IN CONVENTION, Feb. 27, 1868.

Resolved, That there be printed, in addition to the number already printed, a sufficient number of copies of the debates, documents and journals, to furnish each of the members with three copies; and also one copy each to the Mayor and the members of the Common Council of the city of Albany, and one copy each to the State Law Libraries at Rochester and Syracuse, the law libraries of the several judicial districts, the Law Institute, the Astor Library, and the New York Historical Society in the city of New York, and the Young Men's Associations of the cities of Albany and Troy.

LUTHER CALDWELL, Secretary.

603

in their ability, in their integrity; and we now | years-ten years only-it was found that the vol-
point to them as our brightest ornaments in the ume of products from the Western States had in-
rise and progress of that system of internal im- creased so rapidly upon the means of communi-
provements which I believe it is the cherished cation through the canal, that it was necessary for
purpose of the people of this State to sustain. I the people of this State to make another effort to
shall not go here into the details of the proposi- meet the demand of western commerce. This effort
tion on this subject presented by the commi tee. they made in 1835. And it is remarkable that the
They will more properly come up for our consid- reasons which then prevailed with the men of that
eration when we reach that particular part of the day and induced them to adopt this project of en-
report. 1 come now to consider the more impor- larging the Erie canal, attended as it was, with a
tant question, the question of finances and the very large expenditure, and as it has turned out
question of the status of our public works during much larger than was then anticipated-are the
the period while this Constitution shall remain as identical reasons presented by the Caual Committee
the organic law. And, sir, when I look at that to this Convention to induce them to authorize
subject, I am aware it presents so many topics the enlargement of the locks and thereby to ena
that I can scarcely know what to select, for the ble the people to enjoy the full benefit of the
consideration of this committee. It covers our enlargement of the prism of the canal
whole system of internal commerce, it covers our which was resolved upon in 1835 and was fiu-
whole system of finauce; and, covering the com- ished but a few years ago. Those reasons were
merce and the finances of this State, I cannot ex- that the volume of trade coming to us and seek-
pect to be able, in the short time allotted to me, ing its admission to tide water through the Erie
to present all those various topics which, in a canal was about to be not then was, but was
more extensive and full discussion, might be soon to be much larger than the capacity of the
done. I shall, therefore, contine my remarks canal at that time. They, like wise and prudent
(especially under the limitation which has been men, like patriots, had the boldness to come
adopted this morning), to some few salient points forward and ask the people of this State to
presented in this field of discussion. Sir, it is pledge their resources to a large amount
well in this matter to look a little into the past, and to give the weight of their character and
and see what was the state of things, and what their influence to that great measure.
the object, when this canal policy was first I call the attention of the committee to the
adopted. Look into the early history of the State action of the State, in reference to the canal eu-
on this subject, aud you will perceive that the imme- largement of 1835. They did not wait for the
diate object was to open the way for the products full capacity of the canals to be actually reached,
of the western counties of this State; to relieve but anticipated the wants of the canal to accomino-
the settlers there engaged in bringing the western
part of this State into cultivation, and in planting
the germs of those settlements which have since
become large towns and populous cities, filled
with wealth and all the productions of art and
industry. The primary object was to open a way
for sending their surplus products to market; to
facilitate their communication with the tide-water
of the Hudson, and thence to the great center of
commerce at New York. That was the first idea.
But, sir, soou it began to be seen by the masses
of the people, as it had been from the very first
by some of the most distinguished advocates of
opening an avenue for commerce from Lake Erie
to the Hudson, that the trade of the State of New
York was not the only prize to be gained by this
vast enterprise, but that the caual when built
would be the great channel of communication
with a mighty region still west of this State-at
that time in its very iufancy-a region where the
settlements had just begun to develop them
selves. Countries that then were territories of
our government, principally inhabited by the
aborigines, but which have since grown up into
large, wealthy and powerful States. Under these
ideas the work was began. The primary design
of it was to accommodate the people of this
State; next to secure the commerce growing up
at the West-how large no one could then con-
jecture. It was hoped that whatever it might be
it would find its way through this avenue to mar-
ket. The result of this project was the Erie canal
which was completed in 1825. But, sir so rapid
was the development of the resources of the
western territories that in the short period of ten

date the largely increased and increasing volume
of western trade. In 1833 the canal cominis-
sioners, consisting of Messrs. Van Rensselaer,
Bouck, Young, Earl and Hoffinan, speaking of
the enlargement of the canals in their report of
that year, say, "The period has arrived when in
this enlightened policy the locks of the Erie canal
east of Syracuse should be doubled;" and again,

the capacity of the canal to meet the wants of
the transportation must be attained by extending
the locks and enlarging the canal to admit boats
of greater tonnage. Governor Marcy, in his an-
nual message, of 1834, speaking of the West and
its trade, says:

