New-York tribune., 1903-06-10
THE CANAL ARGUNENT.

In supporting the canal Improvement Dill
which passed the last legislature and when
refers to the people at the November eieclloh
the question of spending S100G010O0 on thou-
sand ton barge canal. The Tribune repeatedly
said that if, after repeated investlsauolis o3
competent commissions and the general discuS-
sion which had been going on for years, the
requisite basis of knowledge for an lhtelhseh'
decision were still lacking. it was likely to be
sunplied before the time to vote arrived mat
prediction is already in process or Imminent
The canal campaign has begun early ana SHOWS
clear signs of becoming sufficiently animated
This is as it should be. The most ardent ad-
vocates of a costly improvement VIII not at
tempt to deny that question invoiFlng many
grave considerations is presented, ana thoSe
ON both sides who are endeaVorIng TO arouse
keen nublIc interest in 1t are performing COM
mendable service.
We recently commented on the manifesto
in which the anti-canal Senators joined and
which abpeared to us to take narrow and IN
some respects demagogical view of the mat
ter. To It's more serious arguments num-
her of stalwart supporters Of the barge canal
nl.n renresenting various committees and as
cooio+ions have now made q forcible reply.
our suggestion was that the Senators from
narts of the State not SO directly concerned as
others in canal development while deserving OF
resnect for frankly making their attitude
known. could hardly expect that hlgher value
would be put on their opinion than on the de-
liberate Judgment of engineers, merchahts'
SINNERS manufacturers and students OF trahs-
nortation problems, at home and ABROAD VINO
are convinced of the great utility or lnlaho
r-o+er routes This point is enforced by Mr
Clinton Mr. Hebert Mr. Schwab and their col
leagues who cite in particular the sisnlncaht
fact that there is not a single commercial Vi
..renization in the cities OF New-Nork anu Dun
..falo that does not demand the enlargement
land Improvement of the Erie Canal as pro-
.vided for under the one thousand Ton pais sc
canal plan.
The onnonents of canal development assert
that the demand for it proceeds from terminal
do.l, and lirhterage interests in New-lork and
Buffalo. But inasmuch as the rallroauS i'idOli. az
callv control those interests. they would not
..be likely TO be clamoring for canal improve
..,nentr # is urged that the city of New-1ork
Is prosnering handsomely as things are; but that
is not powerful argument, in view OF Iiie
aSoer+ained fact that its commerce has not
..on1, shown n relative decrease as compared
"y,-itb connecting cities of this country during
the last twenty years. but has actually falIen
"off in export as we'll as in import trade Id the
.last few years. It might be added tnat
| Canada. through its immense investment IN
canals. is diverting a large amount OF coIh-
merce from this port. That is not creo1tapie
effort which seeks TO disparage the opinions anu
| desires of this city. containing nearly one-halr
| the population of the State and hearing more
| than its due share of the burdens of govern
ment. But those who in behalf Of this CITY
earnestly advocate barge canal take oroader
view than that. They contend that all parts OF
| the State would inevitably participate in the
| benefits which would result.
OF one thing we are sure-namely, that there
| was no good reason for further postponement
| of the question which the people will decide
| next November The State has had no definite
| canal policy for years 1t was time to decree
| that it should adopt It would be rash
TO predict what the choice will be, but the evil
| dent determination Of supporters and opponents
of the proposed undertaking 70 get the subject
| fairly before the voters justifes a hope that
their decision will be intelligent and wise.