New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-10

commercial State in the Union 1t is a sad COM
little of the great wave of organization that has
SWEPT oyer the country during the last year and
any other State in the Union.
CANAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. Morgan devotes considerable space in his re-
port to discussion of the unsettled canal con-
tracts. and makes suggestions for the preser-
walton and Improvement of the canals He says
that while It may appear presumptuous his
part to offer any suggestions, still ne has made
commerce and navigation a study all his life. and
is familiar with the existing conditions. He took
an active and. prominent part in the movement
for the abolition of tolls the adoption of
a liberal canal policy, and has absorbing
interest in the success of canal commerce. which
can be secured only through speedy and practical
canal Improvement. He shows how the commerce
OF the State is retrograding because of the failure
TO improve the waterway, and then goes on to say:
The figures show that New-York is able to more
than hold her own in competition with other ports
when the canal is in successful operation, while she
falls behind in the when she has to rely en-
The question therefore should not be one of
money, but OF feasibility. However the temper
or the people at the present time must be taken
f fnro t account. for fear that proposition calling
rejected entirely This State has recently expended
Erie 16O miles have been improved so as to afford
nne feet Of naTgation Leaving lS5 miles unim-
ened so as 10 permit of the passage of two boat.
in these thirty the sixeens'' at CoRoes and the
tier Of five at Ioel1por If the three locks at New
there would be continuous line of long locks from
Loekport.
My Judgment. in view of these conditions. there
sue with reference to the canals is to complete the
time sGeh oReP n b at 6a h sa
as experience has demonstrated 10 be practical.
reach other facilities for stiIi greater economy
EiectrGity Is used more economically and more
successfully IN mechanics and in the propulsion of
stIsetcaFs ana other vehicles than any other motive
canal? motor With CAPACITY Of i95 e horse Ine
poWe3r on a., the stern Of boat would not take up
and engine OF a steamer. the space occupied by
the stables, where horses are used From pair
of wires strung over the middle Of the canal as
Ioney wires are now strung over the middle OF the
from the wires to the motor on the boat by means
OF carrier similar to those now used in great
boxes and flexible wire leading to the motor on
water power Niagara Fails. Lockport Rochester.
Trenton Fals, Little Falls and Cohoes the
electricity coul be obtained for canal purposes at
of e Mo fo b e edy1s capacity
Ing Of the boat not nterfered with in the least.
would permit of its moving from one side of the
canal to The , other without diicplty There can
be no question put that the INTRODUCTION of electric
0g to canal SaT2 naggaon snssy feasible ana
nish this power and charge for 1t at cost.
LOCK SYSTEM
In addition to the added capacity thus secured
modern gates be put In the present locks
which would permit the lengthening of the boats
from IS TO Us feet. thus further increasing the
carrying capacity about thirty tons per boat or
an aggregate Increase Of about ninety-three tons
The 'sxteens' at COhoes and the tier of five locks
at Lockport could be replaced by modern hydraulic
lift locks. which would transfer boats from one
level to another single lift, thus cutting down
the time every trip several hours. These locks
In successful operation in Europe.
Great uncertainties attend the adoption Of the
more pretentous schemes suggested. II the 26-foCt
lock and the l2-foot prism plan should be
tempted, there is question as to whether water
enough could be obtained 10 feed the high levels.
particularly the long level between Syracuse and
Utica. If the attempt should be made TO overcome
at Buffalo. ell the way through its length 10 Troy
the chances are that the leakage and evaporation
on so long strip of narrow channel would make
the current so swift the western division that
navigation toward the west would be almost i'm
practicable. / have the current swift at
Black Rock during dry seasons that it with
great difficulty that boats. by doubling their power
could get up to Buffalo. and this when the feed
from Buffalo was only TO the Wayne County line
through a length of go miles Of canal West
Troy?
The plan for the construction of a ship canal
capable Of carrying lake barges through New
YORK VIII never receive serious consideration at the
hands OF the people. In my judgment The expense
would be enormous; the possibility of obtaining
suf1cient water for the high levels would be ex-
ceedingly probematical the hundreds OF railroad
crossings would have 10 be provided with swing
canal materially raised all OF which tends pre-
sent wellnigb unEolva BILE problem from = pTac.
teal and financial point OF view.