New-York tribune., 1900-01-26

this traffic alone was made very clear'
The Champlain Canal should be improved oy
deepening the prism to seven feet, so as 10 ehaie
boats to carry a draught of six feet wnlcn Ihe
locks will accommodate. Doubtless the amount
saved in reduced transportation rates In two
years would defray the entire cost Of the sug-
gested Improvement Of the Champlain Canal
An existing law limits the capitalization OF
corporations doing business upon the canals TO
$4,000, Limitation preventive Of such organ
ization and business methods in connection with
canal transportation We. therefore, recon-
mend the repeal of the law.
Complaints are widespread that certain port
charges in New-York are excessive
To the elements entering into the greater cost
of living inherent in the city itself has been
added that much of the cost for the transporta-
ton of Western products as is represented by
the difference between the rate the New-York
roads under normal conditions would charge
and the rate that adherence to the diferential
agreement compels them to charge.
The one cent arbitrary is a term applied to a
charge imposed upon grain at railroad elevators
at the port of New-York 1t is one Of the port
charges severely and justly criticised by ex-
porters of grain.
Since the imposition of the charge New-York
has lost practically all of the full cargo business
she has not only lost the advantage of the ocean
rates found to exist by the Arbitration Comms-
sion but the evidence recently taken before this
Commission tends to prove that she is now at
disadvantage in ocean rates.
ELEVATOR CHARGES.
The subject Of elevator charges, both at Buff
falo and at New-Yorl has on previous occa-
sions claimed the attention of the Legislature
The State should require that greater rate
than one-half cent per bushel should be charged
in any case for all services involved in the ele-
walton of grain. This amount is sufficiently re-
munerative to assure no injustice to the inter
ests concerned.
There are a number Of elevators at Buffalo so
located as to have no rail connections. and.
therefore. able to elevate grain for the canal
alone. During the season of 1898 none Of these
elevators were admitted into the association.
and the association adopted a rule, rigidly ad-
hered to, of elevating grain for canal boats
without charge. This practice necessarily re-
suited in closing the elevators dependent upon
the canal 1t is the evident purpose of the rail-
road elevators to continue this practice for such
length Of time will render the canal eleva-
tors useless.
The accounts Of the elevators in Buffalo and
the books Of the Floating Elevator Company, of
New-York, examined by the Commission. admit
of no other conclusion than that one-half cent
per bushel is ample for all services performed
in connection with elevating grain. and any
greater charge is an undue tax upon New York's
commerce.
The Commission will submit for the action of
the Legislature a proposed amendment OF the
Act Of 1888, reducing the maximum rate to one
half cent bushel. and so phrased as to make
it difficult of evasion and providing a penalty
for it's violation.
LIGHTERAGE CHARGES IN NEw-YORK.
Under present conditions lighterage is neces-
sity in the Port of New-York 1t may be
mere coincidence that the lghterage charge
allowed to the New-York roads is three cents
a hundred pounds, the exact amount of the diff
ferential. The fact remains, however. that there
is deducted from the through rate and paid to
the New-York railroads three cents a hundred
pounds before pro-rating, and they then receive
their pro rata share for the balance. If the
nghterage charge is excessive, to that extent
the through rate is excessive. But whether or
not there be any Justification for treating the
lighterage terminal service upon any different
basis than any other terminal service the
through rate to New-York does include
charge for such service. and is therefore one
of the elements differentiating the Port OF New
York from her rival seaports, to the disad-
vantage of New-York
NETWORKS INADEQUATE DOCKS.
No one thing has received more adverse and
deserved criticism than the inadequate dock
facilities at New-York They are twofoId:
First-Inadequate accommodations for mod
sized vessels. resulting in high charges un-
der the laws of supply and demand for the
comparatively few modern piers that have been
provided.
Second-Inadequate facilities for handling car
goes due to the confguration Of the Borough
or Manhattan thus far preventing juxtapOsi-
ton of warehouse and steamship.
Definite suggestions regarding the second dis
advantage will not be ventured with the data
at hand. The first evil is easy to remedy. There
is law now on the statute books limiting the
amount Of wharfage that NAV be charged The
principle suggested by the law should be ap-
piled to the fullest extent practicable. but is rem
dered nugatory by requiring the lessee to build
a shed upon the pier and then charging him for
the shed.
1t should be established as fixed principle
that the city should charge it's commerce rentals
for piers based, not upon the entire cost of a
masonry sea wall. which is public improve
ment; not upon arbitrary valuation of sheds
which cost the city nothing. but simply upon a
fair cost to the city of the waterfront and OF
the improvements proposed to be leased.
Foreign steam traffic requires more frontage.
1t has been able to secure only per cent Of the
available room. The railroads have very large
share Of the waterfront-34 per cent.
The completion by the National Government
Of the deepening and widening of the Harlem
River, from the Hudson River to the East
River, and the continuation of that improve
ment through the Bronx Kills, will give direct
access to deep water in the boroughs of The
Bronx and Queens. thereby enhancing at a
comparatively early date the importance and
value of that section of the harbOr
LAND UNDER WATER
Ample opportunity can be given the owner Of
upland in outlying sections by leases for a lin
tied period to improve the land under water
whenever justified by the use to which the i'm
provement is to be devoted. The law should be
amended as to admit of leases and re-