**

"No human efforts--no conceivable change of
circumstances can check its rapid settlement, or
put far off the time when it will be the abode of
a population of many millions, abounding in
wealth and in numbers. If our canals are to be
what a wise management cannot fail to make
them, the principal channels of this trade, we must
ca'culate its extent and make them adequate to this
object. *
We ought not, however, to
flatter ourselves that we shall enjoy what we now
possess and what lies in prospect before us with
out competition. The western trade is a noble
prize for which several of the Atlantic
States are contending with a laudable emulation,
and they are making powerful efforts to remove
the barriers interposed by nature between them
and their object. * * * It has already be-
come quite evident that the capability of the Erie
canal will not much longer be adequate to the ex
igency of the business upon it. The improve
ments which will soon be required are double

locks, to facilitate the passage of boats, and an enlargement of the canal in its width and depth." In 1835 Governor Marcy again called the attention of the Legislature to the importance of this enlargement in his annual message. In January, 1835, a special report was made to the Legislature on the subject of this enlargement, in which the canal commissioners say that to secure the cheapening of transportation, by reducing the rates of toll and expenditures, the enlargement would be delayed and the business of the country, so rapidly increasing, would seek other channels and, with the tolls, be lost to the State." The Canal Committee of the Legislature to whom this subject was referred, reported favorably and in their report said: "The magnitude of the work and the present crowd of business upon the canal, make it necessary to commence it without delay. By doubling the locks and increasing the capacity of the canai for boats of 120 tons burden the charges for transportation will be reduced more than fifty per cent, exclusive of tolls, which would give a reduction of over twenty-five per cent in the aggregate expense, and the canal will be in a condition to accommodate more than four times the business." The bill for the enlargement of the Erie canal was passed and approved by the Governor in 1835 and the canal board in 1836 say that "the enlargement of the canal and locks to the proposed dimensions will lessen the expense of transportation exclusively of tolls about fifty per cent."

how this is. I find, sir, in looking at the reports on this subject which have been made, that in the year 1864 the canal board, in its report to the Legislature, stated that the Erie canal had, for the then past two years, nearly reached its maximum capacity for property seeking tide water. We should mark the language here. Not that in general its capacity had been reached, but that in the two years immediately preceding 1864, for property coming from the West seeking tidewater, the capacity of the Erie canal had been nearly reached. But this year another report has been presented by the commissioners of the canal fund, in which they say that the greatest tonnage of the Erie canal has never been reached within twenty-five per cent of its capability. We have some testimony on this subject, however, which has been reported to this Convention, which ought to be considered by this committee in deciding this question, provided it be regarded as necessary to be decided, which I do not deem it to be. However, I propose to call the attention of the committee for a moment to the testimony of Mr. Wright. He was formerly a canal commissioner, a man of great ability in the discharge of his duty as canal commissioner, and who, for a long time before he held that office, was much engaged upon the canals in business. He was asked, in regard to the capacity of the canals as they now are, and the business of the present season. It is well known to the committee that the business that comes upon the Erie canal from Now, sir, I appeal to this committee and I ask the Western States is principally in the fall, and that the same spirit may auimate its members, it arises from this state of facts, which I know that did those distinguished men who directed from my own observation, both on the canal and the affairs of the State in 1835; and I claim that from an intimate acquaintance with some of in that spirit and confidence, after the main part those producing regions of the West. If there of this work of enlargement has been finished, after is a good market for their breadstuffs at the the prism of the canal has been completed for a disclose of the harvest, every western farmer is anx. tance of more than three hundred miles we ious to gather his harvest as soon as possible and shall not refuse for this still increasing volume of send it forward to market. And what is true of trade, to allow similar appropriations to enlarge one is true of all. The whole country is moved its accommodations and cheapen its transit. That by one impulse to press forward their breadstuffs having enlarged the prism of the canals, we by to market and to get them to the Erie canal at enlarging the locks to conform to its size may Buffalo before the month of October. Hence it enjoy the full benefit of what it was originally comes that during the busy season we find, pressintended the enlarged canal should confer. Sir, ing forward through the Erie canal, a large pormuch has been said in this discussion with regard tion of the surplus product of the Mississippi to the present capacity of the canal, whether valley urging its way as fast as practicable to really, up to the present time, the capacity of the market. This part of the season is noted genercanal has been equaled by the volume of trade ally by those who are acquainted with the canal which is pressing upon it. In my view of that as the season of great pressure of business upon subject, sir, I do not think it by any means an in- the canal. Hence in speaking of that business in dispensable matter of fact, to be settled by this the year 1862, in which this gentleman was Convention. Some testimony was received by a commissioner, he was asked "was there the Committee on Canals bearing upon this sub-at times more than you could do?" ject. Wo have reports, too, from our officers He said, "I will tell you the fact in regard to intrusted with the administration of the affairs these detentions which Mr. Breed alludes to;" of the canal; and there seems to be, both among (another witness) "this large number of boata these and among the witnesses who have testi. were there sometimes, but the men worked at it fied in reference to this matter, some diversity of so energetically and faithfully that the boatmen opinion with regard to the exact points reached were satisfied, and I reported that there was no by the volume of trade in reference to the material detention; still every month in the capacity of the canal. I voted this morning year, at some time, you could stand and count most cheerfully for the proposition that an from ten to one hundred boats waiting to be examination should be had on this subject, locked through." Another gentleman was examby a very able and intelligent officer of the State; ined by the special committee sent by this Confor I desire to have this question, if it can be, ex-vention to Syracuse for the purpose of making an actly solved. I would be happy to learn, in fact, 'examination at the lock at that place, which re

