New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-03
Year ended jun 80

comn.r,ng The data FOR the years lsss ana 1881 1t
ennears that there a falling on IN me 'ohnaes
entered at the port Of New-forK o. Fo''0' us ~
an increase at the competing Atlantic seapo's Oh
] a1s 299 tons. .
The men who appeared before the Judiciary com
rnittee IN favor OF the amendment were MAJOR w
svmons OF the United states Engineer corps ""o
r.centlv nrintea a report In favor OF the ehiarse
,oent Of the Erie Canal 10 the proportions VI d
.,ho,os canal. David Mcclure. OF New-fork, VINO
ss member Of the Constitutional Convention
.,ou.d great interest in the work or calai M
,,-ovemcnt: George A Morrison, prominent en-
.lneer OF Chicago, General William Is Cfaishi'
former Chic. Engineer Of The United states |NiiiiS
George s Greene. jr. former CHEZ engineer ol '"'
Dock Department. OF New-York City; PROFESSOR
yynvan A. Burr. o. Columbia University; Thomas
4 Mcintyre wholesale grain dealer OF New iorh'
senator Daniel Il. Mcmillan OF Bunslo. ana h''
ward C. OBrien. ex-presdent OF the DOCK Depai'
men. Of New-York. William c. Ceary. president
Of the Canal Boatmen's Assoc"uon' VI '
appeared in opposition .,
c.neral O'fsr,en opened the hearing by stachs
.h.t the entire country's attention had been cameo
IN the proposal 10 enlarge the Erie Caha, "due "
Major Symons. The merchants OF Ne"-,orh We
.,arm.d hv .he diversion OF trade from Ne"-fo rh'
They thought the United States Government ought
20 nav for the enlargement Of the Erie canal
nsy,a Mcclure said he appeared to put in plea
IN favor OF the submission OF the proposed aine'.
rnent 70 the people They could Do trusted W oe
edo wisely on a matter when 20 greatly '"
cerped them. The condition OF the canas Vas ue
.,or,h,. AZ one time the Constitutional Congen-
ton thought 1t would leave the canals IN inc rum
~. condition they were then in. The reason was
,hst n ia doubtful II the canals can ne orousnI
into a condition TO compete win the raiiroAu. INC
,n.s Of the canals TO prevent monopoly OF
tho part Of the railroads
~ vas now suggested tina, the Erie Cana! Do en-
,rr.A y,,th.r Tho 50 oooc 900 had been expended
80 vet Governor Black said IN his annual mes
SAGE that less than twothrds OF the Work OF
canal Improvement planned had been PERFORMED
IJa WAS .atisned the people would not grant money
a conplete the improvement II might be long
sim. hefo-s tina peo2s would give their consent 10
a further expenditure OF money. Inc ques'o"'
,h.refors was what would become Of the canals
This amendment proposed by Mr. Pavey wouu
simply take away the prohibition OK the eaie OF
.he canals. II would not sell tho canals
Major Thomas ". Symons, the author or the
,.rg..,anal scheme snid tina, the improvement OF
-hc Erie Canal seemed necessary. The present I'M
provement would enable the canal boatmen 10 run
larger boats than before through the canal lie oin
not think this Improvement sufficient 10 meet the
demands OF commerce. If such an improvement
we're made II would greatly decrease the cost OF
transportation The larger canal would inevitably
he demanded a. soon the present small improve
rent was completed. An enlarged canal OF tho
barge description would millions OF dollars
II would reduce canal rates all over the country.
noty inquired Senator Davis. OF Buffalo
We would have 10 have a canal Of one hundred
feet in width" the reply.
Senator Lexow then asked: Might not the sdop
ton Of this amendment deter tho people from
making any further canal-improvement appropria-
tions?"
TT might" replied Major Symons. but the State
Will have 10 meet this question OF canal enlarge
nent."
Gould the Erie Canal be widened TO one hun
dred feet In the cities?" inquired Senator Davis
That would be the main difficulty said Major
great question was that Of cheapening the
Of transporting grain 10 the East 1t must be
now went 10 Galveston ana other Gulf ports. To
keep the former heavy shipments al New-York
The Ere Cana a6 mq bs5 be 9proxed Ma]or .
care The barge canal was the cheapest method
would start from Buffalo and go along the line Of
The Erie Canal snip canal would have 10 be
the Hudson. Figures showed that the difference
between the cost OF ship canal and barge canal
United States Government 20 on improving South
srn ha!bors and drawing away trade from New
the improye,nen; o. the Ere Cana and thus draw
Erie canaiT Inquired Senator Guy 1T is 0f c eT
from so MAKE fS~s Ga i aSos se is
II think il would under the system Of continuous
General Craighlu said the Monones hela River i'm
proVement had been taken care OF by the United
States Government. The Kanawha River Improve
also taken care OF Well by the general
Government. There great pressure for such
internal improvements 81 that contemplated In the
case OF the Erie Canal he had inspected the
Erie Canal aud X matter Of surprise TO him
that more effort had not been made put tina |
canal In a condition TO compete with the railroads
The Erie Canal not in much better condition
than II was twenty-five years ago. and yet the
railroads had constantly been improved. A ship
canal would not pay. The barge canal would pay;
In his opinion the 9-fOot canal now contemplated
would be TOO small The i9foot-deep canal proposed
by Major Symons would be an economical one II
would draw business to New-York city. More
over. II would not be derlment TO the railroads.
II would draw business 10 them.
Senator Bracket asked General Cralgnill whether
the Sc 6cgQ10 recently expended on the Erie Canal
would be Of any use II this barge canal was built.
Il DO not think IL would be OF any use" replied
Major Symons for General Craghil. for the re-
'ai,ing walls would have 10 be taken dorm.
George s. Greene. ir.. former chief engineer Of
the Dock Department OF New-York said he had
carefully read Major Symons's report and ne was
confident that II q barge canal fhould be built II