New-York tribune., 1897-12-31
THE ERIE CANAL SURVEYS.
WHY ARE MR. ADAMS AND MR. AID
RIDGE IGNORANT OF THEIR
EXISTENCE?

DAVID NJ GREENE. DEPUTY STATE ENGINEER
AVAILABLE FOR ESTIMATES on THE
100000 IMPRov EMENrs-THE SUR
vEYs COST LESS THAN $1,000
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: State Engineer Adams and Superintendent
Of Public Works Aldridge. in their recent re-
port explaining the small discrepancy OF 81
100000 between the actual and the estimated
requirement for the Improvement Of the canals
now in progress. lay great stress upon the al
legged fact that there were In the state En-
gneer's office no records OF surveys upon whicn
reliable estimates could be based
The explanation Is probably expected 10 DE
satisfactory to the taxpayers OF the state. Many
leading newspapers seen to he engaged III d
concerted effort to explain away the discrepancy
and To prcoare the public mind for an approval
OF such further eXpenditure-now stated 10 DC
$1,000. .OOO-as may b, found to De necessary
In the interest OF truth. the writer. who was
Deputy State Engineer from 1874 to 1913 pegs
70 state that in 1876 and 1877 complete detailed
SURVEYS were made OF the Champlain and Erie
canals: that cross sections were taken every
six,vsix faet. that these cross-sections were
plated in special uniform books. which were
deposited in the Office Of the State Engineer
that thc field books kept after form prescTiped
hv m. State Engineer. were linked and deposited
~ tho oe9ces Of the three division engineers,
and finally that the cost Of this work. extend
ing through part Of two years. was less than
$1,000
The surveys referred to were In charge OF
capable engineers OF large experience OH '"e
canals OF the state. The subordnates were Se
lec,ed solely upon the results OF CIVIL service
examination prepared and conducted py '"e
writer although there was no CIVIL service Ia"
at that time
The object Of this survey was to secure
permanent official record Of the two caha'S
named. which should not alone show the exact
condition Of the canals. but should also se''e
os basis for reliable estimates Tor iuture I'M
rrovcment-just such an improvement "' -
now in progress ,
Careful attentioa is invited to the ioi'o" '"e en
,-oc, from, the annual report Of the Hon John ~
Van Buren, jr. state Engineer 'o' ~"
1877 and dated December 81 OF tha' year
SURVEY OF The ERIE CANAL
Al the date OF last report the hed yErS m Ssp,sr Sa
a. Laws Of s76 had been nearly Soh'peh h hoen com
ld Ifn "a ,nd cross-scctions plated In uniform BOOKS
Tor permancn; grss'gynnSn ~ nsye been put into
ncrmanerlt form and Will be pres,iyel W Wv -
sa" -, the respective d.yision engineers WIZ
my WI, I",F rccord of the condition OF the hTic
Canal or the length and eIcVauon "t ur and Of
the location ~ rs in'Cnhficn' s'"''' ~
uT hcsn records besides lerving for purposes OF
b,s, n estimate for future Improvements or , d1r
tho ordinary repairs which may pc ~. ~ o
time to time 10 properly maintain 'h' o'"Ns W '''
uul 10 observed that tho division ens'ne"rs
report TINT at no point dld ,hcy mo c"nal but
trve ~ many Instances. reduced the d.pih OF wa"
Ter considerably below the standard
IN reference 20 the Champlain Canal state
Engineer Van Buren said
ra-y IN ,he year GsT5) careful estimate p'ans ans
and ws,G TePSiTTa 2Si.1r '01 snd
tcy ,,s h,rk. 20 as to give six fee ~ wai'r ana
10y renewing or mproy,ns ~. ma .p.cincations
u'ers submit,ea 10 the canal BOARD. out. on aC-
count of the constitutional Limitation Oh ''''"'
lures tho work was not ah'ho''"''
The surveys upon which these estimates were
based were made In lS'o.
| II IL quite possible that neither the pre'e"'
State Engineer nor the Superintendent OF run
| l,c Works knew o! the existence or inc re0o'"'
| hcron referred 20 but they can scarcely pe eH
cused for the positive statement that no RECORDS
| we're available FOR the purpose OF an estimate
| Tho d,sclosure. here made may not prove IN
| ,.res,,nr reading TO Some OF the more active
,,,,,s -, our now dlscrcd,ed Republican ma
| o,,oo. hu, IN tho interest Of the mass or tax
| rovers ,yho have n right TO know how their IN
| ,oros,s arc looked nter-or neglected-by their
publlc servants they should be published
DAVID u. GREENE.
Troy, ~ Y. Dec o. 1891