New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-29
STATE CANAL MANAGEMENT.
The COMMISSIONERS DEFEND THEMSELVES.

ing of the Canal Board. Mr. Ranes offered the following
WAoas The otjeri Of IN aa Untitled ttos the Cen
chapter Tie laws u 1910 pat end eritnr contracts
proper z The navigation Of ns canals -osla per
Tras srrrd to b, sIs..ys ia
nenaaoen ~ the Canal Commissioners. therefore.
r5 50' boar ' 1n s I+a their oaS1t ts ase'
Woao prood by the eaneHg Of present sr'Hs fA
contracts
II Will I've observed that the Canal Commissioners were
called upOn 10 report whether in their Judgment, the
interests OF the Stale would not be promoted by the can
collation. OF the present existing repair contracts Not
az he represents, viz: Il introduced preamble and
resolutions which adopted, calling upon the Board
Of Canal Commissioners 10 recommend a. provided by
law the cancellation OF certain repair contracts" BE
says further doubted that these Commissioners
would promptly and favoraby respond" Let us note
the action Of the Canal Commissioners that resolu-
ton On the 7h day Of March following Commission
ers W. W. Wright and John D. Fay presented TO the
Canal Board report said resolution too long 10 EN-
body herein, but which closes A. follows:
The oobien Of report not submitted 10 M Bari
lev h continued Abnf IRON The ~ oonseqneres
SsLnss' y e ia s = ,s % yS 6d ~ eIpe
such contracts a. ComDssoneI u 70 not probsh
tna called upon rcp0i the question
submitted to toe Commissioners"
On motion OF the Attorney-General the report wac
raid upon the table and further action has ever been
taken on the same Thus the Canal Commissioners fully
performed the duties imposed upon them by SAID reso
luton. ana IL seems 70 nave pttH ~ Wy
Canal Board. What then becomes Of the unjust and
iusinuatng charge Of MI Raines that the Commission
ers failed 10 comply with his resolution
Again, Mr. Raines says The plain truth is. that the
Canal Commissioners and State Engineer have the Drac
tica control Of the MANAGEMENT and disbursements OF
the canals" Who, would ask, II not these officers
should have the practical control and management OF
the oanasi 1t is for this very purpose that they we're
elected and If the canals were not the property OF the
he M officers. The
Attorney General Controller Secretary Of State, and
Treasurer are officers who elected 20 perform duties
entirely uucOuneced with the management Of the canals
They are only members Of the Canal Board e. cgteio
and are not supposed have much practical knowledge
Of pubnc works. Why, doubt II some OF these men
know difference between the bernie bank and towing
path. a slope wall and vertical wall, inter sill and
balance beam. what would be the proper materials
from which 20 construct either OF the
II wac truly said by the late Auditor, that be
considered It reflection upon the honor or
integrity OF the Canal Board, or any member
thereof, 10 say that, aside from the Canal Com
mssoners and State Engineer, State officer holds his
Office by virtue Of his practical knowledge OF canal mat
tiers" The responsibility OF keeping the canals IN nav
gable condition only the Canal Board. in 80 far as
they hinder and embarrass the Canal Commissioners IN
the discharge Of their duties and refuse 70 carry into
effect the wishes Of the people expressed through the
Legislature. The practical care and management OF the
canals is upon those officers whom the people have
elected especially 10 perform those duties
Now let US see about the matter OF extraordinary re-
pairs;
The people through the Legislature appropriate spe
cfc sums OF money for WORK and for the improve
meut Of The canals. These appropriations are called
Extraordinary Repairs and the money is raised BY
tax Oh the people nstead of paying the from the
canal revenues For instance IN 1870 the Legislature
created law CHAP. 7s Laws OF 1870 providing for the
enlargement OF the Champain Canal, and appropriated
the sum OF $4,000 for that purpose.
