The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-22
HAS TIE DAY OF THE CANAL eoxE Br,
An Old Canal Advocate Believes That The
Entire system Can He Dispensed with.

10 THE EDlTOH OF HE DUN ~ wv
Constitutional Convention OF 1857. OF which
was a momber. an amendment OF the Constitu-
ton Of lS46 was made enlarsing the power OF
the Legislature to authorize an enlargement OF
the Erie Canal and to appropriate S3,OCOOOo
for that purpose. As usual those sections OF
the State between Buffalo and New York
inclusive favored the amendment and
the delegates from the rural districts.
not however. so unanimously. opposed
1t. Its friends. however. under the
powerful influence OF ex-Gov Sandford e.
Church. the leader OF the state Democracy and
Chairman OF the Finance Committee. and the
Hon. Thomas G. Alvord OF Syracuse. a very In
1uentinl Republican and an out and out canal
man. after q severe and prolonged struggle.
carried the proposition. On its submission
to the people It was defeated. with all the
other articles except the judiciary.
have always belonged to the internal i'm
proyement party OF the state and Courtry. l
had previously supported what was understood
as the canal policy. which included the con-
traction OF canal debts for engagements. tax
alton. etc, but I opposed with pen and voice
the SO. 900 900 enlarg m emit scheme or enabling
provision being engrafted into the Constitution
OF 1867. although at that time not railroad
had crossed the continent. or extended NIFTY
miles beyond the Mississippi. Ny opposition
was founded entirely upon the fact that any
| wholly unnecessary to meet the demands OF
commerce. that we then had canal debt upon
| us OF S21 .0000 900 and that the earnings OF the
canal should be applied to its extinguishment
rather than to needless expenditure for en-
| largement. The reports OF the canal auditors
had repeatedly shown that the capacity OF the
canal for transportation al freiRhts had met all
demands and at all times was capable OF carry
ing 100000 tons each way annually. more
than had been required
This is my position now. Since then. thirty
two years ago. railroads have been quadrupled
in miles and capacity for carrying freight to and
from the centres OF supply and consumption.
No canals or artificial waterways have been
| constructed in this or any other country In the
| last forty years. while nearly all that were
WHERE the Zoo es canal IN
farming farming; land %d south 0n Of DURHAM within
Nearly ali t q them have BEEN in disGse
for nearly Atty years EXCEPT in few in,
o iG Sne
traeted ed for building it. England was among
the last in Europe to build canals. and the first
once demanded them. why does it not now?
II not. why does It demand their enlargemept
millions to the tax payers. many Of whom have
| been taxed to maintain our canals for the last
seventy-hve years without any appreciate
There are six canals owned by the State that
cannot be sold and must necessarily be main
urged urge upon onl the he state by De Witt efon ohio
Nash%es 'rs G1g and Ire 69rdsred LAKE,
Erie; It was TIE grain he AZ. the wool and
reach reach through canal as eonnectins link be;
tween Lake Erie and tide water at Albany, and
| for many years Ohio furnished more tonnage
| ans az ward nv tho aka and the Erie Canal thnn
| all the west beyond. Now she consumes all
her products: + + nearly e. with Illinois
sa%rtiop icaPd IL Ohio, the same conditions
All the observation-disclosures West are now under
the plough except a few million acres in the
| itants to the square mile; we now have about
twenty, When, we have forty to the square
many MANY additional facilities to what we have now
will then be required 70 carry the surplus foods
and The insvitabs future ahead OF us So WIZ
the ,s, pr9p9siton Is utterly 81 utopinn A.,
earliest in this country. 100 miles long, and Tor
more than sixty years one Of the most success
lapsed. and without any parallel competing
carrying lines But railroads took their bust
| New York. feel the loss. The state might take
hs GsfE Of ST.
1928; twice that amount has already been
spent IN WIDENING and 81 e,pla arg from TIN, time to
''doublc track it at once and thus economize
| expense? But 1t is argued that because the
| freight per ton IL so much less than by rail. the
| interest Of our commerce demands it's enlarge.
ment, Commerce Is, willing to pay for. rapid
eight hours to twelve days. Time is money"
The Erie Ca9a Nv When bEIt in ls25 was 40
to to- ID feet Prism and feet deep With boats to
| meet the en- argement Gov. Clinton. the great
author of the Canal did not pSn wholly
Legislature in 1si' he said. as the
With gtGtSSss rs
yy onr attention. All roads leading to 2ayieabis
tTsrH 20 % ana d"ps
| tories OF produce and merchandise are entitled
description there is every Inducement on I' your
| part to enlarge the growth and settlement OF
the country by opening the means OF commun-
II some OF your corresrondents who favor
deeSe sna ~on 1ns
4 to the taxation borne during the last seventy
fve years for canal characterization and main;
application Of Coy. ,Clintons suggestions far
more good would be accomplished TO both
six canals prohibited from sale can possibly in
any condition. furnish,
| in the year instead Of six every ton Of freight
they now carry to Eastern consumers would
| II the cost Is too burdensome for the people to
| hear. which is not likely to be, our Legisla-
ture has the power to regulate the evil, and at
! no cost to the people. II these canal "expan-
( sionists" will turn to the legislation alone on
the subject Of our canals, they will find that the
/ time spent has cost the people millions OF dol
/ lars, probably as much aS the Erie Canal cost
at first. all OF which the peonle have patiently
borne. and It is said the end is not yet.
TIE 6 I'm and mGsatS'artory nso OF fhe late
! criticism, and no little alarm for the future 1t
! has been said as truIsm that man makes the
! city. hut God makes tho country" The cities
! must not bear too heavily on the agricultural
| dlstricts They must hear In mind that they
! have very large irresponsible number OF
! voters. Let us hold our canals until we can
| constitutionaly dispose Of them, but to en-
| large either OF them would he an nexcusable
waste and oppression to the peonle.
G. V. r. LUDINdToN.
| MONTICELLO. Aug. 10.