Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-01
S7,S64,S@
IL exhibits total OF
To complete the work on the Middle d.
vision, and thus extend the enlarge
ment frsm Utica to Montezuma will
require, in addition,
2,729,OO4
SlO,693,9O3

SlO69s, 9O3
As to the time necessary, &c in order to complete
most advsntageously the enlargement" the Board
would refer to the facts thus presented from which
it will appear that in order to complete all the con
tracts now existing, an expenditure OF S5,S5fSS6
will be requisite. Stating this sum in round num-
bers at six millions, may be expended at the rate
Of three millions annually for two years, or Of two
be added the sum requisite, in order TO put under
contract and complete the residue OF the work east
OF Utica, being, as above stated, S2llO,O63, or in
round numbers two mIlliens, it will increase the
to be expended TO eight millions; and that amount
may be expended at the rate Of four millions annually
for two years, Of 81, 666 $50 annually for three
years. or it may be unequaly divided, by expanding
three millions annually, for the two first years and
two m lions for the year succeeding. Tocxtend the
enlargement westward from Utica, and reader avail
able the whole line from that point to Montszuma,
will require further expenditure OF 81 7290O4 or
in round numbers, three millions But as the work
that division is light. and will not require for its
completion more than year or two after it shall be
put under contract, 1t may be deferred until the
completion of the line to Utica; after which il will
require an expenditure Of million and half annu-
ally for two years 1t is thus shown that the com.
petion Of the work to Montexuma will cost so $685.,
sO3, including payment for work now in progress,
and that it may be easily completed within the next
five years. The division west Of Montezuma will
require 81, 2S, 0iO in addition to the work
der contract, and may be finished in two or three
years after completing the enlargement east Of Mon
tezuma. The contracts for work on that division
already entered iato amount to 81 O9S 253, and will
be executed within the next two or three years, en-
bracng all the points Of cuty that part OF the
line which will facilitate the com etion ofthc whole
at an earlier pc Rod than that before indie ated the
resources Of the State should be equal to the esti
mates already submitted In truth, no physical OBJ
stacles exist to prevent the execution OF the whole
Of the work from the Hudson TO Lake Erie within
three or four years from this time. That it would
be Advantageous to complete il soon as possible,
evident But the rate Of progress mast after all,
dopc ths oft he Att and Is.
gisature will be able to determine in each year the
amount Of work that can be judiciously undertaken
in reference to the Of the State, they shall
then appear. IL Is not in the power oil the Canal
Board to give more definite answer TO that part Of
the inquiry which relates to the time in which work
can be Peted most advantageo to the public
Interests.
In respect to the inquiry whether any change can
now be made advanageousIy to the public interests
" in the manner Of the execution Of the work.; so
far IS that inquiry relates merely 70 the style or
nances, the Board would answer, generally, in re-
spect to that part Of the work now under contract
and not yet actually executed, amountingto $685.,
sJ6: that experience on our public works has uni
formly shown IL TO be vexations, embarrassing and
difficult TO vary the details Of existing contracts and
especially after much progress has been made in
their performance. The difficulties arising from
the claims Of contractors for damages for variations
of the plan are also much increased in the Of
contracts for masonry, where subordinate agree
ments are usually entered into for the preparation
and workmanship OF the stene In all its stages from
the original quarry to its final position in the struc
ture for which it 10 designed IN respect, however,
10 mach Of the work under contract 10 COM
prised under the head OF section work. denoting
the reby the excavation, embankment and lining OF
the ordinary channel Of the canal, the Board
hessatingy of opinion that change in the plan OF
its execution can now be made, or could ever have
been made with advantage to the public. The vol
ume Of water TO be sustained in the prism Of the
lsrged canal, requires that the banks which support
IL should be thoroughly and faithfully formed and
protected; and the Board know OF nothing
in the specifications accompanying the contracts for
that portion Of the work which can safely be dis
pensed with.
With regard to the locks, aqueducts and bridges,
the Board would state, that the masonry Of all the
structures which now under contract is in rapid
progress Some Of the locks are IN fact completed;
nearly So and there is net, probably single
instance in which the stone IL not already quarred
and more or less conformed either in size work
mapship to.the existing specifications.
The aqueduct at Rochester, the most massive and
costly structure en- the canal, " nov nearly com
pleted; aud needs only its parapet walls for which
the stone is already cut That across the Osondaga
creek is also finished. Upon the three large aque:
duets the eastern division, the aggregate cost OF
which is estimated at S70f, $50 work has already
been done 10 the amount OF SSjb,ID Upon ,ne
locks between Albany and Utica, estimated AZ So
~. $40 work has been done 10 the amount OF 81
III, 100 From the proportions between the sums
thus paid add the total estimated cost WI De eV'
dent 10 all who are conversant with TINS description
of business that the masonry for these stractures
mast now he so far advanced as 90 render II difh-
clt ~ m, inrr,ctcabe at this time, to change the
pian 40 as 20 effect any material diminution Of
nor