOPK'S VANISHING COMMERCE.

II Is announced that The Commission recently
appointed /. Governor Black. under the author
ity OF the legislature. ito inquire into the con-
"dltion of the commerce OF NcwIork and s'l2'
''gest legislation thereon" will begin holding
~ sessions early in tho month of September.
II numbers among its members some or New
York's eminent citizens. and 1t ought to receive
most cordial aid from the merchants and man
ufncturers Of tho city in It's task Of discovering
why it Is that. in comparison with other At
lantc ports New-York's commerce has de-
creased.
Governor Black. in his annual message. while
declaring that the commerce OF New-Iork Is
not Increasing as rapidly as that OF other ports,
argued that It was not likely that the city was
suffering from conditions which she could not
overcome "Thc conditions which hold her
back" he said. "seem to be neither natural nor
general II is said that tho commerce lribu-
.tarv TO New York City has been checked and
discouraged by a too narrow policy prevailing
"there with reference TO terminal facilities If
This Ia true that policy shOuld he corrected. no
matter whether II Is pursued Ivy the city or by
"ind,viduals" Among the terminal facilities.
I'm the opinion Of the Canalhoat mon. which are
lacking in New York and also in Buffalo ar"
grain elevators which will haudle grain nj ra-
sonablc rates In their judgment, n grain cle-
vator combination greatly reduces the volume
Of New York's grain traffic, owing TO It's high
charges for grain elevatlng, and yearly they
make complants 70 the Legislature on this
subject which are UNDECIDED
But Il can he suspected also that tho canal
boat mon themselves are opponents At urch-
needed reform. For two successive years now
they have succeeded in defeating At Albany
the passage Of n law which would permit Of
the organization Of canal transportation com
panies with large capital. At present no cor
poraton with capital larger than $4,000 can
engage in the canal commerce, and yet II IL
obvious that modern corporation methods must
be- APPLIED 10 tie transportation Of grain ana
other merchandise upon the canals or the canals
are doomed The day o! the aged canal boat
ragged by mules Is past: Il has been succeed
ed by the steam canal boat and Us consoris
Moreover. the time has arrived for tho canal
transportation company which will be able 10
give through bill Of hiding from Duluth 10
New-York. and possibly 10 Liverpool
Mr.. Blacks Commission on tho decline 81 IN"
commerce of New York. II is evident. has
abundance Of matters TO look into also In thu
cltv Itself. Are the pier rates too high? Is
tYcre any discrimination against the canal
boat men? What prospect = there Of The con
strurton Of railway bridge across the liud-
son IN the vicinity Of tho city, All those nfe
questions which VIII naturally occur to the
MON terS Of the Commission. And II the mem
bcrs of the Commission are inclined to make
rather loisurcly excursion In their collection Of
facts about the lcsscnIng stream Of New York's
commerce md 10 mediate long over the RENE
dies for the disease possibly they had better
make n flying trip from Ogdcnsburg to Mon
trcnl on the 81. Lawrence and look upon III"
Canadians hard .. work charging their ship
canal There Is also some Interesting evidence
70 be obtained about New Works lost commerce
Mt Baltimore at Newport News. nj Ncw-or-
leans nj Galveston, nj Boston and n Fhl'a-
deIphle The terminal facilities Of most Of
these ports are considered excellent. Ncw'fork
IS not so proud MS To refuse 10 Initiate the sue
cossful methods Of her commercial rivals IN
their efforts 10 attract trade.