The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-14
Our Albany Correspondence.

ALBANY, jan. Z, 1850.
Difficulties in Na'1ga'ing The Hudson Rircr-Large Sums
Erpai0ed Uselt~sy--Sand Bars rey Troublesome and
snncsingA Nee Plan Proposed to Improve the Mari.
CATION, de-, &c.
The channel OF the Hudson river for distance of some
fifteen twenty miles below this city is a constant an
noyance 10 nav,gators. Large bars Of quicksaud are
formed by the spring eshes, and contnu Ally chang
log from position 70 another When the tide IS at An
ebb midway, vessels and steamers most certain of
getting aground and remaining there from ten TO twelve
hours, before change OF tide flows to their relief The
general government some fifteen twenty years since
expended two three hundred thousand dollars in con-
suctrg dyke and excavat5g the channel at the point
so Familiarity known as the 0yerslugh" four or five
miles below this city That partial Improvement re.
moved the distractions from tina, point but the very ne
year the same bars accumulated near Csstleton some
two or three miles below, rendering the navigation az
difficult as previously at the Oversaugh All the appli.
cations to Congress have been sregarded aud further
appropriations refused The State the city of Albany
steamboat companies, forwarding associations and pri
vae citizens have contributed several sums Ia drblets
towTds dredging out the channel, which assisted
the navigation for the time being but n
the next freshet, the accumulation Of sand
filled up the channel again This season the navigation
has been extremely difficult and the larger class Of steam
sand vessels have been detained nearlycvery trip
ErasGs Corning, Thomas W. Olcott and others, a few
days since petronod the Common Council of this CITY
asking FOR appropriation Of three thousand doas Tor
the purpose OF procuring new and detailed survey
OF the Hudson river between this CITY
and the village Of New Baltimore. distance OF some six
teen miles One Of engineers, il seems has exhibited
plan and profile for improving the river navigation
upon the same principle that the Prussan river Ystua
has been lately successfully improved That river was
made naygabc throughout It's the Pussan ter
ritoYy, distance Of one hundred and thirty miles
for the $4,000 The plan is to construct perpen
dcar e.ty dams, projecting from the shore into the
river md placed so 10 each other that their united
efrt 70 contract the channel such manner IS 20 in
crease the velocity and depth Of the current IS wen
known that such etty dams have been in for MANY
years, but the hydraulic laws which govern their eject
not we'll understood. OF late, however, they have
been very thoroughly tested and studied and in the Wis.,
taa these ces constructed and located upon the
principles thus evolved.
TIE evil engineer who brought this matter 70 the no.
tee OF the public, states his nrm belief that chan
rel n twelve feet depth can be obtained within the space
cont With expenditure Of about two hundred
thousand dollars without e costly process OF any drcdg
ING whatever. Tho matter "a now before the Common
Council OF this city and seems there be doubt
that body win authorize the survey, 70 obtain the
pros maps and necessary data TO give encouragement
70 the undertaking But the several vetoes which rver
and harbor Improvements" have encountered u wash
,nson, and the nvaraAe loading down the application
'or tNe irN--NnSrf cf Tho Wr'e,r w'N every comedy.
able project, ass discouraged oar aeuoen IA Congress