New-York tribune., 1878-01-01
THE STATE CANALS.

REPORT OF ENGINEER JOHN d. VAN BUREN-LARGE
REDUCTION OF LXPENsES-DEFICIENi METHODS
Of TRANSFORMATIONS
lTuo,i TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUNE.I
ALBANY, Dec. 31.-Ihe report OF John ".
Van Barren. jr, state Engineer Hi surveyor Oh the
canals of the state presents the following points OF GER
,rl interest: The engineering expenses have been Sil
-o 81 for the past yeur against S662 % lOr 1876.
and SIIO1ig SO FOR 1872. OF tie amount spent TINS
year slolug 81 WIS ;or special obecs, the rate OF ex
pcudiur, being about $4,000 a year. The total ex-
urudturcs Tor ordinary repairs on All TIE ca
nal, during the year have been 4IU1,3S2 ~.
The extraordinary repairs done under Resolutions OF
fine anal Board cost in 1877 S1327l % The Oneida
L q ana, wos camulctcd in Scp.cnbcr. ls entire cost
Was fi1 30 81. Daring the past year The SlN o5 ."
tnr Erie Carq been ini-hrd u i bc!rVrd tlai tic
rcnrg of tnc survey VIII Ice of great adyant lse a.
iro,tbv hass Tor future work. The original arpru
p,i,,,nn Tor tie survey WAS $4,000, and balance Of
TnrTr sil remain for settlement fourteen contracts
Including the iarg,r claims 4 ain.i NE Htttr'
Attic last session of The l"gisluc Ia" was Phssrl
ur yldny for the Abandonment "i the Geht>ce iFtf
,et.r Ihc ate Engineer AM S"rFey"F cca,lhrd lhd,
II was no lo.zer Of u-c for canal purposes lhc rrI"r
: agan.t auloum-nt for tine reason that d'hcirncJ
o. Wdicrin the Er,a C'nh Is ottn sn,Flei non lIi'
fcer ana that the Gcnrsce valley canai Is s"on t. b.
nh ud1 ed Tit report suggests as solution oi me bni
'n s.wrrac" question That Outlets Dc puit uH"or the
canal directly into tle Niagara RIVER
The resort says IN the way Of summary
Ac,f1l study 81 the financial condition AMI trade Of
tio cu,, rnu. convince ihosr Wtiu,'d hih'lr man
IA b
f-ol. IL all c1Penditar = tch 'i' 10 we il'i' 49, ~
ii,,. coudt t!ou. Il s, Ci cudl-e, fuuy 10
yrr.t That the constitutional requirements relating 10
me anal debt oas b. "uSrrtd lir W""l -h t"r CON
iIncl has secure sIiir.cn rrychc 10 py theH
only: t. 80 TX tIr Tolls - 7" secure "
i,r,,. tHuuslc aud maximum rrvcnu'. Inc revenue
cyt now is -'iri'rt 9" cover tn FIhhhs EXPENSES 3"
me canals, IL IT Is devoted oa'y io ihe legitimate Pi-
~ me canal uunaseincnt C,LsicuHS tho rch GcF,-
opiucnt OF ~" c,unWr along the iinr' az the mar
cul.H. and t1c advantages s'cdi'd 70 ,ae '.'i-lna
cities il cannot for ilmrn, 49, "'i3'.h tl l!i' 'A
i,i,rr NOT Al -tauiuE al the wa-isof funnN, ha'
been largely profitable investment 10 '"e peoo o' 'uc
safe.
rne total expenditure for mIntcnance Of The canals.
evcludpg ptynrnt on DEBT anI interest on the same
were for 1877 II 3l3OlI Gi, as against S3,1o]"3O oi
tor 1873.
subject of Canal transportation Win anaysc' ~ II cost
by various methods AS an Introduction 10 th'So c''
mates the report says:
For several wear. p~ those Interested In canal trans
rrr,ai,n have ana '0u.y studied the question "i steam
prupul,lon, ia the Lopc thni ~ c'i DE -u''r- "f
ni, ON the caaal, and hat it, itrIiuci"n "odI ciu>r
r.y,,,l of iu.ir waning trade. Many ahcini"' nav
r.l, made duIi tlr Irt seven 81 tGnt years I" III
mai I,,cr "A N prevails. Inr revival Of uadc during
an. past sen a. ad cd renewed tcrH !" lHi' Hu'
I..i and IA t.r general tLIrt Ia -''Mc lie ch,art-
mode of rls iiion steam It"'u l"h hHS .'rh l'd
IN greater extent tHu ever hci"lr. LIS use hh' now
ever, Lut been general; srili orion S. @ 2 40 ',.'
ma g. i1s been moved hy -tC lI power. Inc Ih"if On
,y.I were: single stafnc. Nhc the Baxter boat -
0.G.irg tugs, wlth train oi from ~" - h'c "i,' II
foU aud tlie steamer and cunsprt phh ia "4ith an
or,linuIy boat /, pushed ahead ui tie straF.tt.
Iu follow snort de- rptuns 81 :hc 'ailnus modes "t
,-,,.nrf1tio, iuc!u iu- nc common animal power. tL'
pr,ytdcd with "a cable lJi on the bottom through IL
en-; ne length and a S,'an toy po't WI" ~ h.'oN'H
,Gr turnci by the machinery III tn, io"-h"a causing
Inc cable 10 I.-s without slirTnz ;hu- Ia" t."
Ih. .tl,4trd Gusts cf traI sportatl"n oi freight
D-tNccn Bhhio anl Nr" loih'