New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-16

- Some opponents Of the 1Oo0-ton barge canal
project not merely believe that the proposed ex-
peDditure is uuwarranted by any reasoaa hle
calculation o. results. hut advance the general
proposition that canals arr mavoidably dos
tined 30 fall into diSuse and railroads 10 De
come universal carriers. That view. as has
been widely noted is directly opposed 10 the
conclusions reached by the statesmen and meu
or affairs % Continental Europe and Of Can.
ada. where immense sums are being steadily
expended in tho construction of artificial water
ways. YET il cannot be lightly dismissed. for
81 rs held by citizens OF this state whose intel
ligeDce and sincerity are undisputed, while
others Of like character. though stn uncon-
WINGED. md ihenselves. perhaps with some
surprise. welding opinions which they have long
entertained and inclining 70 The belief that
canals are near the end OF their usefulness.
But il may be fairly urged that not enough
attention has been paid "a the fact that while
skill and energy and money have been lavishly
expended in the development ~ railroads in
this country the canals nave been comparative
~ neglected left 10 wage a hopeless competi-
non on grossly unequal terms and then con-
demDed as ANTICIPATED relics OF a commercial
era which has passed away. The late George
S. Morrison. whose character and eninence in
HIS profession gave great weight 10 his opn-
ions, made an exceedingly suggestive statement
on this subject last February before the canal
committees o. the Senate and Assembly. said
Nh. Morrison:
II IS a fact that no system OF transportation
can handle business or be successful to-day
which is conducted on the principles on which
Il was conducted and with the machinery with
which q was conducted twenty-five years ago.
] think there is not a single railroad except
those doing very small local business which
rullG be CppFafef other than : loSc
II had 70 use the same cars and the same loco
motives thai il used twenty-five years ago.
There are Only two exceptions 10 that
Improvement IN transportation. They are on
the Western rivers and on the canals
And " hat IS the result IN every case
v.bere water transportation has net been i'm
proved. where methods have not been improved,
ruilrosds have taken the business away. Thai
Is simply due 10 the fact that railroads ard
S,reraf M. with modern machinery. And in
every case where the water lines have kept uT
with she Same rate OF Improvement. they have
held thelr own and better. In this country Il Is
customary TO speak against canals-and canals
81 small dimensions have everywhere given way
20 other iines Of transportation. But in tbs
countries which have kept them up their I'm
portance IS a. least az great as ever.
II tho transportation policies OF the last quar-
tor 81 n century he'd been reversed-if all "a.
resources OF human ingenuity lad been en-
plovod without regard 90 expense ia developing
the possibilities Of the canals. and railroad
had been left 20 struggle for existence with
primitive equipment BY primitive methOds-w'
should probably now hear il asserted that raj
roads had survived their usefulness. II is easl
10 sec that under the circumstances supposed
such a conclusion wOUiG he irrational. A SIM
lnr conclusion IN respect 10 the canals nay no
be much less faulty under the circumstances
actually existing IL Europe. whore both sys
TENS OF transportation have been literally fos
tered. both are deemed indispensable CONNER
c.al progress. moreover. is believed 10 hav
demonstrated that. as writer in tie "Engi
neering Magazine" has put il, waterways ar