New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-24
THE STATE ENGINEERS REPORT.
SURVEYS FOR CANAL IMPROvEMENT-DAMS AND


RESERVOIR sITEs-ELECTRIC PROPULSION.
Albany Feb 23.-Thc annual report Of State En-
gineer Campbell W. Adams will be presented TO the
Legislature tomorrow night The report is some
what long this year owing TO the great amount or
work that has been made necessary in the State
Engineers Department on account OF the canal I'M
provement, surveys and plans. which are now max
ing good Roadway. Comparatively few recommen-
datons are made for work directly connected with
the canals that are 10 be improved under the %
called Nine Million Dollar Bill since that Dill pro-
vdes the REQUISITE authority and means for making
many Of the notifications, Improvements and re-
pairs that are now required. but the attention OF
the LEGISLATURE Is directed TO the fact that the Nine
Million Dollar bill does not provide for repairs oil
many Of the structures that are now In dlIapi-
dated condition. Neither is any OF IL available ioi
work on the various feeders. which should now be
put in the best possible condition. In order 10 rem
der them capable of supplying the additional guam
tity Of water which the canals will surely need when
the contemplated improvements are competed
Twenty-Five fully equipped corps OF engineers are
now In the feld making the surveys. preparatory 10
letting the contracts under the Nine Million Dollar
bill. Nine OF these corps are at work on the east
ern division. the middle division ana nine
on the western division. the distance allotted 10
each being about eighteen miles. making total Oh
about $50 miles the total length OF the Erie Us
wego and Champain canals, which are to De M
proved under this law.
1t Is expected that all the plans VIII be decideo
upon % that contracts can be awarded for nearly
the whole OF the work during the coming months OF
June and July.
Considerable space is devoted the report OF the
survey Of the drainage basin Of the upper HUDSON
River and its tributaries which survey was a"-
thorized by Chapter 500 Of the Laws OF 1919 which
approprlatei $500 for the work The state Engineer
called TO his assistance this work the United
States Geological Survey. which has prepared 'he
general contour maps Of &l OF the Z'sD SQUARE
miles Of this drainage basin.
The detailed surveys and report on the reservoir
sites together with the estimated costs OF 'he sew
eral dams the quantities of water available for
storage the water-power available, the effect THESE
stored waters might have on the Champlan ana
Erie canals and on the level OF the Hudson RIVER
in the vicinity Of Troy and Albany were pIaced III
the hands OF George w. Rafter NJ. A. society OF
Civil Engineers. who has prepared an ho'e anu
vourninous report, a synopsis OF which has ALREADY
been published. 1t is asserted that al COS. %
g. Soss storage capacity Of h.5s3oooCO cubic feet
could be obtained and that this would Increase inc
minimum flow at Glens Falls TO four times Us Fi.0
emf voume and increase the low water depth OF the
ConsiderabIe space is devoted TO the sublec' OF
completing the topographic map OF the stat
which for several years has b.ea Irosecur-rnd i
under the joint SUPERVISOR ., ,me 1;eoIogi.i
Survey. the state and General Government eAeh
paying half the cost One-ffth OF ne sac ma az
ready been surveyed and mapped IN TINS manner manner
at the low OF about 80 square in..e o. NM,
The STATE pays bu. one-half. An appr0pr'tu9n .,
NV being prosecuted In exactly similar form ana
manner IN most OF the other states o., ,he mon
describing tie Lamb system whifh Was vas Hb
the NlilIigan device that was described IN the pt
csdinE eDqr s and rom s9T Ssh iea pe AZ and ha;
problem is far from commerciaiy ninC ..od an1
d H.ohib Which, it is said is nearer The practical
solution OF this problem than any yet inVesusd'eu