II strikes me that the duty Of the Canal Board and
the Board Of Canal Commissioners 70 carry into effect
the wishes Of the people expressed in said laws by
proceeding as soon as may be- 70 enlarge said canal.
And so il with every specific appropriation Of money
bv the Legislature whether II be 20 remove the wall
bench on the Erie Canal bOttOming ont the same 20 "a
uniform depth OF seven feet, or the construction Of
bridge superstructures
IN Is matter over which the Canal Commissioners as
board control discretion 20 exercise, and l,
as Commissioner OF the Eastern Division am IN no
respousbe for this expense 70 the State except far
A. nv supervision and control is concerned
the money economically expended according 20 laws
directing il. The appropriations made by the Legs
ure the work is ordered be lot blythe Canal Board
and Canal Commissioners advertise and let the same
pursuant 10 law. And yet Mr. Raines charges the re
sponsbity Of eXpendnE $500 900 for extraordinary
pairs during the calendar year ending Jan l. 1875 Oh the
Comm ssOner OF the Eastern Division.
There has been expended from Jan. /. 1872 when
came into Ocel, 10 April l. 1873, for ordinary repairs
rhe estimates OF the superintendent having been
allowed and approved NJ to that date the sum OF
$1,000 TINS extended and onequarter years,
and ls an average OF $4g5.2OO per year.
There was expended for ordinary repairs on
the Eastern Division, N N77l94 -
Expended in l,22554 ~
Expended IN ------.-. 725se &c
EXPENDED nom oct. l. 1911, 70 Jan l, 1874
hrce nuutls 1882 IS
ls7462 ~
TINS sSas an expenditure by u predecessor in three
and Oneouarter years OF Ss7 o. average per
vea- OF SsO 157 &C. while expenditures during the
t,a time I nave been IN ONCE average $4,000 per
= than Uue-nalf OF that
ta i1agment that the Eastern Division OF the state
annals vii never be kept Ia such condition Of repair,
a fne interests OF the State demands for less sum
than have expended.
nary repars Oh this division, that covered by the
aSoye figures And consequently the assertion Of Mr.
laa administration. the hahlty for work IN progress
WI & farf 10 sustain its it VIII be seen that the eI
penditures this Division, since came INTO office,
and explained show great reduction Of expenses over
AIN MI Rsines says referring the Commissioner
Of he Eastern DIVISION mud that II the tables N the
Auditors office correct his appropratonls entirely
thus inferrng tnat the 100000 appropriated
10 the Eastern Division for ordinary FOR the fiscal
year commencing oct l. 1872 was wholly expended dur
inc the first three months This Is totally unwarraned
on the hrst day Of January 1872 when came into
A. rnere was only 900 available funds for ordinary
the same was nearly exhausted IN paying debts incurred
NV the ate administration THIS fact Was stated IN the
I posrd on the b day Of February 1872 whereupOn
resolution adopted at That time transferring $50,
900 from the Western Division 10 the Eastern DIVISION
Nh Raines voting in the affirmative. On the Ioh day
of June 1871 l received communication frun NE
Aa, . nr Saeb.s 90 81 on your B1isor was
tug s appropriation Thu amount siied
eIpeBdd ~
NM Cha1nau Dung aud. a. understand virtue OF De
S M ,-esur in order surplus sO
c.nnot nov available ioI hseA II
correct H. VI ouIsti AL rsloe YOU APpuYsSVN "
amount
The s Instance OF this communication stated 20 the
Canal BOARD at their next meeting. and the COntns-
sioner. of the Canal Fund, OF which Mr Raines Is
member called upon u raise the money 10 replace
fhe S1 40 900 which they aid aud when the appIO
riaoa s4O0ODO became available on the nst day OF
october last the sum OF $1,000 was charged against H.
IN nav the amount the CommissiOnerr.of the
canal Fund 1t Is impossible for Mr. Ralnes mol 70 have
been entirely conyersant with these facts, aud yel Ne