New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-06
CONDITION OF THE CANALS.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT ALDRIDGE


DEMNED-RAILvAY CoMPETIrIoN-sILr<
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FUND.
Albany Jan I'm his annual report to the Legis-
ature which will be sent to that body soon aiter
the re-opening of the session. the superintendent Vi
Public Works George W. Aldrdge, will include the
financial statement for the ended September 81
the canal trade and tonnage for the season ended
December s. and will review the condition OF the
canals and the work OF improvement the nhahcia'
report shows a total expenditure out OF the ORDINARY
repair fund of $15i.36 20 There was expended io'
Improvement of the canals under special appropri-
atoms the sum of s55l.0S 81
In speaking of the navigation on the cahais 'he
superintendent calls attention to the SUCCESSFUL
compliance with his order made at the opening OF
navigation relative to the dscontinuahce oi 'hc
system which had grown up on the part oil 'och-
tenders of evying tribute on the poat-owherS III.
services rendered A matter which will be read
with interest by users OF water all along 'he ca"a
ard 10y riparian owners is what superintendent
AIdridee has to say on navigation as affected by
the use of water from the canals for power pur-
poses" He says:
Early in the history OF the canals OF this state
Il was believed that a considerable revenue might
accrue TO the State by the leasing OF the surplus
waters of the same at many locations, M leases
quence of the prevalence OF this idea many &c
were executed "a considerable number OF whicn ar
still The money received Tor ane use ~
il ZOO small an amount q become an apprecaole
factor in canal receipts or mahage,hss o fns,ered
features which have developed ana Deeh Ios.S,ieI
under the cover OF this system have been niamio,u
and far-reachne. on almost every sinai ss at.Sr
into which water is occasionally dschaigeI, e ILL
through a waste weir with gates or simple over
flow wall. mills ana manuiactqres a naon from
erected. varying in capacity with the location tIos
those which employ hundreds of workmen 10 tnos nose
which perform the snnq have grown the
demand for water has increased. and the cana
has been depleted OF %stnr 81 powerf political or
social influences. brought to bear upon pa,,s
officials or by Objectionable methoos suCn a.
bribery OF waste-weir tenders ana the ope"''s u
gates at night. .a h,. ,ha
State surplus waters have come TO mean al .nt
water which can under any pretence be distracted
canal or its navigation may be affected thereby
Navigation has become fcarfully demoraiizeo unoes
by many as simply hydraulic canals to supply power
TO manufactories rather than waterways to &C.
efforts during the past season to restrain the 40,
straction and Of water from the canals wt ,l
success: still there T. much more TO be achieVeu
along the same lines during another season , 90
any antagonism to any one Of the Industries whlcn
flourish in consequence OF the use OF sur su,pu r
water from the canal but ! 90 CAIN Una, suu
plIlses should not he produced at any point by IN
ducng yclocites OF current prejudicial 10 hsV'ea
Judges wheths nI or etrhmte IT. It follows as
corolary from the foregoing that in my Judgment
no leases for surplus water should be gran.ed
and that those now in force should nor De d
lsgai oheations to continue them should the time
arriy" when there Is no lsga 10 Oh ingie
mill it will be a much simpler matter 10 maihlaim,
canal ma vgation and the surplus water. wnl'n VIII
still reach the mill will be received as a gift from
the state and not be demanded as legal right
Superintendent Aldrdge next deals with the effect
on ma yigation Of silt in the canal prism The ming
M process he says. has been going on for twenty
Nv. ,.ears and as tho appropriation for canal re-
mai has been too small for general cleaning out'
practically no cleaning at all has been done for
years except to remove bars reposited by innowing
streams The result has been tho gradual accumu-
aion Of deposit in tho canals 10 the extent OF not
less than two and one-quarter millions Of cubic
yards in tho Erie Cana alone and a proportional
arnottn, in the other canals OF the State. II this
,ast amount of earth was now uniformly distributed
a. ross the prism Of tho Eric Canal at all points,
the draught Of boats would have to be reduced from
si Zee. f. five feet four inches That this reduction
has no, been forced he SAYS is us to the indonit-
abo will Of the hoatmen. who have invented new
methods Of propulsion and been able to keep open
n narrow channel through which their boats could
pass
Snperintcndcnt AIdridge refers to the dilapdatNd
condition o. many Of The structures of the canal,
man, Of which were built half century ago As 10
the matter OF improving the canals he says;
I an, Of the opinion that in all improvements OF
the present anal short Of deep waterway or ship
canal the central idea should be such an improve,
mont az Will enable a large increase in the speed
Of loaded boats to be made. II this IA accomplished.
then the carrying capacity OF singl" boat or TO"
O, boats f. increased In the same proportion thet
Tho sn.ed f. increased The cost OF an improvement
a. A, canal OF m" present width so as 10 greatly
Incrcas,. Tin. width and carrying capacity or the
hoaf. NAVIGATING the same would be out OF all pro-
portion to the results op'aiHe'
Suporintendent Aldridge goes extensively into the
subject of the effect navigation caused by rail-
way competition. The rates offered by the rail-
WAYS Of course. had to be mot by the canal for
varder, though In many cases At loss TO boatmeA
He saws the reduction Of carrying charges by the
roads during 800 nearly 20 per cent. was due to their
desire to discred the canals and defeat the canal
appropriation
The whole number % tons carried upon tho canals
Of this state during the season Of lsaJ was 3oeoi
Of which 2sg. M tons In transit toward
tidowater and LIZ. ,35 tons was moved westward
or thcs. amounts Lee 563 through freight
and 791 s5l tons way freight The amounts
carried by the several canals were as follows
Erie Canal 5oopSt
Chamolain Cana. %o'So,
OsWrgO o,o.t
Haci. River Canal ott2t
Cavuca and Senaca Canal f9oSp
80 -,
Mr. Aldridge calls attention to the fact that the
appropriation voted by the people last fall for the