New-York tribune., 1899-06-01
FOR CANAL IMPROVEMENT.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PRESIDENT
OF THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE.
DISCUSSION OF THE CAUSES AND REMEDIES
FOR THE LOSS IN EXPORT con-
MERGE AT THIS PORT.

FOR THE LOSS IN EXPORT CON-
MERGE AT THIS PORT
The Produce Exchange held Its annual meeting
yesterday President Brainard, in the annual report
made by him In behalf OF the Board OF Managers.
quoted figures from the treasurer's report showing
that the gross income OF the Exchange for the year
ended April 80 1892 was s313.4so and the gross
pendtures were s25467s tho net surplus being s5s,
49l. He outlined the operations OF various COM
mittees in the year just ended, and dwelt at some
length upon the annual report OF the trustees Of the
Gratuity Fund, notirg the fact that special com
mittee is making an exhaustive examination
OF the grntuity system from It's inception, with a
view to recommending plans for It's improvement
The largest part Of the presidents report, however
Is devoted to a discussion OF the causes OF and
remedies for the loss in export commerce OF the
Port OF New-York and an argument In support OF
the policy OF canal improvement. On these points
Mr.. Branard says in part:
At recent session Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, held in this city witnesses represent,
trade this port is partially due TO the fact that
cars at other competing Atlantis ports & can be un
doubtedly one OF the causes; and with the main
tenance OF the dferena Is operative Elm IN dvertns i've a
roads and merchants interested In this port New
York should have the same actes as are are syen sran
should not be transferred from the cars directly
into ocean steamers except private interests
ment still remains an unsettled problem. From the
feet that our merchants conto 6 aGs 6 M Ssbss
1893 the question is one OF absorbing interest 70
this 9Ggr Canal aeS nas also kew WITH
representatives OF other sections OF the State.
An erroneous impression prevails TO some exc exten.
direct interest in the canals, that these waterways
have cost the State vast amount OF MONEY t sno
not now compete with the railways and and therefore
times expressed in Connection with the Erie Canal.
and perhaps voices to certain extent an existihg
feeling that 1t would be better TO fill the dltch up
The canals have rot up TO the present time cost
the State one cent on the contrary there is arge
[os DSscs sp to to % the time they were abolished in 1882
s, ,64S9O0. The entire cost OF construct@ion no o ana no
sa tes up no t0 reazed from tolls Deduct
from this the cost Of the sso0Ooo improvement 10
canals ,,. ~ h r-,ad
by water cheaper than any other way. Competent
authority estimates that with a canal from BuHao
system the N cost Of the transportation Of wheat
would be less than one cent bushel II Canaoa
can expend 900 in the Improvement Of her
waterways New-York can afford to expend 800,
600 900 IL necessary. The question to be determined
Tb 10 tSe Teas of Pubic Works and the
State Engineer with the assistance OF tne AdvIsUpy
| 10 solve and the money required for said work
must be honestly and intelligently expended 49,.
commercial position OF our city and port to-day are
largely due to the building of these canals. At the
| time they were projected and constructed water
ways were practically the only means for the trans
| portauon OF domestic commerce. From what was
little more than an undeveloped wilderness cities
and towns have arisen numbering alone, IL Is said
along the line Of the canals lS0 many OF which are
| now Of the first rank in commercial importance
For over sixty years there has been carried an an,
nual average OF 10000 tons. representing total
value for that period Of S'6Sooo.oN Brought to a
| proper state OF efficiency, they will furnish
| means OF transportation from the Great Lakes 70
| the seaboard which will be beyond competition
| and will regain to New-York large portion OF
that commerce which is naturally hers, and which
| has been allowed to drift away. The question Ia
| OF such vital Importance to the commercial inter
| ests OF this port that this Exchange should con-
tinue to exert every proper influence in Its power
| until a system OF canals shall be assured which
| shall in every way meet the requirements OF the
| present day.
| The Exchange is to be congratulated on the sue
cess of It's efforts for ten years TO have the
new Custom House located on the Bowling Greer
| site.
1t Is also OF great qualification to record
| the fact that the last Congress passed the ap
propriation for the deepening and widening OF the
| ship channels to this harbor
There will be presented to the Exchange to-day
a portrait Of ex-President Thomas. Tomorrow
caucus will be held for the selection of ticket tc
be voted for on Monday when the election OF of
| GERS for the coming year will be held.