The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-16
THE CANALS OF THE STATE.
An Explanntion of Their Necessity by the
Secretary of the Commerce Commission.

| communication from ID FIX" In THE Sun
to-day. under the title THE Canals and Taxa
tion." contains 80 many statements that are
erroneous that trust you will accord me an
opportunity to point them out In your columns.
For instance. there has been no authoritative
announcement that any commission or COM
mittee contemplated recommending the ex-
penditure Of $40. 600, 900. and know OF nothing
toJustify d F. X" in doub bling this sum up.
IN his discussion OF what 10 proposed. State
Engineer Adams estimated that $7000.OOO
would be necessary to mplete the In prove
ment begun under the act Of 1895 appropriate
Ing Se.O00,000 Governor Black q in In 4
commission estimated that $12,0O0.000 would
be necessary. basing It's estimates upon the
data accumulated by State Engineer Adams.
proposition has been suggested to widen and
lengthen the locks Of the Erie Canal at a cost Of
S6.OOO.OOO. in lieu OF the completion OF the i'm
provement begun under the act OF 1895.
DIX" says that the amendme nt to the Con-
stituton on the subject OF the canals was rush
ed through the Constitutional Convention Of
1894" whereas quite the reverse was the case.
the subject being considered by the Committee
on Canals OF that Convention at great length.
and the several amendments being also deba-
ted at considerable length. No subject was
moro fully and deliberately considered by the
Constitutional Convention than the Canal I'm
provement amendment. Some OF the leaders
In the Convention were afraid OF the possible
injury tho Canal Improvement amendment
might cause to the other amendmen that
we're punched. and 30 1t was submitted to the
people separately from the other amendments
with the result that the Canal Improvement
amendment received majority OF $4,000.
and this majority exceeded by $4,000 the ma
Jority given for the other am endm ents. 60
much for the popularity OF the canals
The subject was very much discussed In the
press OF the State during the year 1904. and
was extendedly discussed during all Of the
year 1885, when the Legislature. by a vote Of
lob to 30. voted to submit to the people the
proposition to improve the canals and to bond
tho State therefor to the amount OF So. 600 900.
The people at the general election In 1895 APP
proved OF this proposition by q majority OF
2760OO. in a total vote exceeding 100000.
Considering that the matter had been dis.
cussed pro and con during a period Of twenty
months. and that widespread publicity had
been given to 1t in the press. the action OF the
people sustains the claims Of the friends OF the
canals that their popularity with the people
has been amply demonstrated.
The majorites were given by the counties
touched by canal transportation. which coun-
ties paid into the State In 1894. and probably
do now. 81 per cent. OF all OF the States taxes.
The counties that opposed the Canal Improve.
ment amendment to the Constitution in 1894
received $207. 81 more from the State for
the maintenance OF their schools than they
contributed to the State for that purpose.
which large sum was paid by the counties fav-
oring canal improvement. The sum paid by
the canal counties to maintain the schools OF
the anti-canal counties exceeded by $3.50. 600
the sum paid by the anti-cana counties in tax
es for the Improvement OF the canals under the
Sa.0O0OOO Canal improvement bill.
ID. F. X" says. in order. apparently TO
arouse the antagonism OF the rural voters. that
the farmers receive no benefit from the canal,
since 1t brings western grain and produce into
competition with the products OF the farmers
OF New York State: while. on the other hand.
he favors the construction OF ship canal that
would undoubtedly intensity the competition
OF which he complains. The farmers will be
apt to question the sincerity OF friend who
thinks they may be ruined through the COM
petition OF a barge canal. but who ia regardless
OF their interests in advocating the construc-
tion OF q ship canal.
Testimony has recently been adduced before
the Commission OF which am mem Der that
coal Is sold for 81 20 ton at places accessible
to the vessels traversing the Champlain Canal
and this includes Lake Champlain. as we'll as
the Hudson River. while. Just a few miles back
Vi the cdnu tiie cOSt =! coal ID one ana TWO DOL
lars more per ton. The same is unquestion-
ably true OF the Erie Canal. Mr.. ID. f. X" and
THE SUNS readers ought to know that the rail-
roads reduce their rates OF transportation when
the season OF canal navigation opens and
raise them when canal navigation ceases. Con-
sidering the millions Of tons OF freight moved
by these railroads. even fractional reduction
thus made. because OF canal competition. prob
ably amounts, in the aggregate. to a sum sew
eral times larger than the cost OF canal main
tenance. Indeed. the rates made by the rail-
roads paralleling the Erie Canal f. the rates on
all railroads having Atlantic seaport terminals,
and so the Erie Canal exercises a benefcent in
fuence upon commerce entirely outside OF the
State OF New York. but nowhere more 30 than
within the State. and with no greater benefit
to any people than to those inhabitng this
State. The actual tonnage carried on the
canals themselves is an inconsiderable factor.
but the influence Of the canals themselves upon
rail rates is unquestionably potential.
ID. +, X" admits that "the State is nearly
whole" on the money 1t has spent upon the
canals Considering that. up to the end OF 1892,
the State had received $42. 500. 71Smore In tolls
from the Erie Canal than 1t had spent upon 1t
for all purposes up to that date. and that the
cost OF maintaining and improving all OF the
canals since that time. including the 50 OOO, 900
Hub NOV cAceeueu
there 10 reason In the cautious statement made
by our generous friend
The readers OF THE Sun ought to be remind
ed-an oversight which might not be thought
of in reading ID. F. KS" remarks-that the
people voluntarily freed the canals from further
tolls in 1882. by the enormous majority of over
800. 900. Just one more demonstration OF the
popularity ofthe peoples canals with the people
themselves.
ID. +. X" Is more shrewd than wise in failing
to show what the average cost OF rail transpor-
tation and OF canal transportation is. Let me
assert. and let him deny II he can that the
average rate by the Erie Canal Ia not one third
the average rate by the railroads paralleling
the canal. on merchandise transported.
Your correspondent does. however. indulge
in comparisons between the efficiency OF the
canals. as compared with the efficiency OF the
railroads. and he uses the hackneyed phrase OF
comparison OF stage coaches with the railroads
in order to discredit the canals. Does he, or
do the SUNS readers know that the Erie Canal
Of to-day is OF the size provided for in the act