New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-07
NEW YORK'S WANING IRA DE.
DISCUSSED IN STATE ENGINEER ADAMS'S
REPORT
AN APPEAL FOR CANAL IMPROVEMENTS AND
ADEQUATE TERMINAL FAcTJTTEs-"oRK

AN APPEAL FOR CANAL IMPROVEMENTS NM
ADEQUATE TERMINAL FAcIuTrEs-woRK
or THE DEPARTMENT.
Albany. Feb. 1.-THE annual report OF State En-
glnecr Adams will he presented 10 the Legislature
Monday night; Considerable space is given In the
report the subject OF the commerce OF the state
Elaborate tables have been compiled from the rec
ords OF the General Government and other sources
dating back two hundred years. giving the values OF
the trade between the several American colonies and
Great Britain up TO the beginning OF the Revoiu-
tionary War ard after that time and up TO Date
the values Of exports from the leading Atlantic ana
Gulf States Other tables also presented TO
show the percentage OF exports and imports during
each year from 1856 to 1884, at New-fork. Boston,
New-Oreans Baltimore. Philadelphia and Calves
ton and TO show how the commerce. which once be-
longed 10 so great extent to New-York CITY ana
New-York State. Is now being diverted 10 THESE
points Mr.. Adams says that the port OF new
York which third of a century ago commahueu
q per cent Of the total exports of the Nation to-day
commands but 81 per cent of them. Statistics pre-
scnted show that New-Yorks foreign commerce
has never been so low last year since 1850
1t IL in her exports that NETWORKS commerciai
losses have occurred. In imports she almost hoius
her own at two-thrds OF the Nations tota. III
exports she has fallen from two-thirds TO little
more than one-thrd OF the whole. FROM loso "
1897 the Nations foreign commerce increased sSvV-
900 900 In value. During that time New-forKs IN
creased s90Oo0O Boston's 100000, Galvestons
So? 900 OoO and New-Orleans's s11o,CW
These and similar timely statistics in Mr.. Adamss
report show that the problem OF retaining New
Yorn's commercial prestige is n grave ana pressing
one the chief factors In which he believes 10 ne
adequate and efficient waterways constantly forcing
the lowest possible transportation charges anu
ample docks equipped with everything that VIII eH-
pedte and minimize the cost of handling commerce.
Mr. Adams believes that the present inadequate
the decline OF commerce at New-fork city. ana
that the improvements now being made should not
only be promptly completed. but that steps must
he taken Immediately for better facilities and lower
terminal charges for canal traffic especially
rrraIo and New-York The report says
CHEAP transportation is New-iorks most vital
necessity. NETWORKS canals. the free gift OF
eroat and PROSPEROUS people to commerce, must be
utilized 10 their uttermos,. only by 80 dong wiz
the lowest transportation charges De s'eauiiy
forced A. We relax in this respect up go the rates
and away goes the business. While guarding with
,ha mos. unrelaxlng watchfuness and solcitude
the adequacy and efficiency Of our canals let us
not imagine that duty has been performed II
at terminals conditions exist that practically nuIy
in the way OF reduced transportation charges, IN
increased commerce and greater IN @ Sho, e. r
is the vital spot in which New 1orh mas IN tha
too lax too ncglectfu too Indifferent: het me ne
abuses and the obstacles cNStmB az MAI fol-
removed. and every other reform VIII rapiuiy loi-
Adams describes
made on the work OF improving the cdnals, anu
presents n number of tables showing the total es-
ma ed cost of the work TO be SlG.pDooo ne en-
lire length OF the three canals is - miles ana
2q5 miles is now under contract. The estimated
cost OF these contracts is $I1i5,92o The total
amount earned on all contracts TO the end OF tne
fiscal wear was 81 239 49,. Mr. Adams says that tne
plans for the entire work are practcaly cUhple a
ed and that every feature of the work VIII pear
The renor deals at considerable length with the
work Of surveying and mapping the state, whiGSn
has been under way for several years undeI INC
toint srpervison OF the State Engineer and the
United States Geological Survey. the STATE ana ,ho
FEDERAL governments each paving one-hal, ne
cost During the last year So 22S WAS ayaiiape
for This work from all sources, and with thls sum
800 square miles were covered by trlanguasuGIn
making % 600 square miles, or 81 per cent; OF the
arca ~ the state so covered and controlled for
mapping. ,.o,.or,o,, work nIars
have been prepared in Mr.. Adamss once Tor
eiqhtv-seven separate contracts. wnlcn are esti-
mated TO cost s341125. in addition 10 an en1pinous
number Of plans for work hoI ~ bonn rebuilt and
misceaneous work done with fund OF oS S,oy,ovo,
and concentrations amounting to 81 4,S2"p haVs
Tnnured attention during tho year. Final accounts
have been rendered for nfty-seNen separate Gun
tracts involving n total cost Of sIs0.65i