New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-07
ADAMS STILL A WITNESS.
NOW HE SAYS THAT TT WAS IN JULY.
1896. WHEN HE FOUND 100000
INSUFFICIENT.


TO DEEPEN THE CANAL TO NINE FEET
Considered 100000 MORE SUI
F1cIENr TO COMPLETE THE
woRK-rEsrIMoNY CON-
TINUED TO-DAY.
FEY TELEGRAPH TO TnIBCNE.1
Albany, April 6-State Engineer Adams pushed
hack a little further to-day before the Canal In
lvestigating Commission the date when he deter
mined that 100000 would not complete the canal
improvement work. To-day he said that IN July.
1896 from the estimates Of the canal engineers and
from views gained in a personal trip along the
Erie Canal and inspection OF Its banks. with IN
tcry!ews with the canal engineers, he made up his
mind that 80 100000 was insufficient 20 accomplish
all the work desired. He therefore. after several
conferences with George ". Aldrdge the super
intendent OF Public Works ordered revision or tho
canal work estimates and plans and specifications
with r Wow TO abandoning such work as that or
building extensive vertical walls and slope walls
and lengthenng various locks. His aim a. TINS
time simply to deepen tho Erie Canal 10
uniform depth Of nine feet.
Darwin r. James and a. Foster Higgins. OF the
Canal Commission. were present at to-days near
ing and tho only absentee was ex-Mayor FRANK
lin Edison. Of New-York- The other Commissioners
present were George Clinton Smith M weed
Frank Brainard and William McEachron MI
Clinton the chairman. announced that on Monoay
Superintendent Of Public Works. would begin, winch
was expected to last till Wednesday or Thursday
In tho final days Of the coming week the commas
sioners would begin a personal Inspection Oh .'e
eastern division OF the Erie Canal, ana OF inc
Champlain Canal at various points. TO learn inc
condition Of the canal improvement WORK ana INC
character Of the work yet TO be done
Mr. Blackmar. at the opening OF the session. read
TO the State Engineer an extract from the Laws or
1885, In which 1t was stated that the constructor
OF vertical walls along the line OF tho cana' III"
provements was authorized under the direction OF
the Superintendent of Public WORKS ana ms "'a''
Engineer OF such work.
WAS it your understanding. said Mr.. biacN-
mar that yourself and Mr.. Aldridge had JOINT
authority to decide upo: the construction OF YER
teal walls?" o.
THAT was my understanding" answered Mr..
Adams. land Mr. Aldridge and myself had con-
farenoes on the subject. We had 10 build large
amount Of vertical wall while the canal WORK I'M
provement in PROCESS from the discovery -
the bad condition OF the canal walls In son''
cases the vertical walls had to be sustained D'
underplnnng."
"Ru, A. must hav. been understood" said MI
Blackmar. that usually underpinning would DO
REQUIRED where old walls were TO be removed ana
new walls built?
at was so understood answered Mt Adams
"and we had a price which would give a OASIS
for competition among contractors. In the city OF
silt that we had round price for It's improve
ment We could only guess what rock there was
beneath the surface
when did you get the idea that tho canal I'M
movement work could not be done for seoco'ooo?
II should think" answered Mr.. ADAMS 'ha' II
was about July. 1886
"Was tina, opinion gained after you had inspected
the canal?"
CONFERENCES WITH ALDRIDGE.
.1, was We started from Buffalo in a tug. and
at every point where the notes OF the engineers
showed a considerable amount OF wall must 20
built or where a culvert must pc puht OF feou
we stoned examined such points and consulted
with the district and resident engineers IN
varsblv followed their advice. keeping in mind the
one thought to obtain nine feet Of water between
Buffalo and Albany. I had repeated conferences
also bout this matter with MT Aldridge the Super
intendent of Public Works. ana with MI Nopei'S'
the Deputy State Engineer
What did you do when you discovered that the
90 600 ooo would be exceeded. did you revise your
es;imaies7"
81 did and made another tour OF the canals 10
gee where cuts ought 70 be made In the estimateS
The judgment Of the division engineers was against
rejecting the slope walls. but insisted upon this
beinc done however in order 20 secure the nine
feet OF water desired. Our opinion was that what
ever the condition OF the towpath the improvement
sought nine feet OF water, did not require the I'M
provement OF the towpath and therefore we could
eliminate such Improvements. which wouio take
large amount OF money.
Did you omit any estimates for the enlargement
Of aqucducts'"
81 do not remember that did. would state
also that ! gave orders that the aoutments OF
bridges should be repaired rather than rebuilt
THE REMODELLING OF ESTIMATES
"Wben did these attempts 10 reduce the estimates
begin and end?'
81 think they began IN July. 1896. and continued
he es.ima received.
Were these directions to the remodelng OF
the estimates in writing?
Il cannot recall that they were. but presume
do so instruct the division engineers in writing
Would you kindly look over your rrespondence
and see If YOU discover such letters
II will do so.
Are you able 70 say as 10 what extent your
directions for the revision OF the estimates had been
carried out when you received the report from Inc
division engineer OF the middle division, in August,
1896 showing that the improvements on that dvls-
ion would cost over N,cO0O))?
a large number OF the estimates had already
been reduced. Particular spots on the canal were
selected az portions o; the canal wall TO be lett
The subsequent estimates Of the engineers think.
did rot particularly define what portions OF the
slope walls should be omitted
Whose judgment was taken what could be
omi;ted?'
THE State Engineers" answered Mr.. Adams.
"but lef, the appsca lion OF the place the divs
Inn engineers The middle division returned its
estimates earliest and. my directions to Mr. Gere
becoming known the division engineers Of the other
divisions ca, their estimates and did not make such
radical changes as made on the middle divis-
ion."
When were the first plans and specifications FOR
this canal work approved OF b. the Canal Board?
ION August cs 1886" answered Mr.. Adams
NUMBER OF CONTRACTS APPROVED
"Plans and specifications for now many contracts
were then approved?
eleven on the eastern division OF the Erie
l..h.ch Included the Cnampainl. eleven on the mid