New-York tribune., 1903-01-28
NAY BLOCK CANAL PLAN.
GOOD ROADS ULTTlfATUH
Fifty Millions for Highscays or No
Legislation. Sag Leaders.

Albany. Jan. q tSpeciaD-The commercial or
ganzations of the State which earnestly favor the
Improvement of the States canals. acting through
representatives here to-day came to agreement
upon bill for presentation TO the legislature for
the improvement OF three of the canals OF the
State-the Erie the oswego and the Champlain.
The Erie and the OsweEo they propose TO enlarge
that they can be navigated by thousand ton
harges; the champain they suggest shall have a
depth Of seven feet for half its length. and depth
for the other half of perhaps more than seven
feet, by using the Hudson River the canal chan
mel
a concession made to the Champlain Canal
advocates by the insertion OF a provision in
the canal improvement bill for an additional
expenditure OF S1.0oOo0O for barge canal locks on
the Hudson River from Troy 10 Fort Edward
The locks would give slack water navigation be
tween those points and thereby provide an outlet
TO the region about Ford Edward for its lumber
wood pulp and other products Those attending the
conference said the public might rest assured that
the $4,000 600 bond issue proposed was large enough
TO complete the work OF canal Improvement
GOOD ROADS OR NO CANALS,
While the advocates Of the canal bill were in
session there gathered in the State Capitol a
set Of men representing in a great degree the
dominant element in Republican politics, planning
SO to amend the canal bill to defeat it unless
their demands are granted Lieutenant Governor
Frank w Higgins, s Fred Nixon the Speaker of
the Assembly; Senator ]. p. Aids, James .
Rogers leader Of the majority in the Assembly;
Senator William Armstrong and others practically
decided that unless a s50ooo,eo bond issue was
added to the So, 600 proposed in the canal bill
canal measure would he allowed TO pass the
legislature and go TO the Governor.
The additional S50.oOoee0 asked for Is to be eX-
pended according to the plans of this contingent
for the making of good roads The farmers and
the good roads interests to be appealed TO for
support the proposition projected at this meet
ing. These legislators contend that the counties
outside OF the direct line Of the canal would re-
cedve no direct benefit from the expenditure pro-
posed under the S2.ooo.eoO canal act They say
that II the canal be made available TO these
outside counties there must be good roads for the
farmers and producers to convey their produce 10
the canal for transportation that the counties on
the direct line of the canal must depend upon sood
roads for their increase in business. as Wlll the
canal counties upon the canal
Speaker Nixon contended that the eas'eIh Pdi l
If the State benefting directly by canal through
s territory should not be averse to assisting 1he
western and southwestern parts OF the State 10
buiId good roads It also cortended that IL the
State compelled counties benefited TO pay halt the
oo.. ~ constructing State road the same method
should apply to the canal unless the counties ol-
rectiy benefited willing that the good roaos
proposition for s5oeeooOo should be attached 10 lne
canal bill
&, f,- O.. she rorferrees could determine, there
were at least thirty-one available votes stanchly
for a good roads attachment 20 the canaI n'
twenty-five of which, it believed. might be oo-
tained easily and dozen others by little IN
ruence including in this tabulation the Assembly
only. In the Senate it believed the ODDS were
stir greater and that good roads would defeat 'he
canal legislation unless added 10 the. Dill ,..u
he total Of bonds which these conlerEeeS
demand 10 he issued in the bill is SlSzeneO aho
under the figures presented by the Governor LOT @
xs fon appropriation. with fifty years lnteresl
this would mean expenditure for the state oI
$50 mo- 600.
THE THIRD ANTT-CANAL MEASURE
This is the third directly antagonistc PROPOSE
ton TO the canal improvement bill. the other TWO
having been presented by Senators Lewis, OF Mon
roe and Amber of Columbia, Mr. LeWis's proPo-
sitian being 10 have United States Government
continue its work of surveying for a ship canal
while Senator Ambler's suggestion was TO allow
Tho sale of the canals corporations, individuals
OF The -nited States Government
The General lines IF the movement in favor OF
extensive canal Improvement show that Assennblg =
man Rostwck's bin providing for the thousand ION
large canal will be the basis for work, though II
will no doubt he amended in certain particulars
Senator Davis of Buffalo, will have charge OF the
hin proper and Senator Ei, Of Buffalo, VIII con-
,iurt the campaign relating to the constitutional !
amendment required extend the life Of the canal
bends from eighteen TO fifty years
The smendmei.ts the original BostWlck Dill, p
proved to-day provide that the proceeds from the
ssle of abandoned canal lands shall be added TO
the sl0eOGOG6 from the bond sales apportoned for
expenditure annually in the work.
= o Clarke. president of the Oswego Chamber
If Commerce, presided in the meeting, and George
II RAYMOND, Of Buffalo, acted as secretary.