The increase of national wealth to be accomplished nage to tide-water over 3,390,399. It is also a through the labors of nations thus to be won and well known fact that when this amount of tonnage added to the immeasurable natural advantages is pressed upon the Erie canal for transit, it cre afforded through undeveloped territory, stretching ates detentions, increases price of freight, and through so many degrees of latitude, far tran- large portions of western commerce are diverted scending even the conceptions of man. History into cheaper and speedier rival channels of transcan afford no approach to its parallel, for no other portation. No one could estimate the loss of tonnation has ever possessed a tithe of such unde- nage at such times to the Erie canal less than veloped resource, with such opportunity for its half a million or more. The forthcoming testimony development. Nor upon any limited scale can taken by the Canal committee in relation to the the past even hint at the possibilities of a future capacity of the Erie canal, will confirm these statehere indicated. An undeveloped empire invites ments if anything more is required. In order the co-operation of millions, eager for employment, to retain the western trade to the Erie canal, we and invites that co-operation through means must accommodate it with a more ample and known only to the modern day-through the cheaper transit. The tables of the statistics of instrumentality of steam, and all the great inven- the tonnage of the Erie canal, show that in tions and improvements which so facilitate modern progress. In estimating our inland commerce and transit, we must soon include the great overland trade and travel between Europe and Asia. At New York the various products of all these regions will meet shipping from the eastern ports of the Atlantic, and the multiform products of the machinery of Europe, and of the industry and ingenuity of her people, as well as of our own, will in return be diffused throughout our continent and into Asia. every decade this tonnage has been doubled; and in the present capacity of the Erie canal, as is claimed by some, is now adequate, are we not inperatively called upon to make some provision for increase, to meet the demands of the future? The population and productions of the west, and the tonnage of the Erie canal, as has already been shown, have doubled in every decade for the last twenty years. No one can doubt but what this ratio of progress will be continued in the future, with a proportionate increase of revenues from the Erie canal, without we abandon our past wise canal policy. The necessity of the enlargement, and the means through which it can be accom plished by the application of the revenues of the Erie canal, have been so fully and so recently set forth and recommended in Governor Fenton's message, which is sustained in other official docuThe ability of the Erie canal to meet the re- ments from the Comptroller, Auditor, Canal quirements of this vast and growing inland com- Commissioners and State Engineer, that it merce can be best ascertained by stating its does not seem necessary to add to them. assumed maximum capacity for downward freight, If their views are correct, the cost of 4,000,000 tons. To pass this large tonuage a boat transportation would be reduced, by a further enmust go through the Alexander lock (the recog-largement of the Erie canal, one-half. There is nized standard of tonnage of the Erie canal), every no doubt that the increased traffic which would ten minutes during every day and hour of the season of navigation, irrespective of breaks or detentious. The annual tonnage of the Erie canal, from this and other States, for the last decade, is as follows: The central position of this continent, midway between Europe and Asia, makes our territory not only the highway for our own trade, but the great thoroughfare for the world, and at no distant time our metropolitan center will become the city of the world's commerce. From this State, tons. Total tons. be invited to the Erie canal would enable the State to reduce the tolls, in a few years, one-half, and still leave an increasing surplus every year to pay off the present canal debt, with the additional debt to be paid from the revenues for immediate improvement; and then, if it must be so, pay back to the State the taxes which the people bave paid for our unremunerative lateral canals-the bad investments of the State made to promote the interests of political parties or the ambitious schemes of politicians. The Erie and Champlain canals have paid into the treasury the sum of $192,455,779.57, leaving a balance to their credit of profit and interest, 1,420,715 above the cost of construction and maintenance, 374,580 1,587,180 and all other expenses and charges, of $23,108,1,117,199 1,496,697 326.01. 197,201 327,839 1857, 1858. 1859, 918,998 1,273, 099 1,036,634 1860, 1,896,975 1861. 