The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-18
THE CANALS AND THE PEOPLE
A Reply (" the Secretary OF the COmmercs
Communication.

Reply tn the Secretary OF the commerce
Commission.
To THE EDITOR OF TIE SUN-Sir: The
fact that the Secretary OF the Commerce Com
mission has seen nc to reply at length to my
letter concerning the canals printed In last
Mondays Sun emit oldens me once more to ask
the courtesy OF your columns for a brief re-
jonder. ] should be very willing indeed to let
the two arguments stand In parallel columns
and abide by the expressed judgment thereon
OF any intelligent person who does not have
present or prospective interest In canal con-
tracts. Nothing that Mr. Alexander smith
says assals my vital contention that the canals
are played out. their original value and mean
ing entirely departed and that there is not the
slightest reason now why the people OF this
State should be called upon to afford an addi-
tional or competitive means for the trnnspor-
tation OF Western grain; that to attempt to
force the Erie Canal into competition with
the vast extension and economies OF the East
ern railway system is ridiculous: and that to
effect this by means OF a burden OF taxation
laid upon the bent shoulders OF the farmers OF
New York would be n colossal crime. What
ever good great barge and ship canal might
do, IL would be for the nations benefit and
should be at the nations cost.
admit that In stating that the canal amend
ment was rushed through" the Constitutional
Convention OF 1894 used somewhat infelici-
tous phrase. The amendment was. no doubt.
properly debated. What wished to empha-
size was that tho fundamental error in those
debates-as It has long been the popular
fundamental error in dealing with the canals,
was the lack OF a thorough. common
sense appreciation OF the present decadence
OF the canal. No ono has better reason to re-
member than Mr.. Alexander Smith that tho
primary assumption in the Convention OF 1894.
and in all the discussions thereafter. In the
Legislature and before the people. was the
truth Of what proved to be the monstrously
and abominably mistaken declaration OF the
State officials that the canals could be "im-
proved for $0.OO0.0O0. II 1t had been known
that this sum would do little moro than scratch
the ground around the canals. would the pop-
ular verdict have been the same?
Once let the people Of this State realize that
the gross tonnage OF the canals for years
has only been about three por cent. OF that
OF the railways. and they will make a very lon g
pause before voting any more millions into the
pockets OF canal contractors for improve
ments." In conversation the other evening
with half dozen intelligent gentlemen at one
of the largest and most important clubs in our
city. I found that all OF them were under thu
impression that nearly all Of the grain now de-
livered at this port came over the Erie canal.
did not say. nor does any reasoning being
suppose. that the farmers OF this State are
hostile to the canal because they think 1t Injuries
b. bring ng W tss fPs
Of American grain is m ade In the worlds mar
kets. quite irrespective OF the influence OF the
the canal when first built benefited the people
Of the State generally. and that It no long
small any way, helps only the boating and ship
ping interests In NewYork and Buffalo. and that
while admitting the yalun to the whole country
State think the whole country ought to pay
II coal is sold as Mr.. Smith says. at places
accessible to the Champlain Canal at S4.25 per
back from the cana. the cost o., hauling the
coal to these remote. places probably has as
as an ything else. Moreover. Mr. smith falls into
egregious error for Secretary OF a Commerce"
Com Comm is IN his broad declaration that rail,
| the season OF canal navigation opens and raise
them when the canal season closes. Mr.. Smith
were greatly higher than they are to-day.
There are not now any winter or summer rates
difference as Mr. Smith states. The only iniiu-
6etseen the railways thsmseives. e6mpeti.
tion which varies In all kinds OF ways at the
d W nc b has p
the Great Lakes there are often changes on the
rates OF railway lines eastward from Chicago
and Duluth but this is not the case in point.
By the testimony OF every com petent railroad
authority with whom the writer is acquainted.
| the competition Of the Erie Canal with the rail-
roads has. since modern railway development
began. been wholly inconsiderable. and it is
| within the power Of the railroads absolute
| ly to crush that competition with very littl
harm to themselves. whenever they choose.
The Secretary OF the Commerce Comm ssi on
says that gp tS ths end q 1897 the state Is
Canal than it has spent upon 1t for all purposes
| up to that date. and that the cost Of maintain
| ing and improving all OF the canals up to that
| time. including the $9.O0O.0OO appropriation.
has necesstated an expenditure within seven
| years Of nearly three fourths OF the profit
! which it accumulated for half a century pre-
viOus it would not Reem reckless inference
| that 1t had ceased to he paying enterprise.
ID. +. X. is more shrewd than WISE" says
| age cost Of rail transportation and OF canal
transportation Is. Let me assert and let him
| deny il he can that the average rate by the
| Erie Canal is one-third the average rate by
the railroads patodleng the canal on mer-
| Admitting it.--why. then. does the canal do
| such little bus mess? Can It ever expect a
| greater margin in its favor? After the contrac-
| tors or jobbers are through improving" it.
is it likely that II Gan carry freight at
! railroads? And how Ia It that the complaint of
the canal boatmen Ia that their rates are now
SO low that there Is no longer the meanest
| living In their occupation; and that these rates
| howl? There is mystery here.
| New YORK. August II.
| The Katipunan Society In the Philippines.
I,.o,, 30, orf;.J. q. a.. -,