New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-28
PROPOSED HUDSON RIVER RESERVOIRS.


PROPOSED HUDSON RIVER RESERVOIRS.
INADEQUATENEss OF THE PROPOSED APPRoPRA-
TIoNs To BUILD THE DAMs-MsTAKEN ECON
oMY OF BUILDING CHEAP DAMs-wELL BUILT
DAMS AND THEIR COST
Fothe Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The exposition in THE TRIBUNE OF
April H. which gives list of the whole number of con-
tracts extraordinary work the State Canals which
have been let since 1865 with the amount bid and the
amount actually paid widely different 1.-THE aggregate
amount bid being about S3,OO0,000 and the amount
actually paid being about 100000 or difference be-
tween The amount bid and the amount paid OF more than
s2.OOO.OOO). should be a warning to us In future
There Is enough this exhibit TO show to the people OF
Che state the great necessity of watching with the utmost
vigilance all propositions for work In the improve
ncnts that may be from time to time proposed on the
rivers Of the state And just at this time an
Of the report OF the Canal Commissioner for the
Eastern Division the subject Of the storing OF water
IN times food at the head waters Of the Hudson calls
for critical examination IL does not give all the In
formation that experienced engineer would require in
regard 20 the cost Of the ~ dams which It is proposed to
hnnd Tho five dams for the five Raquet reservoirs will
cost $4,000 each, according TO this report The three
dams the West Hudson reservoirs will cost 800 ABB
each The 10 other dams proposed TO be made will cost
$6,6i6 each.
An mportant question arises 10 what kind OF dams
this amount Of money will build and how durable viii
they bet II the State undertake such enterprise
eueht il not to build dams that will be durable for
eli timet Look at the dam across the Merrmaek hVerat
Lawrence II is built OF stone and good cement; II Is
300 the crest and raises the water about "a
feet. and cost $2500O0 in 1s4s when the
S %Sa, 1T WOULD he no%. This dam has been
built 20 years and no important repairs have p zen
lnsve Conn, and also the one across the Rapahan-
neck River IN Virginia, at Fredericksburg, are built III
she aame manner the one at Lawrence, ana
they prove by their stability that when people wish to
build permanent dams. the appropriation VIII be ex-
hatlstad he the work II fairly begun
we'll the people 10 look the great question falry
IN the face aud inquire what endless expense they viii
entail upon themselves and their postcrty by construct
ing frai and pershabe dams 10 such an eftel III tne
Adirondack wilderness. These will have To be
constantly watched 10y large number OF Keepers ana
perhaps become fruitful scOurce OF fraud These dams.
In constructed Of wood. will decay much more rapidly
those which built OF the same material Tor the
Irose creating hydraulic power for the reason that
The water be- drawn M needed 20 the bottom OF ne
ponds considerable portion OF the season Ihs VIII
the wood 20 decay rapidly ~ 10. constant atelna
hydraulic power designed to De always under water,
aud wet ia which condition u does not decay 30 rapidly
"A. when alternately wet and dry Reservoir dams which
dangerous property for the state 10 own, and very
likely "a entail Ia the people IN the case
f the Black River Reservoir. which was swept away 10y
the aud caused such great loss OF property 10 the
held the stale liable for al the losses caused by the
breaking away OF the reservoir dam One of the Troy
PAPER. AXIS that appropriation he made before the
co of the present session OF the Legislature for this
work Can such hasty legislation be saie An
inspector appointed by the Governor Il more likely TO
act for the good Of the people than an engineer
appointed 10y Commissioner, Tor In the choice OF
canal Commissioner the people take very little interest
except IN the immediate vicinity OF his division on
The canal l.. N. W.
Iorf Edsoord ". T., April l.. 1873