The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-15

From reports received by the State execu-
tive committee in opposition TO the barge
canal scheme il is evident that a tremendous
vote will be polcd against the project
in the rural counties, and the promoters
of the enlarged canal hope to win by. the
vote of Greater New York and Of Buffalo.
Both sides are now fairly launched in
the campaign, The canal partsans have
had payroll for several months, 1t
carries a lot Of travelling representatives
who 20 into all the counties Of the State
distributing literature, making speeches
and ascertaining local opinion, which Is
reported back to the Offices in New York.
While the opponents have done little in the
wav of organization in New York or Buff
falo they are now carrying out plan of
campaign in the rest Of the State John
|. Platt of Poughkeepsie, who is secretary
of the State executive committee, said
yesterday:
I'VE believe that the adoption Of the
proposition that the State shall invest
SOL 900 600 in canal not large enough TO
breaking of bulk, and of less than half
the capacity of the existing Canadian canals,
which also cannot possibly carry freight
AS cheaplv az the long distance railway
freight trains now do, but will be dependent
upon the bounty of the State TO enable
il to compete with the railways, would be
an act of folly which ought not to receive
the sanction of any intelligent person in
the State. We believe that If the facts
about it are known the voters will reject
the proposition. The arguments in its
favor, so far as they have come to our at
tention, consist only of appeals to the
prejudice of the people, based on totally
unsupported general assertions.
Mr.. Plat sad the great argument in
favor of the barge canal was that New York
needs it for its grain traffic. "The railways
charge five cents for carrying abusheI Of
wheat from Buffalo 10 New York." said
Mr.. Plat. "The canal boatmen charge
four and half cents. Shippers prefer
railroad transportation at five cents to
canal transportation at four and a half
cents.
"The State gets from the railways in
taxes for every bushel of wheat they carry
one-quarter of cent. The State pays to
the canal for every bushel of wheat it car
ries four and four fifths cents Leaving
taxes and State expenditures out, every
bushcl Of wheat shipped by rail benefits the
State exactly the same AZ If shipped by
canal
Counting in taxes and expenditures,
the State loses on every bushel shipped by
canal Il little more than five cents Will il
pay to borrow SOL 600 900 to build another
and larger canal'
an the year 1901 the canals Of the state
earned in all S974 ,s7+70 In order 10 enable
them to earn this sum the State paid out Of
its treasury s3,3Os ,74l 10,
IF the barge canal be constructed a.
provided by the Davis act and if every
estimate as TO its cost, its traffic and its
saving made by its advocates be- found
correct, that canal will earn s. 1879, Dps 80
a year for the private enterprises engaged
upon il,
ALLOWING the cost OF maintenance on the
larger canal to be the same as it was in 1901
the State will have To pay OUT annually
individuals protiting by II.
"lf there IL an intelligent min who thinks
il will benefit the State or any section Of
the State or any cit Y or town therein, or any
cit Trn thereof except the benehclarles Of
this most stnpendous graft ever suggested.
let him vote for the barge canal
IF he is not CRATER. LEI him vote no D."