The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-30
THE CANALS IMPOSSIBLE JOB.
FUTILITY or TRYING TO FIT 1T
FOR COMPETITION.
Foreign Canals Competing with Enormous
Railroad Rates May BE Very WE'LL
but Rates Here Mako Canal Transporta'
ton ~ Obsolete - Bows and Arrows.


but Rates Here Mako Canal Transports.
ton a. Obsolete ~ Bows and Arrows.
References to the extension OF canal
systems in foreign countries are frequent
in the literature which is issued by the
Canal Association Of Greater New York in
it's campaign for the SOL 100000 appro-
priation. The argument sought to be con-
veyed is that If expenditures for artificial
waterways are thought wise in France.
Germany and other lands they must be all
right in America. For the most part the
canals in those countries are not bitches
cut through the land, but natural streams
40 treated as to make them ser"iceable
for towed vessels OF the style of canal boats
To canalize river is far cheaper than to
build an artificial waterway through solid
land. The Erie Canal is the largest canal
in the world has more locks than any other
and has cost 1923 900 900 since it was begun
Its maintenance is far more costly than the
maintenance of any other canal.
One must look to the comparative costs
Of railroad transportation in America and
in foreign countries to judge Of the condi-
tions which may make canal transportation
profitable in one and Improbable in another
In an interview in THE Sun on Sunday
NJ. r. Jefferds, c.. E.. who is interested in
railway construction in Russia and has
made a study of railway systems the world
over, contrasted the cost Of freight traffic
on the London and North Western Railway,
In England, and the Pennsylvania and New
York Central roads. in America. The differ
ence in cost in England and on these two
typical American railroads is so wide that
it upsets any canal arguments that are based
on the situation abroad.
Mr.. Jefferds shows that the average ex-
penses of moving freight on the London
and North Western ia 252 per cent more
per mile on the Pennsylvania Railroad in
America and 1855 per cent. greater than the
working expenses of the same road per ton
per mile for similar service, northumberland
ing the average wages paid to empioyees
Of the Pennsylvania are more than double
the average wages paid TO the employees OF
the London and North Western.
The expenses per ton per mile on freight
on the London and North Western are l.48
cents, on the New York Central Ass There
fore canal transportation which might COM
pete successfully with the rates which the
london and North Western must charge
would fail utterly in composition with the
rates which the New York Central could
much lower. The average rate per ton
per mile charged by the English raiw
is 2.37 cents. the New York Central 90
cent Yet the New York Centrals
freight is 81 per cent. merchandise which
erals the lowest class ~ freight: while
the London and North Western handles 7
per cent. minerals and 20 per cent; mer-
chandiae, All railroad employees in the
United States get wages averaging more
than twice as much as the wages paid on
the London and North Western. Or It's
total gross earnings per annum OF $40 900
the New York Central pays out in wages
and maintenance 88 per cent, or over s46.-
OOO. 900, dis tributed within the State OF New
York,
In connection with these figures it is in
teresting to refer to an editorial in En-
cheering Mems Of October. 1899. which the
Roosevelt canal committee embodied in
its report to the Governor. That article
pointed out the astonishing progrese made
by American railroads in reducing the cost
OF freight transportation by the improve
ments which made possible the larger train
loads. 1t sald
rea ders how the steady growth IN the power
Of locomotives and the weight Of trains has
The first triumph of the locomotive was as
a carrier of passenger trafic There were
railway managers in the esr days 5x OF bi ihs
by ny rail TO. this day in England and on the
are able to carry freight as cheapy or more
cheaply than the competing railway lines
American railwa 81. however. have developed
far beyond those OF any other country. and
American railway manasers 81 ha we proved vsi to
and steam for n motive power freight can
be moved far more eheaply than in any 4ny
| modern American freight train is in fact ex-
celled only by the vessels on the Great lakes
and on the ocean as an economical machine
for the transport Of bulk freight.
If the canal be enlarged with the 3l0i,-
600 900 and should get the tonnage which
it's partisans predict for it the freight rate
then established would be lower than the
rail rate of to day. But in the ten or more
intervening years will railroad transpor-
taton stand still or will it advance as it has
in the past fifteen years? And II it does
advance proportionatey, the rail lines will
be able to name rate profitable to them
selves which will be far below the cost OF
canal transportation. -
Ia the experiment worth SOL 900 ,0O02
You will vote on that question next No
vember