The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-27
THE CANAL MIL STONED.
Gev. Tiidcp's Objections 20 Certain Items =
How 100000 was Used.

ALBANY, May @-Gov. Tilden has signed
Assembly Bill No. 4o9 entitled, IAN act TO pro.
vide for the completion or cancellation Of all
pending contracts for new work upon and ex-
traordinary repairs OF the canals, and making
an appropriation to pay the expenses OF such
necessary extraordinary repairs a. may be ap-
proved OF and directed by the Canal Board" but
has objected to items for the oonsti iuction OF a
lift bridge over the Erie canal In BrocKport a
lift bridge at Brighton, Monroe county; a swing,
hoist, or turn table bridge over the Oswero
canal in Syracuse; a lift bridge over the Erie In
West Troy; a lift bridge In Lookport, and an
iron bridge In PALMYRA. His objections arc that
she bridges are not necessary to good navigation,
but are local improvements, and impose large
extra cost on the State. They charge the State
with an annual expense for operating eaoh one
are 1913 BRIDGES over the canals, and the cree
ton and operation on this plan OF vne-sixth Of
much as the orisinsl outlay Tor the Erie canal.
The Governor also objects 20 items for re-
building bridge over the Erie In Fultonvlle,
rebuilding two bridges and building one bridge
IN Tonawanda, for building a bridge over the
Champlain In whitehall, for the completion OF a
bridge over the Glen's Falls feeder, for the con-
struction of three Dridgcs In Tonawands, Mag
ara county, for the construction of u foot bridge
over the Erie at Mud Lock, an iron bridge over
the Erie in Lockport, for reDairing the docking
ON the Main and Hamburg canal IN Buffalo. for
the construction Of approaches TO the bridge
work on the breakwater IN Buf Ilo harbor, ano
for the payment Of interest to T.. ii. French, a
contractor. The other items are approved.
Gov. ildon adds:
"The object OF this bill was to stop the wastes
and frauds of the system of cx'rlordinlIy rc-
pairs as II has hitherto been practisod, To enable
the CIral Buari to terminate all the existing
contracts except the fsw which. In thcir judg-
ment. might be neces ary to the tenehcidl use
OF the canals, and to apply the tl,GOOOUO Of mo-
nov which the measures OF last year hhd re-
claimed into the treasury, and the further sums
whicn should be recovered, to real and substan-
tial Improvement OF the main trunk waterways.
Z" IL was believed that by restoring the Erie
canal TO It's lawful depth Of seven ieet and
gradually increasing the volume Of the water ON
the levels, the speed OF the boats could be in
creased. aud tho use of steam motive power IA
draft Of the boat, but merely TO give II easier
traction and a swfter motion by lesscning the
reiMding inhuence OF the " ter confined In a
channel having liked physics 81 boundsr Ii Is
not doubted tn reduction IA the cost OF
transportation could have been thereby effected
more important tnan was attained by the recent
reduction OF tolls. The plan was sanctioned oy
the best engineering ana scientific abilities and
skill and by ample practical experience.
" But tho interests which fatten ON the abuses
OF the system OF extraordinary repairs were
vglant IN deyisinR ima aginary objections, and Ia
stImu- latl ~ opposition.
" In the closing GAYS Of the session. Mr.. Bur
leigh, Chairman OF the Canal Committee OF the
Assembly, Communicated to me the opinion that
while the S.bU,VpO appropriated for the improve
ment OF tue Cbampidin canal aud the $4DCO.l
appropriated to bottoming out tho Eric cana
could be main .ained, the further appropriation
OF $500 900 for deepening the waterway of The
Erie canal was hopeless OF passing the Senate
% consultation with him, as IT was unwise u
have that surplus remain idle IN the treasur,
exposed to the risk Of being fritteiei away IN
Jobs without nny real utility, II was thought
best to apply II to paving tue deficiency In The
canal sinking fund, thereby enabling SO muct
Of tue taxes to be remittsd. rhal was accord
ingly done"