Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York

inadequate to the existing demands. The diversion of trade through the Welland canal and other channels, that legitimately belong to New-York, shows this fact.

The geographical position of the Erie canal connecting the northern lakes with tide water, will secure for it when enlarged, the trade and commerce of the west. No other avenue can compete with it, no other channel so cheap and safe. Other channels are needed, and will always be, to carry products of a perishable character. Without our railroads even now, the Erie canal would be blocked up with tonnage, to the injury both of the producer and consumer, and our highways literally crowded with burthens of freight and passage.

Allowing the above estimate to be correct, it will require far greater facilities than are now in contemplation to meet the demands of our internal commerce ten years hence. It cannot be expected that New-York can maintain her high position, as in times past, without speedily increasing the capacity of her canals. If she neglect to do this, the jealous rivalry of other States and Provinces, will divert her business and drain her of the revenues and trade so vital to her interests.

The enlargement as contemplated will effectually secure us the trade of the great west and place us beyond the reach of competition. Boats will be propelled by steam on the enlarged canal at one half the present expense per ton, while the tolls may be reduced one-fifth from the present rates, thereby securing the transportation of flour from Buffalo, Black Rock or Tonawanda, to the city of New-York for 3s. per barrel, a distance of over 500 miles; and by a still further reduction, such as the contemplated facilities will warrant, flour will be landed at tide water from Lake Erie for 2s. 6d. per barrel. The forwarder will then be in a better position to be remunerated for his risks and labor than he now is, while the producer and consumer, and the country, will be essentially benefited, and it is believed that the enlarged canal, with a still further reduction of tolls, will have capacity enough to produce a revenue of at least $1,000,000 per annum.

The estimates that have been made of the probable revenues of the Erie canal, since the commencement of the internal improvement enterprise have uniformly fallen below the actual receipts. New channels have been opened, and trade has found new outlets, but still, after a quarter of a century's observation, and experience, we have renewed and growing evidence of the importance of this work, and such as should convince the most skeptical opposers, and nerve to immediate and energetic effort the friends of the canal policy of the State.

JACOB HINDS.

INDEX.

Division of the canals,...

Length and estimated cost of the unfinished portion of the canals,

since the close of the fiscal year,