New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-13
GOVERNOR AND MESSAGE
SOME OF THE TOPICS HE WILL PROB
ABLY TREAT IN THE FOhlh-
COMING DOCUMENT.
MATERIAL. RELATING TO CANAL IMPROVE
MENT. DECLINE OF COMMERCE AND

MENT. DECLINE OF COMMERCE AND
OTHER MATTERS BEING SECURED.
Albany. Nov. IL (SpeciaD.-Governor Roose-
ve,, bas been in consultation with several Of the
State officials since Election Day In relation to
the condition OF affairs in their several depart
,nents his object being TO gather information
for use in his message to the Legislature wheh
Il meets in January In addition he has solicited
advance sketches Of reports. which VIII soon DE
made to him by some State Commissions OF I'M
portance which have been at work for several
months 1t was no doubt to give sketch OF TINS
Kind that ex- Mayor Charles A. Schieren OF
Brooklyn, a member Of the State Commerce
Commission, which has been engaged in inVest-
eating the causes OF the decline OF New YORK
commerce. visited the Governor few days ago
One OF the most interesting themes In the GOV
ernor's message undoubtedly will be that OF the
condition OF canal commerce and diversion OF
canal traffic as well as railroad traffic from the
state Linked with that will be the deeply in
terest!ng subject Of canal Improvements, on
which the Canal Advisory Commission will spe-
c!fcally report Judging from the drift OF the
talk of the members OF the Canal Advisory COM
mission-General Francis V. Greene or New
York; Major Thomas W. Symons and John N
Scatcherd Of Buffalo, Frank S. Witherbee. or
Port Henry; ex-Mayor George r. Green OF Blng-
hamton State Engineer Bond and john n
Partridge Superintendent Of Public works
they will recommend a continuance OF the policy
OF improving the States canals begun, with
somewhat unfortunate results, in 1879. Nine
millions Of dollars has been expended on these
improvements and from $13.000,OOO to S2o'ooo-
coo more. It is estimated. must be expended 20
complete them 1t would appear that. while the
members OF the Commission think from their ex-
animation Of the subject that this work should
he COMPLETED they are not so confident or the
people approving the suggested expenditure.
CAUTION IN APPROPRIATIONS
Some Of the members Of the Republican or
p ganzation also have intimated lately that 1t
would be inexpedient at least to propose any
great expenditure the canals the coming
year. since a President is TO be elected, and
there might be danger Of canal issue" infiu-
encing dsastrousy the Republican canvass.
II should be stated that others besides active
Republican politicians favor cautious policy
in suggesting further canal appropriations. Re
Gently, for instance. at the convention or canal
men in Utica no speech was received with more
favor than that Of ex-senator George b. Sloan
of Oswego in which he took the ground that
the friends Of canal improvement must cling 10
the mine million improvement plan" since the
approximate cost of completing that plan was
known, whereas II any new plan was adopted
the State would embark on an unknown sea OF
expenditure. Mr. Sloan and other canal I'M
movement men deeply deplore the error in
the former calculations as to the cost or the
canal improvements under the $9.0OO,OOO plan,
and they are resolved that the people Of the
State shall not be msled again If they can
prevent It. Mr. Sloan in his speech pointed out
what unknown factors must be considered II
new scheme Of widening the canal locks should
be adopted and therefore opposed 1t as one
which might compel the State to expend many
more millions than its voters intended
The Canal Advisory Commission the last sum-
rer visited Montreal and there Inspected us
harbor and near by II the Soulanges canal
That canal a few days ago was completed. Ac-
cording to a newspaper statement the open
ing OF the Soulanges Canal marks the compile
ton Of 14-foot waterway between Montreal
and the Great Lakes, and thus puts the coping
stone on the great system Of Canadian canals
on which nearly 100000 has been expended.
Next summer steamers with a draught of IA
feet will be able TO take on cargoes at Fort
william and come through to Montreal without
breaking cargo"
WHAT THE STATE ENGINEER SAYS.
While this completion Of the Soulanges Canal
does threaten some diversion of Western grain
astrous extent as might be feared, is the opinion
OF State Engineer Bond while Canada has
been building her canals" said Mr. Bond re-
Gently. the size Of the vessels the lakes
has been increasing, and now those which are
most economically run draw much more than
IA feet Of water. Moreover, the transshipment
Of grain at Buffalo does grain good instead of
harm by airing IT."
Governor Roosevelt will also have the aid In
preparing his reference TO the canals Of the
State In his message, of the result OF the IN
vestigation and surveys made by the Deep
Waterways Commission of the United States
Government. This survey for feasible
route for a ship canal between Lake
ontario or Lake Erie and the Hud-
son River has been in progress for many
months and is said to be practically complete
But 1t is perfectly apparent from the evidence
given before the Canal Advisory Commissloi
that the cost of ship canal would be so stu
pendous. involving the expenditure OF towarC
S2O0OO00OO. that the people OF the state o
New-York would not undertake. such WORK
II must be done IL at ALL by the people OF th
United States. But the leasing or surrenue
OF New-York canals to the United states Coy .,
eminent has always been resisted by the pollti
clans and canal contractors of New fork state
The canal patronage of the Department OF fuolL
Works is too valuable for the poltcianS 70 SUI
render TO those of other States OF the Union
or at least they do not wish 10 dlVlue II VIII
any one else The canal contractors from eA
perience judge that they can make more mont
ont OF canal contracts under state goNernheh
than they could under that OF the Uhlteu ota'e
Government and Its economical engineers
CAUSES OF DECLINE OF COMMERCE.
Governor Roosevelt will receive large amour
OF interesting information from the state com
mission. which has been investigating the caus
of the decline OF New-Yorks commerce I'LL
Commission has taken great deal or eVidehc
regarding railroad discrimination eieVato
charges and wharf charges in Newly YORK At
members no doubt will be able 10 poh' Oh
decisively the fact that the Tammahy ma
officials Of NewYork, by their management
the dock property. harming and checkh
canal commerce. and. indeed all kinds of com
merce It was declared at the recent meetin
H. L. NIL q