New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-27
GREATER ECONOMY IMPOSSIBLE.

In dealing with the question OF the insuffi-
cheney Of the S9.O00,000 originally appropriated.
the report says:
Ii has been sorely disa ppont!ng 10 those charged
with the conduct OF this great Work mat II mas mas
limits OF the nrst appropriation. and further sr
statement of the efforts that have been m made IN IN
that direction anu the reasons why Iies hase ae
proven futile is but just 10 all concerned AS mas
work were started simu aneously, TO the end that
all the estimates might be available at az carry
idea OF the total cost. Such estimates were avail:
1hs early in 1895. They were necessarily based
ia shsrge s OF the several sections, and to their
credit be it SAID that the grand total thereof
II 1t o was however. believed that many items had
omitted and after revising few Of these covering
tTaets sU,t W were awarded These covered amount
SUFFICIENT to use up the funds provided by the Leg
nwnraed tlll more funds were available, the inter-
vening months were spent IN ne most risS seru,
bring g the total cost within 100000. Every re-
source for procuring new and cheap materials for
seemed possible. for eliminating entirely the re-
was tried and exhausted not without good results.
but without accomplishing The object sought.
T ali Work. sRowng hy hh M show o @
ensSr esmai Of 81 sao2 . Will in indcats Sass Plainly Th ~
niles OF work to be improved The estimates for
each contract were h IN ,hs eor
ade in that direction has resulted In cutting out
a large amour Of work which experience shows
cannot he avoid. Il. ana wnicn Is necessary part
OF the other work.
on the sections for which contracts have been
awarded the contract prices VIII be round TO equal
a total of about per cent less than that OF the
engineers esiirates. and the difference Will go
long way toward paying for items and quantities
nor originally contemplated. At the same time the
reason for usi-g the engineers estimates instead
OF the estimates at contract prices the basis
Of probable total cost IN The accompanying tables
deiermlne definitely before these contracts are
OF work that WI be required. This can only be
determined the work progresses and unexpected
conditions are uncovered.
The fact that only those few contractors who
have been able to CLEAN any proht from their work.
and that most OF the others are poorer when their
contracts finished than when they were begun.
should be sufficient evidence that the State is not
being robbed
CHANGE OF ROUTE PROPOSED.
An important change in the plans is .sug-
gested as follows
AS S. per cent OF the canal traffic passes into
the Hudson River at Troy n ns great expsnss OF
hardly seems justified, The series known as the
sxteens'' (No. to 49,. at cohoes are sc scattered i
that distance. To lengthen these locks and I'm.
prove the levels between them Will certainly cost
81 $4,000 ,.,
l. offered at this point. This plan contemplates
the Improvement OF that portion OF the present
Champaln ,anal between us Junction with the
Erie Canal standard. Then at point just south
Of the guard lock at the south end OF the Cohoes
Dam a new channel OF standard Erie dimensions
u designed to be built In the bed OF the Mohawk