New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-17
WASTING MONEY ON THE CANALS.
,,o,- TIT prOPI.r,'s MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT
IN VIOLATION OF ALL BUSINESS
PRINCIPLES.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
ST.. Tho canal question. stripped OF all OUTSIDE
MATTER as II stands at present Is as ioo"e' 49,
Is an unexpendcd balance OF the ssVVVc VI "Uou,
81 10000 Not one cents worth or soOa mas ios"e
from tho expenditure Of $4,000 On the contrary
tho canals are IN n worse condition than before any
so-caIIed improving had been done. There Is no
claim made that the further expenditure OF s"''""
will leave the carals in any better shape IMAM tes
are at present. a kind Of promise Is MADE anu II 10
nv. M means positive, that additional expendi-
lure Of about $4,000 will The people Will be
ohliged 70 say whether this shall be done or not
Mr. Aldridge nor Mr. Roberts nor any one else can
tel what the people will do. ls II not reasohdoie
proposition Of MIR. Robers's that. pending that oe-
c,s,on. the work should cease? Should the people
,a,o tho nropositon s. 800 900 Of the peoples money
would be thrown away. Should they vote an au-
ditional 10000 then the $4,000 would sun De
available. Surely this IL a plain proposition tha'
should admit Of no argument The incubus OF the
Captol lob having been lifted, are our rulers look
ing for another job TO use as a political ciuo LOT
their advantage?
Another question comes up that might wei make
people think. The canal is really an interstate
traffic way. and should be under the General Gov
eminent In fact. there has been considerable talk
of the Government making ship canal from the
lakes 10 the seaboard. In view Of this fact, Is 1t
wei for the STATE 10 expend any more money on
the canals at present? 1t is also a serious ques-
ton and one well worthy OF consideration. Have
and must they give way to an enlarged and i'm
proved method OF waterway transportation Every
Representative In Congress from the great west
would fight hard for a bill for the Government TO
tahe the canals. The West is benefited much more
than this State by them.
The following facts have never been explained
and should be into by any investigation that
Is made: Contractors claimed and were aIoWei
extra compensation; canals were excaVated De!ohd
the limit allowed Dy law. there was large Varld'
ton between contract price, estimated cost ana
money already paid Some contracts have been
executed IN sipshcd manner; navigation has
bt Ell rendered dangerous; rocks spies and other
obstructOns left 10y contractors have caused MANY
wrecks; Insurance companies have refused TO Wilte
any more policies canal hulls or cargoes. I'M
proved" sections alleged to be worse than be-
fore. Neary onc-thrd Of the whole mileage mas
not been touched contracts finished have cost
about Onc-hfth more than estimated and about
one-fOurth than the contract price; large
amounts have been spent for advertising; certainly
TWO members Of the Canal Board have been kept
IN ignorance Of the true relation OF the cost OF
work contracted for TO the cost OF work necessary
10 complete the canal improvements. In fact, mem
bers Of the Board have been tod that the contracts
Yet were al within tho SpOJV0 limit. Certainly an
investigation is necessary and work should cease
pending rs report OBSERVER
Ntw-YCrk Jan. = 1898