Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-19
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
.l.E4L COMMISSIONERS

Canal COMMISSIONERS
OF TIE SPATE or NETWORK,
PRESENTED TO TIE LEGISLATURE, FEBRUARY
20, 1924
To the Legislature of tho State of New-York, pur-
suant 10 the act, entitled "au act, respecting
vigablc communications between the great west
and northern lakes, and the Atlantic Ocean"
passed l5tl. April, 1917, the Canal Commission
ers ,ncst respectfully report
That during the last year, in consequence of the
unusual quantities of snow and heavy rains late in
the Spring, it was impossible ~ the canal contrac
tors, the parts of the Erie canal, pro-
sccutc their works 20 an. advantages, much before
the first of June. And deep SHOWS, and severe cold
had materially discouraged and retarded the pro-
gress of their abors through the winter. The sum
incr months were fair: but with the autumnal cQu-
NOM commenced course offrcqucnt rains, extreme
~ unpropitious to our operations and this fol-
lowed by very early wir'er. The season, for pro-
iitab|c labor towards completing the canals, and
for navigation upon them, has been uncomlnonly
short. Still the advancement of those works and
the amount of toll arising from their use, we trust,
wiilnot disappomt the favorable ancipations of the
public The Champlain canal is finished; and two
hundred and eighty miles of tho Erie canal, have
hccn actually navigated, from carly in October to
ihe close of the season. Both canals have produced
toll of one hundred and hfty-thrce thousand nine
'y-nine dollars and forty-scvcn cents
One of the most important duties devolved upon
Ininaon of the question: relating to the connection
of our works with lake Eric. After hearing all the
suggestions, of facts and inference offered to us by
persons Immediately interested in this subject, and
Nho from their business aud situation, might be pre-
sumed able to give useful information conce rning
IT, and after much personal examination of locali-
ties and the institution of important experiment.,
This determination has been deliberately made.
We have decided
lSt. That the conneXion originally proposed be-
tween the canal and Little Buffalo creek, is be
effected, and the navigation the point of that
nexion 10 be rendered safe and easy; and,
Cd. That contract should be entered into, for the
construction of "a harbour ut Black Rock, i'll con-
tormty with the act of the Legislature of 1922.
In order to lessen the expense, much as posi-
BILE, of opening the canal through the lake Erie level
which extends from Buffalo, to Lockport, distance
of thirty miles, and includes all the deep cutting of
the mountain edge, 1t was necessary to take the wa
ters of the lake, at high point as was practical
Bile. And the surface of the lake at the mouth of
Buffalo creek is higher than it is at any popt acccs-
siolc by shorter route. To this consideration of
economy, was added, that of tho valuable use, which
might be made of the waters of Buffalo creek, as a
harbor, iii case the canal should be connected with
II according to our original proposition. These
views, which governed first decision, as tn the
western termination of the Erie canal we think are
entitled sufficient weight still to justify our ad-
Aerence TO that decision.
Without special authority, the canal commissions
trs were not warranted in making any appropriate
Gil for the construction of harbor or basin any
where. Accordingly they have never contemplated
such an appropriation, except under the authority
OF special statutes. In 1919, a law was passed giving
The canal commissioners, certain powers relating
20 the construction OF harbor at the mouth of Buff
ialG creek, and authorizing charge for that pur-
pose, upon the canal fund, of twelve thousand dol
lars, upon certain conditions: and i'll 1922, another
law was passed, authorizing the said commissioners
iii their discretion, and upon certain conditions
contract for the construction of harbor at Black
Rock, and TO pay therefor twelve thousand dollars,
over and above the amount Of their estimate Of the
expense of an Independent canal, along the margin
OF said harbor that Isl of that part of the Erie canal
for which the said harbor would serve as n substi-
tute- 1t seems to have been the intention of the
Legislature, to place these villages of Buffalo and
Black Rock upon footing of perfect equality,
public patronage, towards the construction of their
harbors and to appropriate literally III aid of both.
Certain citizens of Black Rock, having made us
proposition to contract for the construction of
harbor at that place, i'll respects conforming with
the acquisitions of the act last above mentioned,
accepted it. Aud, i'll order to determine the consi-
deration to be inserted il said contract, cxamin
ed the ground, where the canal along the margin of
said harbor must have been located, and directed
one OF our engineers to make new estimate of the
expense of constructing it. This done, and this
new estimates together with two others made diff
iercnt times, by two other engineers, was laid before
the price OF some items of labor required in them,
we made up our own estimates, at u SUM- lower than
Two of the said engineers had made theirs, and high
er than This estimate of ours, amounted to
1888 10, which with the $4,000 mentioned in the
act, is the consideration of said contract.
Inacceptins the proposition made to us by citizens
CT Black Rock, we were influenced chiefly by the
following considerations:
lst We believe the harber at that place, if faith
fully constructed upon the planproposcd will be
sonably safe and permanent.
The opposite and deep interest felt by those who
have had the best opportunity of Judging to the
zeal danger to be apprchended TO the works neces-
sary in the construction of this harbor, led to such
coDtrarety OF statements afforded but little sa-
;isfaCton. From all we heard, and all we saw, how
ever, it apparent that the principal danger
would arise from the current from the ice. and from
the sand.
The force OF the current produced by the depth Of
the water, and It's r=pidty, was supposed to be so
great, to make it very difficult to place and
construct the mole, which is to constitute the most
expensive and exposed part of the harbor, the bot
tom OF the river, as To give IT, when completed, the
necessary stability. The result of some experience
this subject, has removed our fears. A part of
this mole, about sixteen rods in length, CONSTRUCT
red in 1922, upon suggestion, in the rapid and
deep of the river by which the practicable
" of placing and securing the whole sufficient
~ demonstrated.
But, our greatest cause of fear was the ice which
when the lake breaks up, comes down the river, in
gfea: quantities, and with great violence, floating
with the current, and driven by the winds waves.
In reference to this danger it is peculiarly favorable
20 the security of the MOLE that it is protected at the
upper end by Bird Island, which is a rock rising a
little above the surface of the water, except when
the lake is uncommony high, and stretching right
angles with the of the MOLE about forty rods
and it ~ sustained at the lower end by Squaw
IL ,IIt