New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-04
THE DENIsoN CONTRACTS AT UTICA.

THE DENlSON 10 Al tiiN@'
CANAL IMPROVEMENT GREATLY NEEDED-THE
WORK IMPROPERLY DONE BY THE CONTRACTORS
70 the EdttOr OF The Trtt"ne
SIR: The issue between the people and the
.anal contractors should be kept sharply defined and
sbould not be obscurcd by irrelevant matter There
seems to he danger in the investigation OF the benson
contracts at Utica that the condemnation OF irauuuen'
contracts and will lose some OF It's force ny the Ell
fort IN show that the sought to be accom-
Wished on the canals wrongful OF themselves lhe
contractors I'm the of the Utica wok had nothls
whatever 10 do with the legislation which authorized the
work that originated and was perfected as follows;
Tho animal reports OF the Canal Commissioners for
MANY years prior the letting of the contracts III ques
ton recommended to the Legislature tie removal OF the
wall benches from Erie Canal and the substitution OF
slope in order to increase It's capiciy TINS nu
heen done from time to until in 1858 but little OF the
old wall benches remained and they were mostly III 'he
eastery mart Of the City OF Utica This condition OF tue
canal al Utica was detrimental TO all land fronting on
A. boats could enough to the bdnks
10 unload and also seriously interfered with naviga
ton nv frequently causing jana OF boats at seasons OF
thu wear when frog lting most active and when II
most desirable that gation should be unmpairef
At or near Utica boats from the Black RIVER ana ron
the Chenaugo Canals enter the Erie Canal one orhg
ing lumber from Northern NewYOrk, ana the other coa
and iron from Northern Pennsylvania, ANA consequently
here the Erie Canal needed to be OF f wllth ana Tue
,,tarruot,ons here II anywhere, should be removed
while in fact they had been removed throughout the
length OF the canal from Albany to Bufao except mere
Obseryn that tho yearly recommendations OF the canal
authorities failed to the attention which the sub
,act seemed to demand and knowing the prcneness to
tnaotion Of all great stupid bodies like the New-fOrk
Ieg,slafure when the labor OF drafting an act ~
preliminary proceeding purchased all the ahi IN tDe
eastern mart of the city which could conveniently pay
Gov suggested similar TO friend or two not oh'
OF whom had has, personal acqlntance win any
Contractor on tie Eric Canal or elsewhere, ana tnth
called tbe atten'io Of our member OF Assembly MI;
Avery and our Senator Mr. Sanford to the PAST relQso'
The canal auori les These gentlemen were personally &C.
cnaptrd will the locality, aud were fully impressed win
me importance TO the public interests OF removing the
ions navi ration at this point ana b0th wthout
soI;ctatiou of any kind, and without being innue,ed
thercto i'm any except by their desire 10 perform
tber dnt ga as legislators easily secured the necessary
LEGISLATION in their respective Houses to begin the WORK
,rtich has since been the canals at TINS point
while the work was and was properly ordered
AZ ha been most CXtTavaganty ana Improperly zone ny
tba cntrocor and a desire in this communication Il
On noin ant The stnctiOn between the just cOndelnn
IN on uufithtul work and unjust condemnation o. the
tmproyCments which have been OF great and manlfNt
Advantage TO the canal in increasing us calacIY at
roint where 1t was greatly needed ana has helped to
Snild mn large and prosperous population IN part OF
Utica which had previously been an uh'et'i,u waste
Respectfully yours, A. o.
Jtira Aug. H. 1879.