New-York tribune., 1899-06-13
A LARGER CANAL TRADE.
FIGURES SHOW INCREASE IN BUSINESS
ALONG WATERWAY LINES.
COMMISSIONS MEETING AT BUFFALO-coN-
TEMPLATED CHANGES IN ERIE ROUTE
CANADA NOT A COMPETITOR.
Inx

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Albany. June 12.-Word was received here to-
day from General Francis " Greene. Of New
York, president Of the Canal Advisory Com
mission that a meeting of the Commission would
be held at the Merchants Exchange in Buff
falo on Wednesday next, at which the citizens
Of Buffalo would be heard upon the proposition
to complete the Improvement Of the States
canals. II is expected that the canal boatmen,
canal shippers and men generally interested In
canal transportation matters OF Buffalo Will
then express their sentiments Hearings will be
given later TO the residents Of Syracuse, Roches-
ter, Utica, Albany. Binghamton. Elmira and
jamestown on this subject OF the i'm
provement Of the canals. State Engineer Bond
and Colonel Partridge, who are members Of the
Canal Advisory Board, said to-day that they
should attend this meeting of the Board In Buff
falo. Already the Board has collected large
amount OF valuable information bearing upon
the question OF canal improvement. The recent
tourney Of the members Of the Board through
Canada supplied to them great many facts OF
interest bearing on the question of the COM
petition Of Canadian canals with those OF the
State Of New-York Speaking on this subject
State Engineer Bend said:
Canada has always been about ten years
is about to suffer again from the dilatorness OF
her action. For instance, her chain OF canals
along the ST. Lawrence are to be fourteen feet
in depth and they will be ready for the navi-
CATION of vessels drawing fourteen feet Of water
at the opening of navigation next year. But
unfortunately for her enterprise. the vessel
drawing fourteen feet Of water is obsolete on the
lakes; vessels drawing twenty feet OF water
are now being run between Chicago and Duluth
and Buffalo. These vessels of large size can
carry grain and other articles at far less cost
than those which draw only fourteen feet OF
water Besides. the Canadian canals have just
as keen a railroad competition as do the canals
in the United States. The Canadian Pacific for
instance, has big elevators near Montreal. and
is working hard to retain its grain traffic.
DEPTH OF THE ERIE CANAL
What is to be the depth Of the Erie Canal
when its Improvement is completed?'
Nine feet" answered the State Engineer.
"and already It's Improvement has attracted
trade to 1t. do not speak for the Canal Ad-
visory Board, but, personally. would say that
It is my belief that the State should see II
9-foot canal would not be sufficient to keep
down railroad rates and increase canal traffic
There is no question that canals are still live
commercial force In France and other countries
of the Continent Of Europe, and, indeed. they
are increasing in number there, and taking
more and more freight as the years go on"
Perhaps they get freight because Of the high
railroad rates?
II do not think that Is the cause" answered
the State Engineer "and permit me to say that
l think the States canals have made poor
showing in recent years because OF the hard
times With a small amount of business they of
course. were able to obtain only small part OF
II: and railroad rates we're put at an extraordi-
narily low point in order to secure what traffic
there was The canals this year are doing
good business. In my judgment, 1t is mistake
to measure the worth Of the canals by the
amount Of grain they carry. Eventually. In my
opinion they will be chiefly used to carry such
heavy articles as coal and iron and steel and
we shall consume grain in the United
States The Great Lakes promise to be the CEN
tire Of one Of the most colossal aggregations or
steel manufacturing plants In the world. and
the canals will be able to carry to European
market and Eastern markets, much of the prod
uct Of these steel works. l think / ought to
mention the fact that Frank S. Witherbee. one
OF the members Of the Canal Advisory Commits
son. has gone 10 Europe bearing with him let
ters Of introduction from John Hay. Secretary
OF State. which he will in obtaining infor-
nation about the canals of various European
countries their machinery. and other matters
Of interest which can be used by the members
Of the Commission in framing their report 10
the LEGISLATURE of 1900"
TRADE SHOWS PROSPERITY.
Colonel John N. Partridge, superintendent OF
Public Works said to-day that he should SUB
NIT to his fellow members Of the Advisory COM
mission in Buffalo on Wednesday figures show
ing the largely increased commerce of the
canals this year Il do not know TO what to
attribute this increase Of the business OF the
canals this year." said Colonel Partridge. "un-
less it is an indication OF the general prosperity
Of the country" ~
In reply to a question about the possibility
Of Canada attracting away the western grain
traffic, Colonel Partridge said: Tnere never
will be a sufficiently large canal built IN CANADA
to permit of an ocean vessel running through
the canal and conveying grain from ChlcaSo 10
Liverpool The type of vessel for the navigation
OF the Lakes and Of the ocean must always De
different That being so, there must be break
ing Of bulk at some point on the line between
Chicago and Liverpool, either at Buffalo. at
Ogdensburg or at Montreal Besides. 1t must
be remembered that we have great population
of our own 10 feed in the Eastern states, VINO
need the Western wheat and -four. Wheat and
-four will Of necessity. follow the lines or
our railways and canals from the West into
the Eastern States"
NO CONFERENCES, Mr.. SAGE SAYS.