The New York herald., 1851-12-04
Our Albany Cor res pom dence.

ALBANY, Nov. 81, 1851.
The Canal Contracts More Money and More Ttme
NEEDED OGcs-seekgs and Hungry Erpectants.
The exact number of propositions made to the
Canal Board, to finish the canals under the notice
issued for proposals, amounts exactly to two thou
sand Eve hundred and seventy nins A whole
weeks time has been consumed in breaking the
seals, and they are now in the hands Of the engi
neers for examination. Every section Of the work,
as laid out upon maps, has been estimated upon.
1t will be mighty task to overhaul such large
amount Of estimates. The plan adopted, it is un-
derstood, is to take the proposals of known, re-
sponHble contractor upon particular section, as
standard, and compare all other bids for the same
work with that; and when proposition ranges too
high, to throw it aside; and whore bids are made
evidently too low, accompanied with doubtful secu-
rity, throw them aside also. In this manner,
as many as one half will be summarily dis
posed Of The city has been full Of contrac-
tors, ever since the 18th, whom the Canal Boa ID
commenced opening proposals; these men re-
main until they shall ascertain the fate Of
their propositions. Among them are many who
were contractors when the work Was suspended
in 1912, most Of whom have been besiegiug the
Legislature and Canal Board ever since, for the
payment Of damages alleged to have been incurred
Of the NewYork and Erie and the Hudson River rail-
roads have produced rush for jobs on the cana,s.
Many of these men have their horses, carts, and
tools, on hand aud can enter upon their work with
in very short time, without being to the trouble
and expense OF procuring an outfit Of material,
From the great labor in making examinations, IL
is not very probable that the contracts will be as
signed much before the time when the State can.
announce to the people who are to be State
officers for the ensuing two years
The estimates for completing the canals made as
as basis upon which to found the |" nine million
bill," and the estimates made by the engineers IN
the proposals for work. are materially at variance
with each otherthe latter being an excess OF more
than one-third. Tho contractors mainly agree
In the assumption, that nearly double the
amount Of money provided for In the bill will
be required for the completion oil the work.
They also agree upon the inpossibility Of q com
petion within three years, the time for which they
are required TO give security that shali be done,
already met the bill full In the face-one, that
eighteen instead of nine. milions will be required
and the other, that q much longer time than the
Law designates will absolutely be required to finish
the enlargement Of the Erie Canal, and the ,om.
petion Of the Genesee Valley and Black River
Canals. Future Legislatures will be called upon
to raise more ORE money and 70 grant iSnger eng m%e,
which the work will be resumed.
The certainty that q change will take place on
the first Of January, Ia several Of the subordinate
public ofiees, has aroused q swarm of Starving po
1tical patriots. We see IL stated that no change
be made in the officers of the senate, but 1t iI
misconcoived idea. Tho democratic Senators, six
teen in number, will meet in caucus, and select
their Clerk, Sergeant att Arms, Doorkecpers, &;
Upon the organization Of the Senate, one Of TIE
democrats, probably MIR. McNlurrsy, will offer
resolution appointing the cicus candidates, whic1.
with the casing vote Of the Lieut. Governor, vii.
be carried. IL has been asserted that seventeen
votes Of Senators are required for sueh purpose
but /. is only on the 6nsi passage Of ordinary bills
that this vote Is required The casting vote Of the
presiding officer is decisive upon the question Of
resolution. The Comptroller will hsv. ,hs no rsr
70 remove the DEPUTY and To-" clerks but a, enc
Of The clerks and 's present deputy are kind OF
qussl oemocrass, kept in during the whig admiai.
stration, they may probably be retained. The
Secretary Of State will remove the present deputy,
deputy superintendent OF common schools, and two
clerks. The State Engineer has only two Gle. rs
at his disposal. The Canal Board have tho mc 5.
patronage TO dispense. Thsre are now about
twenty engineers, which, under the ''new i'm
pulse" must be increased to the nu.nber of fifty
auditor and clerks In the deparaent here, together
With collectors, supcrinter. dents, weigh masters,
lock tenders, boat inspectors, and an innu
humber Of sow men," all along the lines of thc
Erie, Chsmplhin, ChensDgo. Oswego, aud all the
other caEals-formirg political phatanx which IL
will take the wings many years TO overcome.
There arc some dosen clerks and book keepers Ia
the banking department who cannot be removed.
At the last session Of the LegisatGre the Com 2tro-
Ter was relieved spm ell duty in relation 70 Oanks,
and Law was enacted imposing the duties and oo-
legations upon q superiute ndent That officer Is A
wbig, appointed by the Governor aud Senate, Who
will Of course remain ia office uutl democrslic
govt rner is elected.
Not sithstauding the democrats have ma jlrity
in the board Of State Prison lns ectors, and had
durir the tresent year, they have been rather oil
AtOry IN parcelling out all tbe places under them q
their political trends. sharp confess between
thon, ~ to who fhogd be appointed agent Of tAt
sing Sing ptison. has con,inbed d1rirg the year
CLARK. the bunker inspector, desiring tnc appoint
l.eaH A. a-.t ha~r a. -
another; aud whuC tie & 10 weie ton;e 1ding, Lock
wood tho rhig agent. has crj0yed the Office. Nov
that Storms is ecsted, charge = likely 70 takC
tlacc aud q ~ esscbssier hunker will DC apps
.d-as it seems ths. couu.y y ever destined q
iuIr,h all the imports mt flyers Ter the prison. The
man 10 already selected.