New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-25

pains could not be taken in view OF the impor-
lance OF this work OF canal Improvement
"A NEW FORM OF LOCK GATE
Then. the assistant engineers are preparing
designs and estimates for new form or canai
lock gates. The plan is to remove the mitre
sill OF the lock- which now takes up ten inches OF
space We also seek to improve the gates. wnich
now occupy twenty feet in the locks We think
we can reduce this by fifteen feet. We thus can
practically lengthen the lock chambers fifteen teeI
without altering the walls OF the locks. ana We
also can gain ten inches in depth In the locks
by removing the mitre sill.
Thus We shall remove the only obstacle to our
charging the whole canal to an average depth OF
nine feet with the exception of the aqueducts.
And we think We can give nine feet OF water at
the aQueducts by substituting steel bottom III
place OF the present wooden ones such an I'M
provement of the aqueducts would be an i'm
provement on State Engineer seymour plan ios
improving the canals, for ne ola not contemplate
giving more than eight feet of water In the
aqueducts although he gave nine feet In the
canal" :,
do the contracts 10 be given out guard Wen
the interests OF the state?
GUARDING THE STATES INTERESTS.
They do in an unusual manner. tor the Canal
Improvement law says that the bidder shall
state the gross sum for which he will do par
ticular lit OF work and the contractor must
base his bid on the quantities contained in our
estimates and the plans and cross-sections put
before him This * a requirement not necessary
in any other biz Of canal work | have. there
fore determined to have detailed survey made
of all the canals TO be improved shall SCI
to work, as told you. thirty corps OF surveyors
Their task Will be to determine how much earth
Is 10 be removed from the prism Of the canal.
how much the banks are to be elevated ana 70
ascertain also the amount OF clearance necessary
at canal bridges. We shall start the surveyors
along the canals just as soon Controller
Roberts gets the money for the bonds. doubt,
however il we shall be able to give out any con-
tracts for canal Improvement work mucn petoTe
next spring"
LOW WATER IN THE LAKES.
Mr. Adams further said that he had recently
been making a tour in the western part OF the
State and had been much dsmayed al the fall
in the level Of the lakes I'VE shall have TO con-
slider in making the canal Improvement" he
said whether this fall in the level Of the lakes
Is a permanent one. for oar decision Will deter
mine whether the Ellie Canal between Buffalo
and Lockport and the Oswego Canal at Oswego
shall be eXcavated TO certain depth. Last
. week when / was in Buffalo the Erie Canal a.
some points between there and Lockport was
only five feet ten inches in depth. And there
was rock bottom. That showed that the canal
workmen not al fault. Mud in the canal
would have disclosed that they were at fault
The low level Of Lake Erie caused this low
water In the Erie Canal between Buffalo and
LOckport. Ny opinion Is that owing 10 the de-
struction OF forests along the shores OF the great
lakes we shall frequently the level OF tho
lakes at it's present low point. think. there
fore. that shall be compelled TO do a large
amour; of rock excavation between Buffalo and
LOckpOrt.
THE LARGE VOTE.
Mr. Adams also said that he was greatly graft
fed at the large vote cast upon the canal inn
provement proposition. Il suspect" he said.
that more voters expressed themselves upon
this proposition than upon any amendment TO
the Constitution ever voted upon Without con-
sidcring Rockand and Queens counties. whose
election returns on this question have not yet
been made public. there We're Slll6l persons who
voted the proposition 10 spend s9.009.o0J. and
Of these 500 1874 favored 1t and 1922, opposed IT,
There thus clear majority i'm its favor OF
/, 206 SO. 1t Is most substantial approval OF the
canal maintenance idea
George W Aldrdgc. the Supernten u
| Public Works said on Friday: II am greatly
pleased that the voters Of the State approved u
the canal improvement proposition, for the canals
were In bad condition They had been neglected
and. rs one Of the consequences. their business
had fallen of. My part OF the canal improve
ment will simply he to give out the contracts TO
responsible bidders at the lowest price for the
work can obtain. / doubt whether shall be
! ready to give on, the contracts before next
| spring. The winter will be spent I'm busy prepa-
| ration for this work. which is OF the highest
! importance 10 the State and therefore il should
! be performed with great care.