Year: 1872

Tho Eric Canal and tho Western Trade
facilities of communication between the sea-
board and the West is rapidly forcing itself on
the minds of the commercial community.
No part of the Commonwealth is more deeply
interested in the solution of the problem Of
cheap freights than the inhabitants Of New York
city. Owing to the enterprise of her citizens in
time past this city became the great outlet for
the produce of the West; but rivals are springing
up rapidly In many directions, and New York
no longer affords the quickest and cheapest
route for the shipment of Western produce.
The principal danger to our prosperity arises
from the rivalry of the st. Lawrence, which
allows grain and lumber to be carried directly,
without transshipment, to the sea coast. and
even to Europe. Our old-fashioned communi-
cation by the Erie Canal is too slow, and our
high tariff railways are too dear, to enable us
to compete successfully for the carrying trade
with the Canadians. As result we see the
immense grain and lumber trades, which at
one time were almost wholly in our hands,
passing away to strangers All the while we
exhibit an indifference which will DO regretted
when it is too late.


In the news columns to-day we publish d
communication on the subject of converting
the Erie Canal into freight line. Whether that
would be o satisfactory solution Of the diff
Guilty is not quite clear. It appears to us
rather that such an expedient would not meet
all the requirements of the case. There is ono
hon hot k1,o
consideration of all who are interested in the
welfare of New York. It is the establishment
of a railway entirely devoted to carrying
freight The wear and tear on q road spe-
cially equipped would be very much less. and
the delays and inconveniences of the present
system could be almost wholly avoided. Tho
expense of working such line would not sp-
proximats to that incurred under the mixed
freight and passenger system. Without inter-
fering with existing means of communication,
such line would afford facilities for the car
rying of produce from the interior without in
curing the cost Of transshipment' Travelling
at lower rate of speed, but without any Of
the shuntings and delays which are 80 vexa-
tious at present. great deal of valuable
time would be saved. It would also
be practicable to carry freight at much lower
rates than are charged at present. Indeed.
unless the commercial community here make
some effort in this direction the whole Western
trade will eventually be turned into new apd
cheaper channels. This is q matter that init
mately interests all classes of citizens and
ought to receive prompt attention If private
enterprise is not equal to undertaking the
establishment of highway it might with ad-
vantage be undertaken by the State and
worked, not in the interest Of company, but
for the benefit of the whole people. In very
few years it would pay the expense of con-
struction and would then become valuable
means of revenue to the government Belgium
and Switzerland have set US the example of
taking the control of the commercial highways
out of the hands Of private associations, and
the result has been extremely beneficial to the
people. Why should we not try the same ex-
pertinent herep