New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-21
REPORT OF f. SWEET, JR.


The Hon. JOIN BIGELOw, Chairman o. Canal Inres-
tiJ0tiHg Commission.
DEAR SIR: have the honor to transmit herewith
a report of my examination of the plan and execu-
ton of the Black Rock fiarbor improvement.
This harbor is narrow wat r-way, varying from
100 feet to 600 feet in width. extending from the
foot of Lake Erie northward distance Oh
about three miles. The waters of the river and har
Dor are separated partly by AN Insulated strip OF land
known as Squaw Island, and partly by an artificial
brcakwater built by the State. THIS breakWattr
formerly terminated opposite the foot OF York
-, Buffalo, little below the point
sccnd the rapids Of Niagara River; bat after the
washing away in the gales of 500 Of portion OF
the New-lOrk Central tallroad embaDknent; "hlril
lies between the canal and lake from The lieaG oi
Back Rock HaIbor to the Erie basin, on The pc
tcxt of protecting the Erie Canal from encroaci-
ments of Lake Erie the work OF extending this
breakwatcr to point near the Erie basin was I'M
dcrtakcn by the State and has been completed for
distance of 200 feet mt cost OF over , l1O,ooO
This extension when completed. will cost the state
nearly S:,75 900 and will Doubtless relieve the rail-
road company from any further unea-lneSs about
the security of their TOad-bed, though II i impossible
10 see how the officers of the state could have been
induced 10 undertake IL. "
THE rsp0r goes to detail the character of the
work done on the harbor, and then gives the io-
lowing statement of estlmatcs:l
Estimate of Tie quantities aud value of all th5 WORK
that would have been required ia 1863 to improve the
Rock Including The widening Of the Narrow Canal to
uniform width 90 feet constructing division wall,
completely separating the Canal from the harbor, ana
deel,ening the entire prism OF the former to 10 feet
Baling and draining ...........-.--- S25,Ooo
10000 cubic yards excavation OF earn zoe 0i,ooo
81 600 cubic yards excavation oi rock a 49, 49,
81 DID,. ....-- ........--.-----.- 1I'1Oo
aOO cubic wards lining n soc ............. 2,4jO
$500 cubic yards slope and pavement wall $50
%.
$50. 900 feet Is N. pine timber @l0...... 4Z'VW
%, 800 lnearfect piles driven 3Oc......-.. 1000"
~ 900 nounds wroupht IRON a Sc........... 5.llO
Fatal o.tim,ted cost .......... 81 20. 90
Statement showing the cost 0f the work done ana
under WAY i'm dcepening and widening the Enc Canal.
from slim No 3 in Buffalo HarbOr 20 thc ghrd-lock AT
Eack Notwithstanding all Payments for Items oi WORK
moi embraced in Widening deepening, and construct
ing the division wall
10 George ID. Lord assignee under skinner
and wliamss contracts, Including leSsla- ,,- -,, ,
1a r. r Van uusen ............. $3.50 2s
ny gbandnnment ............... 1906 30
uowrv .............. 2J0,llO 10
TotoI amount expended ............. 1923 1913 -
The amount required Ia cOnipl tt the Work
ON tine scale of prices OF the Mowry con
tract Recommendations. 1891 IA
Total when completed S1O5,2S 80
Comparing this statement with the preceding
estimate il appears that George ID. Lord was paid
for doing about 0netcnth of this work larger sum
~ Tho original OF tho Ers Canal MAS s7,lt37Ss