The New York herald., 1844-11-22

Total allowance to % persons and firms. $bl2 ITO II
Here is over half million of dollars obtained
from the State Treasury over and above their con-
tract prices, by twenty-five individuals and firms,
or an average of over $23, 600 each certainly
handsome fortune in these economical times
Well may some OF the contractors say that II 10
more profitable to lobby the Legislature than TO work
their contracts and If the same partial and exclu-
sve legislation is to be hereafter continued
tor the benefit of the canal contractors, and
they are in body to be tcketed for life upon the
hard earnings of the tax payers, is It not time to
stop the incurrng OF any new similar liability! or
should the State, under such circumstances, 60 on
with any public improvement!
Other States and individual companies are more
careful and economical, and are not lavish with
their allowances 1t is said that the State Of Ohio
has never in single instance paid more than the
stipulated prices TO their contractors, although that
State has expended about $s20, ,00O, 600 In internal
improvements, and in this State the old land marks
appear to have been entirely departed from by the
Legislature; no contract, however strong, or Sc
eaagTy ample M 20 sa1qaS sny % pro-
good contract. he pockets the profits, but if bad
cannot be proved TO be bad by the contractorD the
State max esup the losses.
A single case Of the, foregoing may be stated,
and il is believed, may be fair sample oil others.
Andrew p. Tilman and Brown took contract to
construct locks on the Cayuga and Seneca Canal,
which were paid for by the canal commissioners
at contract prices at l7 653 30 in 1927, and subse-
1928. the other in 1881, amounting to $500 30;
and in IS4l, ten years after the second allowance,
another law WIS passed, under which the Canal
Board made an additional award OF $40 239, so
that the State paid these contractors 36 693 40 in
stead of the $l7653 so stipulated in the contract,
or an increase OF over one hundred per cent The
cost of these woodlocks which have since been
twice rebuilt, was nearly the same as those OF cut
stone masonry on the western section OF the Erie
canal in its original construction east OF Rochester
And the case OF Buell. d Co. for the very large sum
awarded TO them for work not done on the Lock
port locks, would seem 10 require some explana-
tion The Board OF Canal Commissioners in 1886,
before the work commenced, fixed the width
of the lock walls for the enlarged canal at seven
est the surface OF the water put at Lockpor ne
outer walls have been increased TO ten feeand the
centre wall made thirty-two feet thick OF solid ma
sonry, which unauthorized and unnecessary change
of plan will probably IN part account for the large
sum allowed by the Canal Board; and another at
Durhamvle, when Durham and Moore had
lease of water from the State, to be resumed at
pleasure without compensation; this claim was
made to the Board OF Canal Commissioners, and
subsequently, to the Canal Board, and they each
having full power confirmed by statute, decided
that there was no foundation for the claim against
the State. But since that time, The late Board OF
Canal spPralseIs IN 'ss sn ooo excessive oeraiy
Perhaps. however, all thai has been done should
be passed in silence, but this lobby yet retains
it's organization, and 1t s understood Will be again
put in operation each ensuing session OF the Lee
pislature and probably continue as long as such
large sums are 20 easily obtained from the treasury,
am almost tempted 70 say something IN relation
10 this lobby for the information OF tax-payers-its
efficient chairman, its daily sessions It's large and
well organized committee, fJr both branches OF
the Legislature to effect the passage OF laws, and
ts still more efficient committee as witnesses tor
each case before the Canal Board, but leave these
facts for the investigation OF others. w.
MAMMOTH hEMAINs IN NKw JERSEY. We men,
toned some time since that the skeletons OF seve-
rai mammoth animals had been found on farm in War
rem county this State The Journal now supplies us
with some interesting Inc oonss ~sps ere hr
quarters from Hacketowp, the road from Vienna to
iIackattsown Back Of MIR. AS house, which IL imme
lately on tEs road there Ia hill Of about 100 feet in
height On the top Of this hill, and about half mile
north- estsrly from his house, In what once small
sys from n to Mr. A. informed us that when h.
boy he is now middle aged mani this place was always
ul Of water and that he and other boys had bahee IN
many time Mr.. Ayres drained this pond for the pur-
oose OF getting out the rich black earth in ths bot
tom OF il for manure This black earth Ia about six
deep in the middle Of the pond and the bottom Of
Al the edge composed OF decaycd and decaying veg
ctsbe mater very sn and on hIs s2m ea'
tom Of the pond is hard pan. covered wth limestone
pebbles Of various sizes was in this black earth that
The kectons we're found SO fer, Mr. Ayres has dscov
cred Ave distinct animals; two Of them which lay
The edge OF the pond and which were, consequently par
tally exposed the air at times much decay
49, their skulls went 10 pieces upon coming the atmos
phere did Of ths tnsks One Of these two uds
ing from the grinders, which are quite perfect also
portion OF Of its tusks, must have been large and
quiteull grown. The other was very young ones calf
is tuska we're just formed, they were not more than
six inches in length altogether, and did not
project beyond the flesh more than an inch; It's
grinders are small and show i TO be quite young
he remaining three whose skulls and bones very
periect-ss much IL the animals had died yesterday
were found more towards the centre Of the pond and
are about half grown This s conclusively proved First
from the the sln not Icing yet closed but
omen sacondy from the fact that they all three
cutting their hinder thst the sucking tooth in
the front Ia much worn loose much smaller than the
others and that part of he roots OF them have been alb
sorbed and they just dropping out They are also
all Masodons This proved from the teeth the grinders
in ali OF them composed Of conca protuberanses not
fat and rigid like elephants. The great naturalist,
Cnver describes era species Of Msstadon but says
the gigantic Mastodon Ia alone pecu TO North Americs
Parts only OF the other species have been found In Europe
The mammoth or ioss elephant which .nA M over he