The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-12
THE NEW YORK CANALS.
Report or commissioner skinner.

me following extracts are made from the Report o.
Canal Commissioner Skinner recently transmitted the
legislature
| REMOVING BENCHES
nuch benefit has arisen to the canals by the removal Of
ne small portion Of the benches the Eastern division
me benches have been removed from the Erie canal
Rep upon the Eastern division where the canal should
largest and AFFORD the easiest possible passage for
1assng down the Erie from the lateral canals 70 tide
gathered together and forced into the old mar
row channel, where the benches not removed and
she canal NTH in capacity than where they are
removed Much difficulty has been experienced In The
prevention Of crowds and in the maintenance Of unob-
About afty miles OF benches still remain and should
shS - shs earliest opportunity and the Legsa
oose f-
sUPPLY OF wArRR
Much discussion has been had during the mast fev
pears concerning the supply Of for the Erie canal
quite number OF sources have been suggested; but
creek by the construction or the aFsh creek feeder
mich have recommended in former reports
certainty Of the maintenance Of navigation upon the
an expenditure The quantity Of wsssy
provided from the old Of supply Is constantly
diminishing a. the country from which IL 10 drawn is
cleared from timber and opened TO the drying influence
OF the SUM- and. sooner or later the waters from Fish
s no sufficient reason why should Be done now q
vsell as later : =.
Detentions have been frequent during almost every
season for years past and some remedy must be found
or the navigation OF the abandoned because OF it's
Inconsistency and uncertainty.
further of supply, or rather as means Of
6aVng the water already brought the canal desire
20 recommend to the Legislature the construction Of
Weghock at Frankfort to partially supersede the lock
si Utica The last named lock small and imperfect
IN its construction to weigh the boats and cargoes
desirable to wogh upon It. is frequently overtasked
end is constantly failing in consequence and all water
used by it is diverted and lost the canal The cost of
making the old lock equal to the demand upon il would
be equa TO the cost Of lock- when completed the
objection of losing the water would still exist. The
construction of weigh lock at Frankfort would in no
maodh nv
would be returned to the canal upon the level
below without loss and the Utica lock could be used by
che smaller boats from the west passing down the lateral
canals and for those boats which should Utica
The amount Of water saved according former report
upon the subject would be thousand three hundred
end seventy-fve cubic feet per minute, and such a
saving would fully warrant the construction Of the
fock-
CONSTRUCTION or SHIP CANAL
Questions have been asked and partially discussed du
ring the past few years as to the future capacity Of
canals for furnishing all the necessary facilities for
porting the produce of the Western States to the markets
And also, whether still fuyther enlargement Of the
Erie canal so as 10 give 1t hecapacity and character Of
ship canal and enable shippers to send forward grain
and Milwaukee to the Atlantic aud thence 10
Europe, would not prove advantageous to the
Interests and business Of tho country and, finally
such enlarged canal should be found mpracticable
for want of water from its great COST whether ship
canal should constructed TO admit the transit
Of seagoing vessels from Lake Erie TO Lake Ontario
Through this State.
From the annual report Of the Auditor Of the Canal
Department the tolls trade and tonnage Of canals"
Is clearly demonstrated that the capacity Of the canals
Is by reached while the quantity Of tonnage Of
property seeking transit nearly at its height II Is
not meant by this that the prolific grain predicting West
has reached its maximum but that the quantity
gary TO equalze the various markets Of the world has
been nearly attained Great famnes vast consuming
wars ia other countries would Of course, stimulate pro-
Arctea in the West, and might for a brief period,
eaust the present capacity Of the canal and throw large
Atlantic cities TO the nexhausbIe grain fields Of the
West but public works constructed TO provide
against the uncertain aud distant contingencies Of
A ship canal occupying the place OF the present canal
should not, in my opinion, he undertaken without
thorough examination without Q thorough exploration
OF It's route and careful and scientific exploration
the supply Of water The present canal runs through
tho heart of hne dourshng cties and villages
hch have mainly grown up since its first construction
and the damages OF such enlargement would be large
unless new channels should be opened outside Of the
Il Is Impossible to foresee all the contingencies which
may hereafter influence and finally determine the course
Of trade between the Atlantic and the West Should
Canada 81 some future but not distant time become in
oaId n that css ). oman - fu and uCsstrcsss
Intercourse between Quebec and the West and whether
y n:t case ship canal through Ne. York would offer
OF New York It's present advantages matter we'll de-
serving our serious consideration. Such canal must
compete against o free rivet0communcation having
ercuitous course and to some degree dangerous nav
CATION.
etitutiona convention within the next year two
some alteration In the constitution will be necessary be-
{mpotc for the present Legislature 70 authorize
mission 10 examine the whole subject, to estimate the
cost and ascertain nearly practicable whether the
necessary supply OF water DO obtained with view
that the convention have before IL reliable estimates
Cor its action
II might also be expedent for the Legislature 10
authorize the Executive open communication with the
executive governments OF the principal Western States
90 ascertain how far they would be willing to cooperate
with New York and snare in the responsibility and
p'nse Of constructing ship canal Of adequate dmcn-
eious
those states should be willing to participate In the
cost in proportion 70 the advantages they would derive
from the construction Of such q canal then would be
possible for the convention to authorize this work by
The issue OF capital stock equal the whole of the
work. and based solely s the credit
Of the united in the construction and thus relieve
the people OF this state from all apprehension OF being
taxed Tor the enrichment and benefit Of the Western
Ststes.
Ny apology for this brief and imperfect reference
SUBJECT which Is daily becoming and more pressed
the public consideration Is that will he
ry brought before the convention likely 10 be called
Gre coming year. and the importance Of having authen-
&c and well ascortained Acts for the consideration Of
lhs body wrl the disposition OF the states ~ the
Wes, 70 participate in work which they dcrpy
Interested
The south Carolina stay Law.