New-York tribune., 1900-07-28
COMMERCE. NEEDS CANAL.
PAST PROFITS AND FUTURE PROMISES
OF "CLINToN'S DITCH"
Editor of The Trihune.

- the Editor of The Tribune
ST: Shall kin the goose that has been laying
golden eggs. discard great source of com
nercial welfare the Erie Canal? Commerce. as
all know, IS composed Of many parts, which must
work smoothly together for its success. without
friction hindrance. The motive power which 1t
employs is various-from the sturdy and the
horse TO steam and electricity. annihilating dis
tances Where rivers are lacking and transporta-
ton is required canals are formed like the Suez
and Erie; mountains graded tunnelled. val
leys filled up. bridges built the rough places
made smooth, the crooked straight. The demands
OF commerce are found to be imperative and its
needs exacting and great but in like proportion is
the good that il yields.
The time has not come do away with the sturdy
OK. however slow he may be. nor has the time come
To abandon the Erie Canal. connecting the lakes
with tidewater Called, while It being built
Chntons ditch, il has proved itself as prolific for
the good of trade the goose that laid the golden
eggs. Notwithstanding the opinion to the contrary
Of James Wood. president of the New-York Farm
eTs' Congress.
1t Is a we'll known fact that the Erie Canal has
been a of great wealth TO our Western farm
ers. and equally the city and State of New
York and viii doubt that under wise and
honest management il may be made to continue
So especially if the terminal facilities at each end
adequate. But they cannot be considered ade-
quate until the completion Of the Harlem River
Canal. from the Hudson to the deep water Of
Long Island Sound, which will thus afford a fine
sea entrance. The Erie Canal. S63 miles in length,
was opened 10 commerce on October 26. 1925. after
costing s7,6o2,ooo. including the short Champlain
Canal
Revenue from tQ;lage to 1866 $s1'oo7'ies
penses Same pe1i.,1 ans. 5s17s15s
Surplus credited to the ........... s22979o1o
Value Of property transported thereon from
1857 20 1872. inclusive 81 fSo'Zloi's
Allowing the producer even 10 per cent Of
Add surplus above 22979o10
TotsI......... ............ .s7o.931,16l
It is apparent that numerous inland cities, ship
ping points for commerce, have sprung up along
the canal all the way from the lakes to tdewater.
which have added greatly the wealth of the
State while becoming one of the immediate causes
of the commercial prosperity and wealth of the
city Of New-York. we'll Of the Western farm
ers and the Eastern marketmen.
If these considerat tons and amounts meas
urably correct, does James Wood still maintain
that this canal. 1863 miles long, with its seventy
two locks. should be bartered away for mess Of
Let the Erie Canal be wisely and honestly. i'm
proved and managed, enlarged 10 a depth or ten
total cost not exceeding $4O6OoOOO and it viii again
comTr--c Of tba country II the sum of 81 SOP 900
suficed to build the canal originally, S4ocNG0O
This. in connection with a completed Harlem
sd S29af @ @ rTo 4b10ggb the deep chan
mel OF Long Island Sound, will afford waterway
that would fear no rival. Then. with well
eouiDped Atlantic service of liners and freight
steamers, under the American flag with a daily
departure from Port Morris at a fixed hour (unin
fuenced by Jides) there would exist such a high
way for the worlds commerce, both passengers
and freghts, as does not and will not otherwise
exist.
Let it be positively understood that the Erie
Canal came stay, despite the hostility OF
the railroads and equally that the Harlem River
Canal viii come and will stay, despite the same
hostility Much time has been wasted the latter;
Il is half completed. But if the State of New
York can build and keep in repair a canal 1863 miles
York spend 100000 10 make its bridges over
the Harlem River conform 10 the statute which
requires them TO be high enough not to interfere
with passing commerce, shall the General Govern
ment. representing all the people, much longer
delav work of this little Harlem River Canal,
in which the commerce of all the people IS immedi-
ately interested About seventy-fiYe years have
been expended in almost fruitleSS legislation and
aborIive work the Harlem River Canal, which
Is but half finished and thus not used to any
as is devoted TO a private undertaking would
10 put the whole canal into Immediate commission.
The hostility Of the railroads which retards the
work Of the canals in this instance with
particularly poor grace, for the Erie Canal preceded
railroad in time and served to centralize trade
and build up line Of inland towns ready to
employ both canal and road when the latter
should come along 1t would be well for the rail
roads to mitigate their active hostility
against this canal its only result will be block
the wheels of commerce.
Rather let every effort be made to establish such
a system Of transportation and ocean commerce
cenfring the lines of trade from the Orient Eu-
rope. opening a worlds highway, with enough
both and realize Clinton's clear vision OF our
future commerce. CHARLES STOUGHTON.
New-York, july q, 1900