New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-16
THE STATE CANALS.
,TATE ENGTNFFR.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE ENG1NFFR.
fFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE !
ALBANY, Feb. 15.-State Engineer Van Buren,
submitted his annual report regarding the work done by
the engineers upon the canals during 1876 to the State
Legislature to-day He states in opening his report that
the change In the made by the Leglsla
ture last Winter giving the State Engineer the abso-
lutte appointment Of his subordinates and suJectns all
expendi ures for engineering to his approval, las
proved very beneficial All applicants for positions were
subjected examination a. to thr qualifications
for ably executing the work the department. BY this
examination he asserts better class OF assistants was
obtained The expenses FOR engineering for tie fiscal
wear were S66 0O0 OF the previous year. Tl14OOO In
the 500 900 was included expenditure OF $4,000 III
tine quarter previous 10 the beginning OF the present
State Engineers term of office that in fact S5oOo
has been saved during the nine months from Jan 10
Oct 1. The saving brought about In part by the
thorough reorganization OF force and in part by the
decrease OF extraordinary repairs on the canals Inc
extra expense resuryeyng the Erie Canal ordered by
the Legislature last year. included in the expen-
ditures depth OF feet had been found through
out the canal except at the sides great deal OF aoor
had been expended in the settlement OF OLD CONTRACTS
which involved new measurements ana estimates
Plans and surveys for the Improvement OF the Chihi-
plain Canal were ready An appropriation OF $4,000 10
cover engineering expenses for the coming scai year Is
recommended This less than onethlrd o. tho eApehu
lures of $40 and onsidcraby less than half III amount
Of those several years The settlement OF od co-
tracts had involved critical personal examination ny
the stale Engineer OF all the estimates ana reeous Dc
longing 10 them. The figures for forming accurate con-
illusions were not always 10 be had the recommends
were founded upon professional considerations
only the policy and the terms OF compromises were e'
to the Judgment of the Canal Board Thtyone OF these
contracts had been settled with aggregate deduction
OF S23 900 from the contractors claims t"ehtyIour
cont racts still remain for settlement.
The expenditures by the Canal Commissioners ana by
the endent for ordinary repairs were Sloo'ooo
less than in the preceding year Ne'trtheiesS Tue oo"
dtou OF the canals required by the Constitution TO be
retained by the state WAS improved. The suggestion %
tha still greater could be effected by resort
ing to some general system for the phrrht5e Vi .1os i
Tnuircd instead OF the present method OF leaving ea
SUPERINTENDENT 10 make his own purchases ~ n ~
aivbbnrl,ood The recommendation is also mace tit IL
he provided by law that no fealis DC iiac W any ION
connected with tue canals ~tno' IN The am COM
mssioners with the state Engineer III ahnE ip n
repairs by the Canal Board iad reSden III ~
considerable saving The sum Of S2';ooc n.u oeh ~ rA
neudrl i'm the Improvement of the Hudson hiFe leaving
BIB 900 OF the appropriation made iof the 81
Year available for tie present year OOod nayisato.
had been maintained at small cost ne hr "
Lieut.. Willard, , Work ON the river aid the State Eng
nerr had been full and constant Ihe S,'te nns IT,
made nrrs0nal examination OF the river BE- TWEEN Troy
a S"w al the opening OF navigation, Tor the
prpose of ascertaning the bars which h'u ~ =,
Gently or had previously existed. ana when VI
chro1 and easy permanent improvements ooi'i"T,s
wrre entered into for all the dredging 10 DE
ronuired by the State Engineer, WIN thG PIo
,,jHion that the material 40 taken up should ne
depo,cd az such points might be designated 10y Lcnl
Willard Tables prepared by Lieut.. Willard are aplehuo
Ia the report showing the depth At mean low water anu
also the least depths OF water on the several Drs pco"
Albany in July, August September ana NoNtn ni" %
Is26 OF the sum expended by the state, S2O'lo ~,
niv 81 go so or L, per cent. paid Tor engineering
and inspection which small expenditure was du1 10 ,n1
rrouomy resutins from cooperation WIN Lieut.
An additional appropriation this year of S290oo lor hs
Improvement of the river Is TcconiIe heu, W po Hn
mnns under the direction Of the state EnGineer Az
ndcd 70 ~ tables ia showing In detail the eApendi
lures for ordinary repairs by sueIintenetS er ne
ture.lock tending. Labor materials, bills OF merchants
and mechanics, clerk hire and pay Oh surhtehueh'S'