New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-13
CANAL FIGURES INCREASING.
NOW RELIEVED THAT THE COST FOR ROCK
WILL, OvERRUN ESTIMATES 10000

my TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
Albany May 1.-THE members OF the Cana
Commission are beginning 10 reveal some OF
their discoveries in the course Of their recent IN
yestication Of canal contracts To-day George
Clirton president Of the Commission. said TO
witness:
"Vould YOU he surprised Il you should learn
that the payment for rock in excess Of the esti-
mates since the 100000 canal improvement
was begun has amounted 10 half million DOL
lars? when the excess Of rock payments on one
contract amounts TO $4,000. one can estimate
that tho total will reach half million.
"1t anpears as II the cost OF rock excavation
would overrun the estimates of the engineers
by $500 600" said Mr. Blackman. the counsel
Of tho Commission. who has made caretul IN
spection OF the bills for the canal Improvement
ono OF the witnesses before the commission
to-day was VI II. Ranney. assistant engineer
who acknowledged that John Y. Quackenoush'
tho contractor on No. I. at lion. had been
charged with stone from slope wall belonging
70 the state which he had used. but that this
charge had been cancelled under a plea from
ouackenbush that he had been put to large ex-
pense in controlling the water from an Ola
feeder Of the Erie Canal near lion. Extra work
90 tho oroour, Of $4,000 had been executed on
this contract
on contract No. %, near Mohawk. ny clinton
Reckwith. the work would cost 1861 900 add
,,onal owing 10 an increase OF slope wall
amounting to 10000 yards
on contract No "a by Beckwith & Quack-
enbush 900 cubic yards Of material first Gas
siaed as earth" had been recassifed as rocK
which largely increased the cost OF the work
Charles G. Heusts assistant engineer. had
chargo Of contract No. Is at Rexford Flats,
north ~ Schenectady. The contract price OF
this work was 500 900: It will now cost SloS.oU.
The Increase vas owing to the broadening or
the slope wall
Seth NJ. Van Loan, leveDer had charge OF
contract No ~. west OF schenectady Inc cost
o., ,b,s work WAS enlarged owing 10 an increase
IN the amount Of slope wall which vas con-
s,ruc,ed From the evidence of this witness 1t
looked az II some silt at the bottom OF the canal
had been paid for as "rock IN consequence Vi
| mistaken calculations
| Frederick c. Leutze. first assistant engineer.
vos confident that no mistake had been made
| t., .,aeei,ving rs rock 5000 cubic yards OF ma
,a-,,, taken under contract No. from the Erie
Canal
"Whv after It was classified as earth.
u,os :, reclassfed as 'rock7" inquired Mr..
Blackman.
"Recause" answered Mr.. Leutze. I'm Mr.
Tott's opinion the material was hardpan."
I'm, II was once classed earth and the
contractor acquiesced." said Mr.. Backman
The contractor did not acQuiesce,' said MT
! Leutze. sharply.
what was this MATERIAL" then asked MT
| Blackman
"1, ran from shale rock down 10 gravel" an
swered Mr.. Leutze.
Have you any personal experience that
nIough was tried on this material 10 determine
! whether IL was rock or earth?
| 81 have not" said Mr.. Leutze.
There had been n Reconsideration OF earth
| az rock before when Gallo McNiect's claim
WAS granted had there not?'
There had been" replied Mr.. LeutZe.
NEARLY all OF the contractors had asked a
rcclassihcation had they not" asked Mr.. Black
man when they heard of that Gallo q Nc
Niece Judgment
Mr. Leutze did not reply 20 this question,
which Mr. Blackman did not press
The Canal Commission decided to go to SYRIA
cuse on Monday next and there make inquiry
as to the truth Of the assertion Of John c. Wait
thet for two miles a slope wall OF the Erie
Canal under the contract Of Mcdonald Sayre.
ashes and gravel had been used as a lining for
stone wall. when gravel was required