New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-15
THE CANAL INVESTIGATION.
Mr. NIXON. LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY
GIVES HIS VIEWS

A GOOD COMMITTEE DEMANDED-sPEEcHEs IN
| THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SHOWING
THAT 100000 WAS THOUGHT TO BE
MORE THAN ENOUGH.
| Albany, Jan Il (speciaD.-S. Frederick Nixon.
| chairman Of the Assembly Committee on ways and
| Means which has charge OF the Governors recon-
nendation that a bill be drawn for the appoint
ment OF a Canal Investigating Committee, said to-
day: I'VE have not framed any bill as yet. or even
sketched out one Our aim will be to secure the
appointment of trustworthy committee Know
II is Governor Blacks intention and that OF other
Republican leaders. to have thorough investiga-
ton made OF the expenditures on the canal I'M
provement and an equally careful inquiry as to the
probable cost OF completing the work believe
that by next week the people VIII be informed as 10
who will be likely TO be appointed members OF this
committee
The members of the Legislature are reading the
proceedings Of the Constitutional Convention OF 1884
with relation to the cana-improvement project A
Tribune correspondent also went over this record
to-day and learned that Superintendent Hannah OF
the Department OF Public Works informed the con-
yention In one of its documents, NO. "a, that inc
work Of n,proving the canals could be done for
Ss73,00o Earlier that same year Mr. Hannah had
said that the work would cost s12oooooo. Referring
to this discrepancy. j. Rider Cady SAID IN the Con-
stitutiona Convention:
The report OF the State Engineer and Surveyor
estimated as a fair approximate cost OF the WORK
something over 100000. difference or between
q 600 600 and 81 10000 upon the question OF canal
Improvement I do not criticse the officers or the
Individuals who have made these estimates They
have probably done the best they could In arriving
at some fair approximation of what the cost or the
work would be. and l only mention the matter 20
show that In the great offices OF the State. having
special and detailed charge OF the Work on me
canals there is no reliable information whatcVer
upon which this convention can safely or wisely
predicate any detailed plan of canal improvement;
MY own Judgment IL gathered from the history Vi
all great public works in THIS state anu VS.
where that the cost of improving the caiaI. as
suggested by the Canal Conference. wonio co o
nearer fifteen or eighteen millions OF doiIdrs ina"
twelve millions Of dollars. ~ ~.
Henry " Hill q member OF the convention. said
''Mr. c. w. Adams. STATE Engineer ana surveyor,
in response 10 resolution or TINS cohvel,on, maS
estimated the cost OF improving the three prltcIPa
canals as follows: To obtain nine feet or water IN
the Erie Canal Cost of work. AMoW ior iand
feet OF water In the Oswego Canal-Cost OF work
81 COO for land damages, s5cc total. $ASU
To obtain feet OF water in the Champialn
gether. s2,3oo0oo. the total amount required ior
such improvements being &,S0co
From the speeches of other delegates as given
in the record OF the convention ii is apparent mat
the idea which prevailed IN the convention was
,hat the appropriation of 50 10000 was all that was
needed complete the canal work Many OF the
speakers friendly to the canal improvement scheme
attempted TO have the appropriation hxed at
Is 900 200 so Ger lain were they from the estimates
furnished them that 100000 would De IN excess OF
the amount required.
Superintendent Aldrdge OF the Department Of
Public Works. to-day appointed the following al
dtional inspectors to serve on the canal improve
ment: William r. Williams. of Buffalo. Patrick A.
Kearney. John H. Sharpe and Charles j. McElroy.
Of RochestSr Castle a. GHrdneL OF sta1 ANT
Medina; j. ". Clark of Hamilton; W. H. king, or
Syracuse. and b. s. Abrams, of Charlotte.