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 2,158,425 291,184 414,699 1,451,333 Add to the above debt of the Champlain canal 379,086 2,276,061 as appears by the Auditor's reply to an inquiry by 2,449,609 2,917,094 the committee, $2 943,089.92, and this would make 2,647,689 the Erie canal a contributor to the State treasury 2,146,634 from its surplus after paying for cost of construe 2,077,180 tion and all other charges, $26,651,415.93. The inquiry naturally arises who paid these millions If the local or internal traffic of the State is of tolls? An examination of the amount of the added to the through downward tonnage, the tonnage on the Erie canal for the last decade will above amounts are largely increased. It is ascer-show that they were mostly paid by the people of tained that in 1862, this item increased the ton- tho Western States for the transportation of their INDEX. ABOLISHMENT OF COURT OF APPEALS, Resolution in reference to, 233. ABOLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF ADJOURNMENTS OF LEGISLATURE, Amendment of Mr. Hitchcock in reference to, 3594. Amendment of Mr. Ketcham in reference Amendment of Mr. Van Campen in refer- ence to, 3594. Resolution of instruction to committee on revision to amend article on organiza- 1919, 1951, 2058, 2098, 2263, 2528, 2529, Committee on, resolution to obtain infor- Debate on report of committee on, 3265 to Debate on report of committee on revision Report from committee on, 2274. AGAN, FRANK, Appointed messenger, 29. ALBANY, Resolution tendering thanks of Conven- Resolution to appoint select committee to ALDERMEN, BOARDS OF, prepare, 3777, 3865. Report from committee on, 3916. ADJOURNMENT, Debate in reference to, 187, 2655. ADJOURNMENT to Saratoga, Resolution in reference to, 25, 161, 358. ADJOURNMENT, FINAL, OF CONVENTION, Remarks of Mr. Develin on, 3140. ALIENISM AFFECTING TITLE TO REAL ESTATE, Resolution in reference to, 647, 673, 3283, ALIENS, EQUAL RIGHTS OF, TO HOLD REAL ESTATE, 3891 Remarks of Mr. Alvord on, 3258. A delegate from the thirty-second sena- Minority report from committee on finance, Oath of office taken by, 18. Petition against abrogating board of re- Petition against extending right of suf frage to Indians, presented by, 3239. Remarks of, on joint report of committee on finances and canals, 1760, 1888, 1900. ALLEN, CORNELIUS L., A delegate from the twelfth senatorial Oath of office taken by, 18. Petition against abolishing office of re- Petition in reference to prohibiting dona- Petitions in reference to support of com- mon schools, presented by, 2356 Remarks by, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee a Remarks of, on resolution to instruct com- Report from committee on Governor, Resolution of inquiry in reference to pow. ers and duties of county courts, by, 100. revision to amend article on judiciary revision to amend article on town and Supplementary report from committee on A delegate from the twenty-second sens- Appointed member of committee on our ALVORD, THOMAS G., A delegate from the twenty-second sens 2391, 2488, 2687, 2755, 2765, 2801, 2816, Appointed member of committee on cities, Appointed member of committee on re- 412. Motion for call of Convention, made by, Petition in reference to prohibiting dona- Petition in reference to prohibiting the Remarks of, in reference to adjournment, 163, 187, 1912, 2657. Remarks of, in reference to amending jour- Remarks of, in reference to death of Hon. L. Harris Hiscock, 26. Remarks of, in reference to death of Hon. David L. Seymour, 1974. Remarks of, in reference to employment ment of Convention, 3412, 3414. of absence, 1863. Remarks of, in reference to incongruity in Remarks of, in reference to postponement of consideration of report of finance Remarks of, in reference to publication of Remarks of, in reference to State aid to Remarks of, on appeal from decision of Remarks of, on call of Convention, 413. Remarks of, on finances of State, 3501, Remarks of, on joint report of com- 1889, 1895, 1904, 1906, 1936, 1938, Remarks of, on motion for call of Conven- tion, 716, 718, 722, 738, 741, 742, 744, 746. Remarks of, on motion to refer reports of Remarks of, on postponement of considera- tion of report of committee on powers Remarks of, on report of committee on canals, 2020, 2021, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2093. Remarks of, on report of committee on cities, 2981, 2982, 2983, 2988, 3082, ALVORD, THOMAS G.-Continued. Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee on official corruption, 3308, 3336. Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee or. Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee on rela- tions of State to Indian tribes, 3438. Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee on revision, on article on preamble and Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks of, on report of committee on Remarks f, on report of committee on suffrage, 564, 576, 582, 594, 601, 606, Remarks of, on report of committee on town and county officers, etc., 934, 965, 998, 999, 1002. Remarks of, ou resolution calling for in- 1195. Remarks of, on resolution in reference to Remarks of, on resolution in reference to closing debate on report of committee on · organization of Legislature, 818. Remarks of, on rule in reference to pre- Remarks of, on resolution in reference to Remarks of, on resolution on debate on |