New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-01
MOTOR AND MACHINERY AT WATERFORD.
THE CONTROLLERS PART IN A CONTRACT TO
BRIDGE CHAMPLAIN CANAL

BRIDGE CHAMPLAIN CANAL
Wsterfod. n. Y, Oct 81 (speciaD.-The canal
bridQ at Rochester was not the only one that con-
troller Wemple helped to build during his present
term Of office He performed similar piece OF work
in this little town Champlan Canal and never
made the slightest effort TO conceal his interest IN the
contract For him to deny the fact now as he at
tempted to do the Rochester work, would be to enable
almost every resident of Waterford to make him out
periurer Every ono here knew that he was the con-
tractor for the machinery for the simple reason that
he made no effort TO conceal the fact and his peculiar
methods impressed his personality so strongly upon
the minds Of the people Of Waterford that they VIII
long remember him.
Waterford is a place Of about 5000 population
situated at the foot Of Saratoga County, and Is the
first station beyond Troy the Delaware and Hudson
Railroad The old iron bridge which completed
the direct avenue between Waterford and Coh0es
was long ago found inadequate. When the appropria"
ton for a bridge was made about TWO years
ago the Hilton Bridge Company received the contract
for the bridge, Controller Wemples firm that FOR the
motor and machinery and Ira Parker. small local
contractor that for the excavations and subsirUctre
Mr. Parker urged to great haste in his part OF
the work by the Others concerned. The whole under
taking WAS to have been completed by the opening OF
navigation on May /. Mr. Parker began digging
early in March, while the ice was still Ill the canal
and had finished the substuctre at least six weeks
before the Others were ready During the months Oh
NAV and June they did practically nothing. Mean
time communication between here and Cohoes was
Interrupted Passengers ferried across the
canal in small boats at extra expense.
Committees OF indignant residents besieged the
town authorities Board meetings were held and
frequent deputatons were sent TO plead with Mr.
shanahan at Albany. Finally, toward the beginning
OF july Mr.. Wemple and the Hiltons woke up to the
situation. When the bridge was actually completed
however Mr. Wemple learned that in order to turn
the machinery over the town in practical worinn9
shape as the terms of the Appropriation demandsd'
ne would have to expend some $40 or $40 for con-
nectng il with the town water mains. lie thereup0n
made several visits to Waterford and wrestled with
the city officials with the result that they at last be-
came dsgusted and made the connection at their own
expense He affected concealment whatever OF MS
connection with the work apparently secure IN the
confidence that a Hin official was Superior - INC
laws which govern ordinary servants OF the otat-'
The bridge was opened on July ~; nearly Two
months late. But the appoachss sun i nnain ,nno nm
yras drop Of ten feet two inches. commit
tee was sent some time In August 10
aunrjse Mr. stranahan Ct this fact and ask MN 10 70
order the necessary grading Mr. Sraiana oa's ths
work and that he would have 70 Visit the uoM Do.oo
he could begin To make the necessary arr ,
Jris spite OF the TACT mar Slounu hau DGo M
on the i'm provement in March His negligence mas
caused los, and discomfort to thousands. ine no
hawk and Hudson Iron Foundry Company whlch nave
largo Government contracts on hama, nave artudiy
order 10 get it ou of the town, owing 10 the unsafe
condition Of the approaches Nothlng mas Set peen
Jone Ia repair them. The old bridge Mr.. Shanahan
also promised to have removed TO tne 1901 0l '
of the town but this promise like the other Is lhaer
for future realization.