New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01
THE VERTICAL WALL sWINDLE.

All the contracts described below answer a useful
purpose in showing the extent to which, by a simple
device. immense canal frauds have been perpe-
trated II consists in the erection of vertical wall
where 81 ,De wall would have seemedbeter solely for
the reason that vertical wall is put at high price
This has become 50 usual vancouver that 1t
is now resolved into a distinct species
of fraud aud deserves to go down to
history as the Vertical Wall Swindlc. 1t
has resulted in the penetration of the grOsSest
and most Transparent frauds ever yet unvailed IN
the canal management of the State, by means Of
which vast reaches of the canal banks have been
lined with worthless piles of rubbish disgraccfully
constructed utterly unsuited for the purpose for
which they were built and paid for at thicviSh rates
The only rational theory that will account for the
construction Of this immense amount of vertical
wall, where every physical and economical consld-
Grafton required that slope wall should have been
built is that it has been found to furnish the most
fertile and extensive field for fattrning canal
tractors The universal history of public works
may be safely challenged for an instance in which
such disregard has been bad to economy of design
and location, and in which contractors have SO com
pletely ard uniformly violated their contract obi
cations as is furnished in the construction Of this
class of wOlk.
The superiuons character of these costly struc-
explanation. There are two modes of protecting
the banks of the canals. Ole is to give the banks
moderate slope and pave them with stones II or -
inches wide disposed in courses approximately
parallel to the axis of the canal and at right angles
TO the plane of the slope. This is what is called
"slope wall :" and if the slope of the bank is not
sleeper than the angle Of earth which compOses it,
and the work has been properly done, it affords the
simplest and BY far the most economical method Of
permanent protection.
The second method is by excavatIng the bank as
nearly vertical possible and erecting o vertical
wall of sufficient strength to withstand the pressure
of the abuttng bank and the friction and impact
of boats. To secure that stability permanently,
nearly twice the quantity of materials and value of
labor is required is demanded by tho first method,
and it is therefore nearly twice as costly.
The perlnanence of slope walls reposing as
they do upon neutral slope, and be-
ing protected by their form from the
friction or blows Of boats is not so dependent upon
excellence of construction as that of vertical walls.
The latter being subject to the continual thrust OF
the bank and the wear incident to navigation evil
IDENTIFY require peculiar care in their construction.
They must have sufficient mass and sufficient pro-
portion Of large stones 80 disposed as to give bond
and unity TO the whole, in order to Withstand per-
manently the pressure Of the earth and must
stones 10 prevent lOOseDiug and displacement
by the blows of boats to which they are constantly
exposed Another consideration in favor Of slope
walls is that on account of the increased superficial
area which they give TO tie canal the mechanical
work of displacement incident to the movement Of
boats is diminished. This is important in view Of
the introduction Of steam, as in narrowly confined
channel the attainment of considerable speed is
seriously hindeIed by this work Of displacement.
The considerations which may be urged in favor
Of tho vertical wall that requires about II feet
less width of the canal at the surface for the given
sectional area of canal PRISM and that thus the sur
face occupied by the canal, and the length
of structure passing under or over it. is
somewhat diminished. 1t may also be
said in its favor that II renders the unloading of
boats somewhat more convenient But thee con-
siderations are of little force when the largely IN
creased cost of this method Of construction is taken
into account, except where there is necessity for
the frequent unloading of boats or where the con-
fmratiOn of the surface the value OF the ada
cent property renders the adoption OF this system
more economical or expedient
In view of these facts it is impossible to give any
reason why these vast sums have been appropriated
for the construction of vertical WALL and there is
no room for any inference but that the preference
has been awarded TO vertical wall by collision