New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-12

not replied to letters directed to him with regard
TO neglect of the canals and the consequent de-
cline of New Yorks commerce Mayor Follettes
address caused stir and an animated discussion
before adjournment
Albert z. HenscheI the chairman of the meet
ing. called attention to the fact that New York.
which was formerly the centre of the wheat re-
ceiving and exporting trade. had done less work
this year in that line than either Baltimore or
Philadelphia, while Montreal had received three
times the amount that New York had and had ex-
ported four times much as New York of Ameri-
wheat during week selected for a test Mayor
Toilette said:
for. New York, Albany Buffalo and Chicago are
the natural channels for shipment of goods They
this continent You are talking about the sud
MonTea and oRer ce Well Fl tSnk t5at we
will all agree that if FIVE thousand eanalboats
not Be able fo'pick and discrimnate They would
have to bring their B to The grain asrss
ment of the Erie Canal, is of the greatest inpoT-
city viii lose her supremacy She has lost it, in
one particular as you see. and we are Just wax
The railroads have raised rates against New
os cE hsy have IF agan The
the city has raised its wharfsse Ieha5ng the ne
made as free as the streets.
At the same time our rival cities are fHrnishng
wharfage for unloading free of all charge
Take the Wharfage rate off finish the canal and
gafaics BaT or slone the Wsterfront Of Staten
Island, and New York will again assume It's natural
wish to state F here that the
and esr rs wor s that
will be prepared to prove the truth Of my state
eel grass has been permitted to grow up in the
canals and no cutter has been used to remove it.
What that hat means to him, NV '-N ''',
were last year because of agitation in the Legs-
atqre last spring Then there S@ns the break b of
attended to at once this time there were plans and
blue prints and plans and our work was set PACK
boats tied up while trade was diverted to Canada
and elsewhere.
Here some one interrupted to ask whether work
being pushed forward the enlargement of
the canals
It is going on, but not actively. Mr.. Stevens, in
his message to the Legislature last spring, rec
gether.. He's opposed to canals The railroads are
Opposed to them But the pa hs OF s
the recommendation failed to meet with legislative
approval.
How about appealing to Governor Hughes?" in
quired one.
am sorry to be obliged to state that Governor
Hughes has been appealed to, without apparent
result President Roosevelt and others have done
Governor Hughes answers no letters of complaint
have a canal organization in every little town in
this state.
Captain William 9. Clark asked for further par
ticulars as to the Governors attitude. Mayor Fol-
lette said:
Well speak who has never been to a
racetrack in my life but 1 very much dsap-
pointed. personally to find that the Governor, who
has time and ability to whip the Legislature into
line on that issue, should yet do nothing in
this critical condition-one which was anticipated
by predecessor years ago, for New York City.
His attitude would be more understandable if he
lived in Baltimore Boston Surely he cannot
understand the conditions here. but why does he
not look into the matter? He takes man who
has at all times in the Legislature been hostile to
the canals and puts him the head Of the canals
in the state. and the Governor is himself, by the
constitution commissioner of the waterways in this
state He could remove the superintendent of ca
mails in a minute if he wanted to-
Mayor Toilette suggested that legislation should
be passed to force railroad companies to charge an
even mileage rate for all freight regardless of the
city shipped to. At present railroads may not
discriminate against individuals. he said. but may
discriminate against cities as whole He said
that it would be paying investment for the city,
before the completion of the new canal, to build
concrete elevators and provide sufficient wharfage
at a point not congested. The city owned Its
waterfront and has practically given 1t to those
who have 1t now.V he said.
One of the men present said that 10 per cent OF
the work with the SOL, 100000 canal appropriation
should now be under way, but that what is being
done under contract, is less than per cent.