The sun., 1903-05-12
A SAMPLE OF CANAL FINANCE.
ON BLACK RIVER TRAFFIC STATE
PAID SI.5S A TON.
Striking Figures in supt Boyds Report
Showing That Had the State Sent the
Stun by Rail and Paid the Charges
II Would Have Saved 2S Gents Ton.

| Here is an illustration Of canal improvi.
dence:
The division of the Black River Cana
known as the second section lies between
Boonvile and Lyons Falls. The whole
tonnage north and south on this section in
1902 was $500 tons. The State spent in
maintenance alone on this section that
year sl3,2o7 So Every ton Of freight cost
the State 81 .5s.
The average freight rate between Lyons
Falls and Boonville by railroad is $i.2o
ton.
BY abandoning the canal between these
points and carrying this freight by rail
free of expense TO coEsignee or consignor
the State would have saved % cents a ton.
These figures are not the calculations of
persons hostile to the canal. but are taken
from the official report Of Charles S. Boyd,
State Superintendent Of Public Works,
who is one Of the warmest advocates of the
proposition to enlarge the canal at a cost OF
$1O1 .OOO,0 900.
Nor was this an exceptional year. The
same official report shows that in 1900 every
ton of freight cost the State 81, and in 1901
$l.45, Advancing in this way, the cost to the
State in 1908 on that section of the canal
will be about 81 rs.
And this is what the State Superintendent
says in his report:
in my Judgment the shrinkage in the
tonnage business on this section of the
Black River canal is due entirely to natural
causes. and therefore is permanent.
All the persons now favoring the 600
ton barge act were as heartily for the 80. .OOO.-
900 act. Thisis what the State Superintend-
ent of Public Works says of the effect Of
that large expenditure:
The canals as whole are only now
emerging from the chaotic condition in
which they necessarily were left as re-
suit of the hastily started and suddenly
interrupted deepening improvement author
lied by Chapter 70 of the Laws of 1896"
Speaking of the canal traffic Of last year
the Superintendent says:
This showing constitutes a very great
disappointment in view of the favorable
auspices which prevailed during the early
part of the season"
1t has been a great disappointment for
thirty years.
And again he says:
1T l. Il fair estimate to say thot for every
now boat constructed during the last six
wears ten boats have been abandoned.
With this condition existing and bound to
continue. even the most enthusiastic canal
men. it would seem to me. have little ground
for hoping to see any great revival III canal
interests as reflected in tonnage shipments"
According to statistical figures by the
canal advocates, canal freight rates are
much lower than rail rates now. Shippers
seem to prefer the superior facilities of the
railroad which in its advances has crowded
the canal out forever.
The plan OF the Davis act means a little
bigger ditch. canal beats somewhat larger
and a State debt bigges, of ell. The most
optimistic es, innate is that the barge will
be able to make ten round trips in a year,
while railroad freight car can make one
round trip, Buffalo to New York. every
forty-cght hours.
A railroad from Buffalo to New York
could be built for $50, 600 600. while Gov.
Odell est imated on Jan. I, that the canal
will cost over s255 ,OOO,OOO.
If you want to stop this drain on the State
Treasury to enlarge a ditch and enrich a
political machine vote mo" xt November