"Within the last ten years the cost of transportation by railroad has been reduced one-half. All the improvements tending to cheapen transportation are made by the railroads. "As to the clamor about diverting traffic to the Canadian lines, it is senseless. The great mass of grain brought from the West is for local consumption. Two millions and a half of people residing in the city of New York and its suburbs are not going to bring the grain for their own consumption by way of Montreal. A large share of the flour and grain carried by the New York Central is for local consumption in New England. Formerly it came to New York city, and was distributed from that point. It is now carried direct. For instance, flour and grain, for consumption at Springfield and Worcester, are carried from the point of shipment in the West direct to those places without change of cars. They cannot be diverted. "The Erie Canal still has a certain utility. It should be nursed along, but without any expectation of regaining the place it once occupied in the transportation of the country. The taxpayers of this State will not always consent to pay a bonus of $700,000 per year in order to get tonnage for the Erie Canal." HORATIO SEYMOUR TO TILDEN "UTICA, _Sept. 25, 1857_ (_1885_). "DEAR SIR,--I have received your letter of the 22d inst. I wrote the note to the Rochester paper, not because you would care for it, but because I felt it was due to myself to correct any such statement. I am aware that you are used to and indifferent to such attacks. "I am seventy-five years old, and suffer from nervous attacks. I had _a sunstroke_ in 1876, from which I never recovered. It has progressed until it has weakened my body and my memory in many respects. I have not been away from Utica during the past two years, except to visit my sister at Coquemen. I have a man in constant attendance. I leave my farm to drive over to Utica about once in a week. If I get into your section of the State I shall be happy to call upon you. I do not keep track of current events. I went to the convention about our canals. I was nominally its chairman; but I presided only a few minutes, as I was too deaf to hear. My attendance harmed me. I have not been as well since. As I can take no exercise, I grow in weight, which makes me look better and feel worse. I hope I may live to see you again, but it is doubtful. "Truly yours, &c., "HORATIO SEYMOUR." HORATIO SEYMOUR TO S. J. TILDEN "UTICA, _October 7, 1885_. "MY DEAR SIR,--A few days since I received with my mail a letter from you. I glanced at it, and laid it aside with a view of reading it with attention. Since then I have been unable to find it amongst my papers. I find my memory is so much impaired that I am apt to forget what I do when I put aside with care. I cannot, therefore, write you a responsive reply. I am mortified by such mistakes, which multiply as memory fails.