NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



By way of illustrating the growth and decline of the business 

 of the New York State canals from about 1835-36 to the present 

 time, the following statement of the total tonnage of all freight 

 on the canals, ascending and descending, and the value of the 

 same for certain years from 1837 to 1002, inclusive, is presented: 



Table no. 93 — Total tonnage and value of canal freight, 1837 



to 1902 



Tons Value 



1S37 1,171,296 $55,809,288 



1810 1,416,016 66,303,892 



1815 1,977,565 100,629,859 



1850 3,076,617 156,397,929 



1855 1,022,617 204,390,117 



1860 4,650,214 170,849,198 



1865 4,729,654 256.237,104 



1870 6,173,769 231,836,170 



1875 4,859,958 145,008,575 



1880 6,457,656 247,844,790 



1885 4,731,784 119,536,189 



1890 5,246,102 145,761,086 



1895 3.500,314 97,453,021 



1896 3,714,894 100,039,578 



1897 3,617,804 96.003,338 



1898 3,360,063 SS.122,351 



1899 3,686,051 92,786,712 



1900 3,345,941 84,123,772 



1901 3,420,613 83,478,880 



1902 3,274.610 S1.70S.453 



Without analyzing the figures in detail, ii is sufficient to point 

 out that if it is true, as popularly supposed, thai the Brie canal 

 ought to be maintained as a medium of competition with (he 

 railways, (lie figures derived from the annual statements of the 

 chief competitor of the Brie canal must he taken as conclusive that 

 the competition has, on the whole, been a failure. The railway, 

 developed as a private enterprise, has not only been able to carry 

 freight as cheaply as the canal, but has been able to charge for 



