New-York tribune., 1884-01-09
MR.. SEYMOUR AND 1HE CANALS.
LETTER FROM THE STATE ENGINEER IN DEFENCE
OF HIS RECENT REPORT.


OF HIS RECENT REPORT
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Now that there appears to be n slight sub
sidence in the sharp fire which has been opened
upon me during the last few days by the newspaper
press on account of some opinions expressed in the
recent Report of the State Engineer on Canals;
and as these criticisms have generally been based
upon misrepresentation of fact and garbled ex-
tracts from that report, will ask for little space
in your columns for the purpose Of making such ex-
plantations and corrections the nature of the
and my own yndcation seem to require.
BY referring to the closing paragraphs Of the re-
port In question. il will be seen that did not an
tcpate at the present time, either from the press OF
the people, a very favorable reception Of some Of
the opinions expressed therein; more particularly
with reference to the probable future destiny Of the
State canals; and also, as to the many visionary
and impracticabe plans proposed for securing an
increased water supply from the Adirondack region.
1t did not occur to me, however, that, while per-
forming an official duty to the State, by giving ex
preston to my honest convictions upon these sub
iects | should be charged with daplicity and hgDOc
,isy in having concealed from the people, dnring the
last election, my real opinions respecting these mat
ters II Is therefore more particularly with refer
euce to this feature Of the case, that feel called
upon to submit to the public the following state
ment of facts.
A reference to my reports for 1892 both upon the
canals and railroads of the State, will show that the
same opinions were then expressed with reference
TO the superiority of railroads canals for pur
noses of inland transport; and also as to the far
greater benefits resulting to the city of Ncw-York
nv reason of the numerous trunk lines of railway
converging within her borders, than could ever be
expected to accrue from the State canals These re-
ports Immediately became public documents, and
were given a wide circulation throughout the State;
and generally received favorable comments from
the press.
Furthermore, the Republican State Convention of
last fall, which, without any solicitation on my
part renOmnatcd me by acclamatiOn for the Office
of state Engineer and Surveyor, together with the
newspaper press which supported that nomination,
and the people of the State who voted for my
election, could therefore have had no excuse for
being ignorant OF my views IN relation to these sub
iects. The additional fact that the Ani-AOnOpOly
Leagues both IN this city and throughout the state
which claim to control over 2J,0OO votes, singled
me out in their printed elrculars from the other
candidates upon the Republican State ticket, AZ ono
to be deieatCdat all hazards, on account OF my sup
posed mOnopolistc prOcytles, shows most con-
clusivey that at least this class of the public con-
sdered itself fully posted upon the subject. 1t will
also be observed that, instead OF endcaYOrlng 10
conceal OF ignore the opinions expressed upon these
subjects in my former reports, they are largely
quoted from and reproduced, for the purpose of IL
Illustrating the views and justlfying the CONCLUSIONS
arrived at in'the present report.
In view of the foregoing statements 1t Is respect
fully submitted that far as concerns the mallg-
nant charges made against me by some portions OF
the press to the effect that have acted in bad faith
toward my constituents or the public at large they
are entirely without foundation. IL Is either my
fault or my misfortune that my good name and pro
fessOnal reputation the only egacies that it will
probably be in my power to beqneath TO my family
and friends and therefore cannot submit to un-
Iust aspersOns of this nature without at least an at
tempt at my own vindicatiOn. Whatever may have
been my private convictions with reference 10 the
ultimate destiny of the State canals, am fully con-
scious of having done everything IN my power,
during my late term OF Office to promote the inter
ests of the State in connection with the canals, by
submitting such estimates and recommending such
measures. in my reports to the Legislature, as
would if carried out be best calculated to increase
their efficiency and establish their success.
with your kind permission will reserve to a
future occasion the privilege of making some re-
marks in review OF the grounds taken by the Gov
erAor i'm his recent message TO the Legislature, upon
the subject of the State canals. as ioreshadOwing
the coming report of the superintendent of Public
Works SILAS SEYMOUR.
Asyr- York Jan. s 1881.