The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-08
The Canal Campaign.

As Governor OpELL has signed the
bill for submitting the hundred-million
canal project to a popular vote, We
commend to every reasoning taxpayer
and citizen the protest against II filed
with the Governor by Mr.. JOHN I.
PLATT. II is the most searching illumi-
nation OF the economic and financial
folly OF the barge canal proposition that
has yet appeared.
Mr.. PLATT is a well-known newspaper
editor and Republican politician living
in Poughkeepsie. No man in this State
knows more about the canals than he
or is a better judge upon the effect that
the big canal scheme will have upon
the future Of the Republican party.
Mr.. PLAT objects 70 the canal under
taking first upon tho general grounds
that 1t is improper that the people should
be taxed for an Improbable enterprise,
and the canals OF the State OF New
York have been Improbable for years;
that the sole effect of the canal will be
TO build up the city Of Buffalo and two
or three localities Of the State at the
expense of other sections; that cheaper
transportation is not in the interest OF
the State Of New York unless it Is OBJ
tanned by cheaper cost; that it can in
no sense be said TO be in the interest OF
the people Of New York State to tax
themselves for the purpose OF affording
a cheap avenue OF transportation for
Western products: and that canal trans
portation is not cheap and has only been
made to appear so because moro than
three-quarters Of its cost is and has
for years been paid out Of the State
Treasury. Mr.. PLAT also points out
that the history Of this canal enterprise
is crowded with Enthusiastically estimates
and predictions, and that those who
have favored it have flooded the State
with general assertions which they have
in few instances backed up with specific
evidence
That portion Of Mr.. PLArT's argument,
however which will attract most atten-
ton il his analysis Of the present actual
earnings OF the canal and what these
earnings will be even If the new and inn
proved canal is constructed. He shows
that in 1901 the canal earned Ss74,s74.70,
at a cost to the boatmen OF $50. 9l0.oi.
leaving a profit Of s7e,9637s, to produce
which the State paid 81, 3os. 74i.79, or. a.
Mr.. PLArr says, for every dollar OF cost
paid by the traffic, the State paid $3.50;
for every dollar earned it paid $3.50. and
for every dollar of profits it paid Ns.
Taking the figures OF the canal advo-
Gates themselves both as to4hS cost OF
the work and the financial obligations
that will have TO be incurred by the State
because of it, Mr.. PLATT shows that the
annual cost Of the new canal TO the State
Treasury will be ss,sos,7N.79. Still cling
ing to the estimates made by the friends
Of the Davis bill Of the freight that
will be carried, Mr.. PLATT shows that the
canal will earn 81 ,66e, 22s.3s, at cost to the
boatmen Of 1928, 1920, giving profit
Of S373, Oss. 20, to produce which the State
must pay the enormous sum previously
mentioned: that is to say, for every
dollar paid by the boatmen the State
will pay se42, for every dollar earned
the State will pay Ass, and for every
dollar of profits the State will pay S22.27.
Moreover. the thousand-ton bsrges
which it is proposed to use on the new
canal are known in theory only and could
not even navigate the Hudson River
until that rivers channel is dredged out.