New-York tribune., 1900-12-08
SPECIAL CANAL MESSAGE.
GovERNoR-ELECT ODELL SAYS THE
QUESTION Is 90 IMPORTANT
To BE DovETAILED
WITH OTHERS
WITH OTHERS

Governor-eleet Odell yesterday afternoon told th'
friends of the canals that their Improvement
were too important subject 20 be dovetaileo WITH
other questions in his message 10 the Legislature
Rno that ne would make IL the subject Of a special
message in February. after the State Engineer and
Surveyor had made his report the deepening and
improving OF the canals OF the State.
The delegation nearly filled Parlor DIR OF ths
Fifth Avenue Hotel. and the standing and char
acter in the business world Of those composing 4
made the occasion more than usually noteworthy
Some OF those present Henry B. Hebert
chairman Canal Association Of Greater New-York
Gustav h Schwsb. William A Nash Elliot J.
Barrows Isaac ~. Seigman. william F. King
president OF the Merchants Association Of New
York. Frank Brainsr6. J. Y. Barnes. Ludwig MS
sen, S 7. Hubbard, Franklin Edson Thomas a.
Mcintyre. John p Truesdeli. c. Waldo smith
Anderson Fowler. r. V. Harnett. William X Cor
wine. Antonio yucca. Lester W. Beasley. Haroor
Transportation Company; william Bal6aeh, }. u
Crary, John c Eames. and Alfred Haines. william
A. Rogers, Theodore Fassett. Ex-senator joan
Laughln, Frank S. Oakes. Herbert c. Rich, VIII
Merchants Exchange.
Chairman Hebert IN his remarks cited the report
OF the Interstate Commerce Commission in the case
OF the New-York Produce Exchange against the
Trunk line railroads for the aoolshment OF tne
dfnerential rates by which New-Hork roads agreed
70 charge three cents q hundred pounds more on
trafhe 10 this port than is charged by railroads
terminating at Baltimore. Newport News and Nor
folk and two cents hundred pounds more than
the railroads terminating al Philadelphia In TINS
report 4 was given the opinion Of the ComInis-
sion thar the amount OF the decline OF the COM
rneroe Of New-York corresponded 10 the tonnage
lost by the Erie Canal and II New-York would re-
gain that commerce Il must look 70 that interstate
waterway.
The Erie Canal as regulator OF freight rates"
nfr Hebert quoted from the late George r. Blanch-
ard and showed the increase in railroad freight
rates at the end OF each canal season and the de-
~Rna aFr1rr
OF canal navigation. He attributed the failure OF
the Brooklyn Wharf and warehouse Company 70
the decline OF traffic on the canal, and eontended
that loss Of commerce caused a decline in real
estate values
Cnstav n schwab Of the North German Lloyd
Line spoke on the relation Of a barge canal 20
foreign commerce and the impracticability OF q
ship canal He said the loss suffered by New
York State and New-Yorl1 City in foreign commerce
in the last twenty-five years was most apparent
when the export trafhc was considered The staple
articles OF wheat, corn and -four. among the main
articles OF export from New-Kork. showed enor-
nous losses.
Alfred Haines president OF the Buffalo Mer-
chants Exchange, said that the counties not
touched by the canal and krown 'tsnti-canal"
counties had experienced a change OF heart, and
were in favor OF even the cos;liest improvements,
they realized the importance Of canals 70 them-
selves and the State at large Ex-senator Laugh
lin said that the Dominion Government was con-
the traffic from the lakes 10 the ocean If we dii
not improve the Erie Canal in time.
John ID. Herman OF Utica, dwet the
iron industry OF the State. William r. corwine
also spoke. Mr. odeil said:
have had little time give the canals the at
tentiOn their importance warrants. have had
talk with the State Engineer and Surveyor, who
directed by the Legislature 70 make a survey
OF the work proposed, and he tells that his re-
port will not be ready til February J. 1 am one
OF the kind OF people who do not make recon-
mendatlOns except 10 carry them out ] should not
like make any recommendation here to-day, or
any other time, without knowing all the facts. !
believe that the cities of New-York and Buffalo
are no more interested IN the canal question than
the city OF Newburg. What VIII benefit one city
will benefit them all I certainly shall not be
bound by the wishes Of any single municipality in
this matter All should share in any benefits that
might accrue. propose TO treat this subject with
eye single 10 the interests OF the people who
make up majority OF The population OF the entire
State. j may not respond quickly Ser ltor
Laughiin and others here might think I should,
but desire 10 be fully informed 10 all the de-
tails. / thank you for the informatio you have
given me, and ] should be glad 10 get from any
and al OF you any further Information you may
have. You have told many things Of which ]
had no knowledge and shall take up the subject
at the proper time. ] shall treat II in special
message 20 the Legislature after the State Engi-
neer and Surveyor has made mis- report on the sur
Vey. u is entirely too important 10 dovetail with
any other subject