New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-07
THE GREAT CANAL SECRET.
ATTORNEY GENERAL HANCOCK TELLS
HOW HE FIRST LEARNED 1T.
ALDRIDGE AND ADAMS LET THE CAT OUT OF THE
BAG LAST MoNrH-wooDRUFF OPPOSED
TO sUsPENDING WORK on THE

TO sUsPENDING WORK on THE
IMPROVEMENT.
Albany. Jan. (speciaD.-The members Of the
Canal Board read with great interest to-day
Controller Robertss letter to George W. AID
ridge. Superintendent OF Public Works. asking
him to suspend canal contracts to the extent OF
SO 2J0OO until the prospective cost Of the canal
Improvement can be learned. Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Woodruff. who is a member OF the Board
commenting the letter. said:
II greatly doubt whether it would be wise TO
stop the expenditure Of money on the canals
under the contracts already made. and also
think the canal improvement scheme shouid pe
pushed to completion, even II Its total COST
should be SIG OOOOOO 1t is not surprising that
mistake was made in the canal estimates
Why 1t was at first thought the Capito would
cost only S2,-OOOOO and see how the cost mas
mounted up to over 500 OOOOOO 1t is impossi-
BILE to ascertain with defniteness the cost OF
any work, and 1t almost invaraoiy happens
that the estimate you make is TOO low re-
member building factory once ana thinAins
that knew precisely what 1t would cost. but
was mistaken The commercial interests oi
the State demand that the canals should be en-
larged and improved. and this demanu' II s'''''
TO ME. ought to be Needed
mara than 50 600 900 to accomplish this Work!
"Ear,y in last January" replied the Lieu
tenant Governor "or about as soon as I'll"
tcrod office But / must acknowledge 'ha' !
have not been able TO attend many rnee'''eS "a
the Canal Board for my time has been iarseiy
taken up in the purch OF Adirondack ia"u'
Attorney-General Hancock also SAID 'ha' lie
was so busy he had difficulty in following ''ie
proceedings of the Board The meetings VI
the Canal Board" lie said ARE at lrresu'".
times and rarely receive over hNe i''i'u'.'
notification. Then II n man Is ava ''o" ''''
city. he of course. is not able 20 h''ehU '''7
moet,ng think II bad business arrange
ment for a man cannot follow day after day,
as he should. the canal Improvement work
Indeed We have substantially left the work
in the charge Of the State Engineer ana the
Superintendent OF Public Works
Are you in favor Of suspension or the ca'iai
contracts as suggested by Controller kooertS
Il am not ready 10 express an opihioh ol ''
,mnortant matter" replied the Attorney-Gen-
oral "and would like time to make up my nii"u
90 ~ the best policy to be adopted In dealing
.,.n ~. nresent canal situation. There is this
~ say-every contract must be considered on us
o,., rnertts We should learn whether a con-
,-oo,or had spent any money or much money IN
or.rat,on for the execution OF his contract
"When did you first learn that the plan OF
,mnroving the canals could not be carried OUT
for $9O000O0?" - ,r.,ooo, "a.
q meeting of the Canal Board. TWO years aso'
at the first consideration Of these canal con con
tracts 7 asked the State Engineer II the con
trac,s had been drawn with the belief tnat ~ rile
entire work could be done for S9oOooyV me
state Engineer replied that they had Last eI De-
cemher. lust as was about 10 leave a Cana'
BOARD meeting to go to Syracuse. l heard oon
troIler Roberts ask Superintendent AidTl1ge @ Col IL
all tho canal work could be done for S;dWpl'nJoD6; ~
Mr. Aldridge replied: It will take SoWouV9y, 9,
more Then the State Engineer SAID; II VIII
take 81 600 900 more Mr.. Adridge seemed as
tonshed You surprise me- he SAID. ooKins az
Nr Adams then departed for syracuse. l
think we have a great problem to soiVe' anu
should consider it with great care
The Canal Board will meet next Monday 10
consider Controller ROberts's letter. Inc mem
bers Of the Board are Lieutenant. Governor
woodruff. Secretary Of state Palmer. Controller
Roberts Attorney General Hancock, state
Treasurer Colvin State Engineer Adams ana
George W. Aldrdge. superintendent or Pubic