The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-07

daily motion q little over three degrees. Any one
noticing It in Its wanderinss will please inform
DR.. Georg Waltomath ut Hamburg-on-the-Elbe
NEW FORKS COMMERCIAL LOSSES.
State EnGiseer Adams bays They Are Chieay
due TO tho Condition or the Canals.
ALBANY, Feb. 6.-Much attention Is given to
tho falling of In the commerce OF tho State.
especially at tho port Of New York. In tho
annual report of State Engineer Campbell
w. Adams. which is to be submitted to the State
Legislature tomorrow night. This subject was
recently agitated by Gov. Black, whose ideas on
the question have attracted the attention Of
commercial bodies throughout the State.
Mr.. Adams says that tho port Of New York,
which a third OF q century ago commanded 70
per cent. of the total exports of the nation, to-
day mman only 81 por cent. He gives sta
merce has mover been 90 low as last year since
1850. 1t is in her exports that New York's com.
mercial losses have occurred. In imports she
almost holds her own at two-thirds OF tho
nations total. In exports she has fallen
from two-thirds to q little more than one
third Of tho whole. From 1880 to 1897
tho nations foreign m increased
$500, 000,0 in value. During that time
New York's increased S20.0 600. 900. Boston's
$63. 900, 900 Galveston's 500, 900, 600 and New
orleans's $l7. 100000. These and imilar sta
tistics in MIR. Adams's report show that tho
problem Of retaining New York's commercial
prestige is a grave and pressing one. the chief
factors in which he believes to be adequate and
efficient waterways. constantly forcing the low
est possible transportation charges and ample
docks equipped with everything that will expo
ditto and minimize the cost of handling COM
merce.
Mr.. Adams believes that tho present inade-
quate condition of the canals 10 largely response
BILE for the decline of at New York
city. and believes that the improvements now
being made should not only be promptly com.
pleted. but that steps must be- taken immedi.
ately for better facilities and lower terminal
charges for canal traffic, especially at Buffalo
and New York. and that this traffic must have
all obstacles to its proper businesslike and up
to-date management removed. So long as the
transportation interests of the canals are disor.
ganized and handled by poorly equipped
vessels without proper system, just SO long will
the value of the canals to the people of this and
other States DO minimized. He believes that the
great danger to New York State Is, not that
larger and rival companies. equipped with mod
ern boats and handled In a businesslike man.
ner. will be able to take from the present boat
men. at lower rates, some of the traffic which
they now handle. but that, without these i'm.
proved conditions. an enormous volume of traffic
is now and will continue to be diverted to points
outside of this State. SO that our canals, our
railroads. and our people generally will lose tho
profits that should accrue from this traffic.
Cheap transportation. says the State EnRi.
neer, "is New York's most vital necessity.
Upon that hinges the success or failure of
the business transacted. If 1t BIO low, bust.
ness increases. profits are greater. industry 10
stimulated, foods are chcapened. and prosperity
s ssifns on pr eSesy are ea eurta Il /. LABOR nS ai E id Hs' tosss
Of industry and co%ntentment. cheSpened
brought to US and reduces their cost.
but the area in which the products Of
creases with each reduction In the cost
of transportation. Were the cost OF transporta-
ei' pro SdhSisy Gli b n eSaia sfhe Ne:% OF f eoIFs ssu thH s sSs.
pete with any other place. We must see to IL.
tFsnspor,s, iant eb sysry in im%p psMnH.a TO 70 fsduss
New York's canals; the free gift OF a great
utilized to their uttermost. Only by so DOING
will the lowest. transportation charges be
go the rates and away goes the business. AZ
we reapnly ourselves to the problem Of reduced
TRANSFORMATION charges and succeed. down go the
ms the other.
The accessories to commerce. sufficient
.oShos NoiiuoiO -"htCuoubObtW VIII eVeTY D06Al-
BILE appliance that expedites and cheapens
must always be SO ample. 80 numer-
keep In advance of demand. However amnIe
ana extensive our waterways, II the means be
not at hand for accommodating. and at reason.
be attracted to these waterways. the
Of them is wasted. In this respect
e%t w Sors, me great Sity OF New York. has been
These may seem tritc and even tiresome
truths. But the people Of New York, both as a
great municipality and as a greater State. have
either forgotten or become so Indifferent TO
them as e witness with apathy tho loss Of a
cure. and never abate its efforts to retain aid
While guarding with the most unrelaxipe
Watehfulness and solicitude the adequacy and
our duty has been performed II, at termjnais'
exist that practically nullify ali that |
Ih he canals are capable Of accomplishing in
no way OF reduced transportation charges, in
There is the Vital spot In which New Yin YORK hs:
Let the abuses and the obstacles existing at Ter.
minals be removed. and every other reform
and no improvements in waterways
VIII outweigh or overcome them. New York as |
: city and as a State must fearlessly face and
now confronts them BOTH"
Mr.. Adams describes the progress that has
Oswego. and Champlain canals. and prcsents n
OF tables TO show the estimated cost OF
'oth "iuhuJ .SoHtTdCtou tOr ana yet TO DO |
awarded. together with the other financial fee.
,Sres OF the work as nearly as they can now be
mated cost Of the work to be SIG. 100000. The
entire length OF the three canals is Asa miles,
and 2So miles Is now under contract. The e,ti. /
mated cost of these contracts is S7.7I5.02o. |
me total amount earned on all contracts to the
md or the fiscal year. Sept. 8 last, was 5000.
1873. Mr.. Adams says that the plans for the en-.
IRE work are practically completed. and that
Investigation. ~
The report dePls at considerable lsno,b Nth
,ne %ork OF surveying and mapping the State.
lnder the joint supervision OF tho State Engi-
ieer and the United States Geological Survey.
he state and Federal Governments each paving
Sas-5 ass the cost; During the past year
'onrces. and with this sum 1900 square
nileS were covered by trianEulation. making
.s.ooo square miles. or OIL per cent. of tho
area oil. the state, so covered and con.
rolled for mapping: Ten new sheets have
zen mapped, and four. comprising Greater
Sew York, have been revised this year, a total
2,25s square miles. The various base lines OF