Let

me briefly, in confirmation of this proposition, call the attention of the committee to some interesting facts. They show that rapid increase of the trade which we desire to receive and retain, Sir, in 1826, the first year after the Erie canal went into operation, the amount of tolls was only $844 508; in the year 1866 the amount of tolls was $4,253,224, an increase in that period of more than five times the amount in 1826. And before 1866, in the year 1863, which has been stated by some gentlemen to have been an exceptional year, by reason of the turning of the trade over the Missis sippi river this way the tolls rolled up to the magnificent sum of over five millions of dollars. But let us look back only to the short period of ten years. Ten years back, in 1856, the amount of toils was $2,721,740; in 1866 it was $4.253,220, just about double. How was it with the tonnage? We find that in the year 1837 the amount of tonnage upon the Erie canal derived from the Western States was $56,225; while that gathered from the State of New York was $351,251; showing the large preponderance, at that time, of trade from our own State, of five times the amount of trade derived from the State of New York, brought on our canals, over what was derived from the Western States. And the trade from the State of New York continued in the ascendant for ten years, down to the year 1847, when it ell below the Western trade some $300,000-the

ceives the boats from all the canals west of it,, permit it to be hampered, to be restricted of its embracing the Oswego canal. This was Mr. Dele-rights, to be set back and driver upon other and mater, who has been there for seven years act-competing routes. We should now resolve upon, ing as lock-tender. He states, in reply to the and adopt some measures-I do not say whatquestion, "What would you think was the long- to accommodate it when it shall reach us. est time when there were boats waiting here steadily for lockage?" He replied, "about a week and that this was in November." He then goes into some statistical details to confirm his statement with regard to the detentions. Another gentleman, whose testimony was deemed by the committee of great importance, Mr. Littlejohn, has been over thirty years a practical forwarder. His attention has been called to the subject over and over again. This gentleman states that there were detentions, that the detentions were of the most serious character, and that they occurred just in the latter part of the season, when the volume of trade from the west was greatest, Sir, as I said before, I am not here to measure the exact degree of this detention. I do not stand before this committee to prove by this testimony. whether the detention was a week, or was a single day. My object in recurring to the testimony is to show that by the testimony of men well acquainted with the state and progress of business on the Erie canal, there are times when there are detentions from the very great pressure of business, and so far, we may fairly conclude that the report of our officers having charge of the canals is correct, and the state of navigation on the Erie canal is as they stated to us in 1864 and that, for several years previous to that, the volume of trade had nearly or quite reached the capacity of that canal. But sir, if we were to lay the report of 1864 out of con-rade from the West on the Erie caual being sideration, and take the statement made in the 912,000 tous, and that from this State being report of the commissioners of the canal fund to 618,000 tons. And in 1860, the year to which the Legislature the year that the volume of trade we look for the last comparisons on this subject, had come up to uear 25 per cent of the capacity the trade in tonnage from the Western State was of the caual, still the question before this com- 2,235,716 tons; and only 287,948 tons derived mittee is not varied. It is not a question of exact from this State, eight times more tonnage carried calculation how long we can stand still and wait upon the Erie canal, derived from the Western for this growth of trade at the West; how long States, than was derived from this State. I now we can refuse to provide the accommodations state, as the opinion of those who are most condemanded of us; whether we shall wait until the versant with the workings of our canal system, tide of increasing trade shall have risen to its that we are to rely in the future mainly upon the height, and shall be beating at the very gates of trade that shall come to us from the rich and commerce for the purpose of easy transit. No growing States of the West and North-west; aud prudent man, no man who seeks the prosperity of that if we relied only upon the tolls to be gatherthis commerce, would ever desire that. He ed from our own State, it would suffice barely to would look forward to the tide of trade as it was defray the expenses of the care, maintenance, coming; he would anticipate its arrival; he and ordinary repairs of our canals, even if it would with all proper appliances entice it this would do that. Such being the source, then, way, and when it came, he would be prepared, from which we are in the future to derive our with improved accommodations, to receive it and trade, let us inquire whether we can rely upon carry it to its ultimate destination. Such was the that source, whether we can justly expect in the policy of those who resolved upon and executed future, as it has been in the past, this vast and the enlargement of the prism of the canal in growing acquisition of trade on the canal, to be 1835; such should be our policy now. And derived from the Western and North-western whether we have exactly reached that point States. This is our reliance; we must have faith where the volume of produce coming from the in the future. We must believe in the growth of West is found to press upon the capability the trade of the West; and we must determine of the canals or not, we are assured, as that our canals shall be ready in capacity and in I shall show this committee, that it is soon all the conveniences of navigation to receive it. to come. It is therefore our true policy to be ready to receive it. Sir, this trade is soon to come, and to come in such volume that we shall be compelled, if we do not prepare for it now, to

We must have some of that faith and some of that boldness, at such a juncture of our affairs, as animated those patriots who first projected this system of internal improvements, the men of the