The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-07
The Great Breach-ReconstructiOn and kiof-
DO Too Many Cooks spoil the BrothS
An TILE RREA Cu MAY s. 1871.


The Great Breach-Reconstruction and Riot
DO Too Many Cooks spoil the Broths
AT THE BREACH. May s, 1871.
the scene presented in the vicinity OF the great
breach in the Erie Canal since Monday has called
forth the most wonderful efforts at descriptive writ
ING from the yarious locals OF the country press
Each one seemed determined to outsh1ne his neigh
Dor In the gorgeous imagery OF his lmaginlngs,"
ana each new effort surpassed all preceding at.
tempts, TILL to-day the eliminating point OF gran
deur was reached by reporter who visited the
place, 'ampelled by desire TO inform the public"
and who recognized In his view State fair minus
iun assortment OF agricultural implements. Be-
fore any great progress could be made in
REooNsTRuCrING THE EMBANKMENr
IL was necessary erect sort OF shelter for the
men and horses, TO dig wells TO supply them with
water and TO arrange upon the ground Kitchens
where the food for the former could be cooked. On
Sunday forenoon q rough stable was constructed,
with stalls for fifty horses and loft for hay. Other
and larger shanties were erected the same day. On
MONDAY a kitchen was built and steam cooking ap-
paratus brought from Rochester, by aid OF which
between three and four thousand meals are pre-
parei each day. This is but one establishment in
the eating house line; Is the largest however and
is run by Mr.. Frank Decker. who has the contract
for constructing the new terminus OF the Hudson
River Railroad through Mott haven to the Union
depot III New YORK.
HIS DINING HALL IS A TENT,
the dimensions OF which are so by $50 feet. On one
side frame has been constructed containing berths.
They arranged In three TIERS one over the other
and are six feet wide and six inches Deep with a
dividing board and filed with straw Near this tent
are half-a-dozen shanties used as storerooms and
sleeping places for the men, and one exhibiting
through Its wide, open door the lighted forge and
6tta If anil
which was built and IN working order in four
hours. number OF small tents huddled
about the vicinity and some distance across Is
q large one, 80 by $50 feet, used as stable
Ii contains nine rows OF stalls, with noored
passage ways between IN which the drivers sleep Of
night Oh bundles Of hay. Sun further toward the
north ahd IN the opposite direction otner tents are
shingle or barrel head, in sprawlng characters,
Boarding." All these are IN the meadow, into
which The water was poured through the breach,
and thirty Ieet below the level Of the canal
Ascending the muddy embankment and crossing
occupied by the state officers. Here are TO be found
MT. Dan. Richmond, the state Engineer; MIR.
Charles Daniels the division superintendent; Mr..
Rlgney, the section superintendent, and MIR. Frank
Lord, who, with three assistants,
"KEEPS THE TIMEn FOR THE STATE
Here, too. nearly every day you may meet the
Comptroller and members Of tne Canal Board, who
seem TO have moved their headquarters here nom
Albany though what good they can possibly do 1t
Is dificult from the aspect OF affairs TO understand.
The contractor, Mr.. Selye now advanced In ears,
and Ss the work at dren points IN
SON showing the same spirit ne exhibited when IN
wiseacres Of the land that he
"wAS BLACKSMITH,
his way to ConSress; While he sees that the WORK
is properly performed, his son, Mr.. W. w. Seye
attends TO the financial transactions, among
other things the paying Of the men, numbering
altogether some fifteen hundred. There seems to
be clashmg OF interests IN some points. Tue con-
ypl.f ar nd hn M "a
selye Is bound TO repair the damages, while the
State Is bound to refund him all II costs over $1,000.
Being al the same time very wealthy aud
AN OLD CONTRACTOR
and working man, he went TO work at once, with
ample funds and thorough knowledge OF the task
TO be performed and how TO do 1t. Mr.. Richmond.
the Engineer oil the STATE, and Mr.. Daniels, tue SUI
penntendent OF the disision were on the ground as
duty required them TO be- 10 see that the WORK was
performed according 10 the requirements OF the
state, and Mr.. Lord, OF Governor Horman's stan,
with his corps Of assistants was on hand 10 see that
The state was not cheated. or what possible ser
VICE any more formidable
WATCH on THE cANAIn
can be, may appear plain only to those "who know
how II is themselves Considerable inuttering Is
heard In different quarters though not from the
contTactor) and interesting revelations III political
economy may yet be made here.
Your reporter yesterday interviewed Superin-
tendent Daniels VINO gave tine following facts:-
There are three general divisions OF the canals OF
the state. The Eastern includes the Champlain
Canal three sections the Black River Canal Two
sections, and I'VE sections OF the Erie Canal. The
Middle division consists OF five sections Of the Erie
Seneca canals, the first of which has three sections
end the others two each.
Erie Canal, from Clyde to Buffalo, and the Genesee
Valley Canal -four sections. Mr. Daniels has super
vision OF the last division. lie states tnat this Is
UNDOUBTEDLY THE LARGEST BREACH
that has ever occurred III the canal, yet he thinks
that had the weather been favorable at has ratned
more or less every day, with the exception OF
Wednesday, the work would have been nearly COM
pleted Dy sunday next, and at cost OF not more
than $4,000 The great breach at Busnnells Basin,
referred to as the Great Embankment breach III my
letter OF Sunday last, cost 10 repair sl25oDO.
by the then laws OF the state ne was empowered
TO pay land damages IL cost the State to repair the
breach OF 1895 IA few yards from the present one
$4,000. Land damages were included m this. II
the State can do The work now. through Mr.. selye,
Tor $4OO00, they the olclals are DONG better il.n
they are IA the habit Of doing.
TIE RIOT
fhreateneS did not, up 10 the present writing, take
place Fifteen tents pitched just back OF the state
line are occupied by two companies OF the Fifty
ioqI.n Regmeni N G. = lSe mem aee WIN a lew
hundred strong and guards are Stationed
among them, alons the bank at intervals walls
were arrested about nine O'Clock In the mornng by
posse OF oGcers under sheriff Campbell, who is
present ana they were taken to Fairport under
military guard. Tney VIII have hearing .o-rnor.
row. The men have received two dollars ana hall
per day for lsoor and teams were rald Tor at the
rale OF SIX dollars. The rates demanded were three
collars ard and eight dollars.
This morning some OF them had mixed things
and wanted eigh; dollars for HioyeIng. one Called
out 10 his fellows Come here you devils III make
you gentlemen or robbers; I'll get you diamonds or
handcnfis; follow Ine.n The orator was promptly
squelched hs the special police.
Ore Thousand Mes Wor, on the OK Bow
Break -Another Attempted strike Fru--
tTatcd--Sepnirs TO be Complele6 by Tuasda y
Next-Tarset Match Among the Military.
FAmpoRr, May O. 1871.
One thousand men and Two hundred and twelve
teams went TO work promptly TINS morning, the
teams as usual. working very hard, and the men
doing little or, they term Il, 'soJournng,n and
little before noon small body OF laborers stopped
work and went In body Contractor seiyes Office,
where they were promptly paid and discharged.
They then began TO talk loudly OF strike,
saying chat no men or teams should work While
the soldiers were present Tney made several