The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-29
The Enlarge mcnt OF the Western Section or
the Erie Canal.


ROCHESTER,, Aug. 26, 1854.
DEAR SIR-On my return to this city, two days
since, was shown the communication OF J. La
tiop in your paper respecting the inaccuracy in the
A Mr.. Lathrop in his letter published In this morn
inrs Democrat does state the depth OF the canal
q. Black Rock, must rely upon the statement Of
Mr.. George Coleman, Resident Engineer, made to
ut BLACK Rock guard lock, as the work is no pro-
postd for letting on the first day of September, is
about two feet below the mitre sill Of said lock, or
old canal bottom. Mr.. LathTop says (see the let's
to be sixty feet wide, with slopes Of Ii to l. This
would give, at the lowe It stage Of water known at
that lock (viz. 60-lO0 above the mitre silly Sec
tional area Of only 375 20 100 feet.
Engineers report of 1859 was 80 feet width at
poiut feet above the said mitre SILL with depth
Of feet, being feet below the mitre sill, or
old canal bottom. This would give sectional area
Of 6Oi 20 100 feet being gester than that now pro-
posed by 229 feet, or so per cent.
Tie plan adopted in 1851 (see State Engineers
report of 1852, on which Sir. Lstbrop, then Resi-
dert Engineer, doubtless prepared this ame section
above the mitre sill, and deoth Of feet, being
4 feet below the mitre SILL This would give
sectional Of $50 20 100 feet, and greater than
that now proposed by Mr.. Lathrop by SO5 feet, or
The plan Of Mr. II. Hutchinson (see Ass. Doc. No.
%, 1850 was to excavate the increased depth OF
the enlargement below the old canal bottom which
he says was fixed with great care, from the depth
Of water in the lock, in 1890. He very emphati-
cay eDjoins it upon all future engineers who shall
have charge Of this work not to depart from this
base line. He proposed that the width should be
ample to pass from the lake the required volume Of
water which was to be 0720 cubic feet per minute
at Lockport
sr. A. Bassitt (see Sen. Doc. No. "a, 1899 pro-
posed the same depth below the old canal bottom,
and $4,000 cubic feet OF water per minute at Lock-
pot.
MIR. Davis Hurd late Resident Engineer, (see his
report to the Canal Commissioners, on file in the
office of the Division Engineer at Rochester) pro-
posed about the same plan as that of 1851.
Ny authority for the low stages Of water observed
ct Buffalo and Black Rock, are ASS. Doc. No. 80,
1896, Sen. Doc No. "a, 1889, and the report Of d.
Hmd before referred to- also frequent verbal state
mehts of d. Hurd and Jacob Hinds late Canal Com
missioner, letter now in hand from d. Hurd, and
my own measurement in lS4S and 1850.
Whenever the surface Of the water is four feet
abdye the aforesaid base hae the plan Of 1851 will
eyes section OF 720 feet, that Of Mr. Fay one
Of Gao feet, and the present plan of Mr. Lsthrop
Of 40J feet.
Az examination OF the authorities herein refer.
rep to will, doubt not satisfy every one that five
experienced and very competent engineers have
adopt, or recommended plass for this portion Of
the enlargement, Of much greater capacity to pass
wa,ey eastward from Lake Erie, than that now pro
pos by the Division Engineer. DANIEL MARSH.