New-York tribune., 1900-01-26
FAVORS A COSTLY PLAN.
GOVERNOR APPROVES OF LARGE EX-
PENDITURE on CANALS.


Albany. Jan. % (speciaD.- Roosevelt
submitted TO the Legislature to-day two highly
interesting reports in regard to the canals and
commerce Of the State and with them mes
sages summarizing in measure these reports
and expressing his own judgment respecting
their statements. The reports were referred to
appropriate committees. These reports came
from the State Commerce Commission appointed
by Governor Black In 1898 to learn if the COM
meTce OF New-York City is declining, and from
the Canal Advisory Commission, appointed by
Governor Roosevelt in 1899. with the specific
mission of ascertaining If it would be CONNER
cially profitable for the State still further to en-
large and improve its canals. Rarely since
Governor De Witt Clinton first favored the pol
icy Of constructing canal from Lake Erie to
the Hudson River have public documents of
more Importance been submitted to the people
and the Legislature Of this State.
Both Governor Blacks Commission and Cover
nor Roosevelt's Commission are of the opinion
that the Erie Canal cannot further compete with
the railroads unless it is improved. They differ,
however. as to the amount of Improvement
which must be done in order TO put the Erie
Canal In the list Of lines competing for the
trafic OF the West.
VIEWS OF BLACKS COMMISSION
Governor Blacks Commission favored the
900 to complete the Improvement of the canals
begun with 100000 in 1895. which would make
the total cost OF carrying oat the plans for that
improvement S24,000,000. Governor Roosevelt's
Commission expresses the opinion that the prof.
ect Of Improvement begun in 1895 is inadequate
producing too slight improvement over ex-
listing conditions to justify the expenditure Of
public money" Governor Roosevelt's Commits
sion says that it has considered two plans of
fyop hot, Of rrbio
call for a larger expenditure of money than is
suggested by Governor Blacks Commission
Under the first plan there would be an exten-
sion OF the plans adopted in 1895 for the i'm
provement Of the canals, by still further deep
ening the canal and changing locks. The cost
Of this enlargement of the 1895 project If 1t
should be carried out, would be S21161645
With the 100000 already expended, this would
bring UP the cost Of this particular plan of i'm
provernent to $50, ,645. Governor Roosevelts
Commission, however. has a second plan Of canal
Improvement which, IN fits judgment, is the
preferable one. and that Is to enlarge the Erie
Canal so that it will accommodate barges $50
feet long % feet wide, with 10 feet draught
and with cargo capacity of 1000 tons. Under
this plan locks are TO be arranged so that two
boats can pass each other. The canal scheme
it is estimated, If applied to the Erie Canal
would cost S5S.S94. .66s. and If the Oswego and
Champlain canals should be further improved
under the 1895 plan S2.642, 120 must be added
TO this estimate, which would bring up the total
cost Of the Improvement to SCI, ,536, ,7SS. With
the 100000 already expended the total cost
OF the Improvement would be $70536 7SS
NOT TOO MUCH FOR STATE TO PAY q
Governor Roosevelt. in his message on the
report OF the Canal Advisory Commission, says
that its members gave good reasons for their
belief that no adequate purpose would be served
by changing the canals as they would be
changed through the appropriation of S21. .0OO,-
60" He then turns TO the consideration of the
suggestion that a barge canal be constructed at
an expenditure OF about $50. 100000 He then
adds:
At the outset this seems a very large expendi-
ture of money, but the more 1 have looked into
me question the more believe that considering
the interests of the State If they were those
OF mere business corporation this expenditure
VIII seem right and proper Sixty-two millions
ot dollars is not too large q sum for the great
s Sea'e oI Ne"-Hork TO expend If ii will secure
Tor at least generation the same canal ad-
1ti.esss sI MLch We're secured 10 this State in
diminutive canals.
Thus Governor Roosevelt commits himself TO
tne project He was careful to say to-day. how
ever, that he should be guided by the Legfs-
iatures action upon the various plans for canal
MOST Of the leading members OF the Iegts-
Idture To-Day We're unwilling to exnress tbeir
opinion Of the various suggesttons y-b1oh h5
peen mace for canal improvements nIeadine
that they had not yet had time to eva rnine The
reports OF the Canal Commissioners nor e,,a,
carefully TO examine the Governors TWO Nc
sases' Cndoubtedly 1t was pleasing to the mem
DeIs Tepresenung non-canal counties to hear
tnat II was proposed, If the canals et,o,,ld -
improved, that the expense of the undertaL,ne
would be borne by the canal counties SenatoSS
Ellsworth. the Republican leader in the SENATE
remarked 70 Senator Stranahan that n. his Tav'
aton Dill. doing away with direct taxes for fhe
support OF the State government, should become
a law, there would be less resistance o,, +J,a -.
OF all the counties for the adoption of some plar
OF further canal improvements F