New-York tribune., 1875-10-06
FIFTH REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS COM
MISSION.

To His Erccllepcy SAMUEL j. TILDEN, Coz
ernor OF the state Of Ne York On the 10th day OF Feb
ruary in the year 1868, the State entered into aeon
tract with George D. Lord to keep in repair Section IA OF
the Erie Canal extending from Picards bridge across
the Tonawanda Creek to and including the slips and
basins in the City OF Buffalo, for the term OF four years
and ten months from and including the lst day OF March,
1868" for the OF S44 400 year. BY special pro
vision OF the contract Mr. Lord was to dred8e out the
deposits in the canal at Buffalo and Black Rock, including
all the channels slips and basins belonging TO the state;
also TO dredge ont the deposits between Guard Lock and
and Black Rock Harbor, and between said harbor and
railroad BRIDGE The work to bo done previous to
the opening OF navigation in 1868, Mr. Lord binding
himself to maintain meanwhile in the Erie Basin chan
mel feet wide and 13 40 feet deep TO dedge ont OF
Black Rock Harbor at least 10000 cubic yards OF ma
tera and out Of the Ohio Basin 600 cubic yards each
year
few weeks after this contract signed and on the
7th day OF May OF the year. the Legislature appro
prated for excavating and dredging Ohio Basn in the
CITY Of Buffalo whenever the shall clean out
the same 70 the uniform depth Of ten feet required BY
his contract the OF $12, ,000 much thereof as
shall be necessary TO give uniform depth OF thirteen
feet Of water in the said cana The contractor here
ferred TO is George ID. Lord.
Under this legislative modification Of Lords repair
contract the State in the following month"; entered into
contract with John Hand Of the City of Buffalo for
dredging the Ohio Basin, in the City OF Buffalo, the
three feet depth below the base bottom line to
which the repair contractor Of Section No Ia George d.
Lord ia required to dredge said basin"
On the 10Th OF May 1869, in providing for the extra
ordinary repairs OF the canal the Legislature appropr
ated $50 500 for dredging Black Rock Harbor, Erie
Basin and for deepening sill and protecting dock Of the
Ohio Basin In July following the passage OF this act on
the 9Th the State signed two contracts with John Hand,
under the authority conferred by this act for dredg
ing the channel around the north end Of Erie Basin break
water in the City OF Buffalo, and the other for removing
deposits from Black Rock Harbor
On the 9th Of May OF the following year. 1870, the
LEGISLATURE appropriated the of $4,000 for exca-
waiting and removing the material in the Ohio Basin in
the City OF Buffalo, TO make l3 feet Of uniform depth of
water therein be done under the existing contract OF
John Hand and tocOyer the expense OF removing all the
material in said basin existed at the date Of such
contract"
All the work TO be performed under these appropria
ons sggregating the OF S70,500, except that Of
deepening the Ohio BASIN three feet below the datum
depth OF 10 feet estimated cost of $4,000 a
ready covered by the repair contract OF George d. Lord
RELIEF BIILe-Two-THIRDs TO LORD
In the Winter OF 1871 George ID. Lord solicited Mr..
Lewis j. Bennett Of the partners OF John Hand 10
apply to the Legislature, OF which he had just been
elected a member for relief, under their several con-
tracts with the State upon the pretext that they had not
been remuneraye; Lord stipulating that he should
ceye twOthrds Of whatever sum was allowed them and
that Bennett should not nave trouble expense
in procuring the appropriation. Mr.. Bennett assented
to this proposal and, through his partner the nominal
contractor John Hand entered into the following
tract:
For value received, do hereby promise and agree 20
nay to Key OF the City OF Rochester wohirds of
y aud all additional money and above the amount
provided 70 paid by the express terms OF my several
Contracts with OF NewYOrk for dredging
Black Rock Harbor and Erie and Ohio Basins in the City
OF Buffalo, which may be paid or awarded by the State
by reason OF said contract; and hereby direct and
authorize the said Kiey, FOR and In To pro-
cure the Canal Commissioners draft for twohlrds OF
the amount which may be paid awarded by OF
said contracts and to give for and in my all
proper receipts and acuttaces for the said twohrds
OF any award that may be made and 10 collect the said
twohds OF the Treasurer OF the state the proper officer
10 pay the same, together with all benefits accruins
thereon and this agreement shall be my voucher there
for Dated Buffalo, Feb. ., 1871. lsignedl
JOHN HAND.
The John Key here referred TO OF the instru
mens Of George ID. Lord, who seems 10 have had the
grace to prefer that his own name should not appear
upon the papers IN this transaction, with which Kley
appears have had only nominal connection On the
10th OF April 1871 the Legislature passed the following
act:
sEcTIoS l. The Board OF Canal Commissioners hereby
authorized and required 10 take testimony 10 the suf
cheney OF prices dredging In Black Rock Harbor and
Erie aud Ohio Basns both under the contracts OF John
Hand and II sad Board shall find after such examna
ton that said prices insufficient TO pay the expenses
OF said dredging the said Board shall allow such addt
onG price FOR said dredging in their opinion shall
imburse and he reasonable and just n ensaion 10