New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-03
CANAL SURVEYS-A CONTRADICTION.

In commenting upon the sudden and displeas-
ing announcement that at least 100000 will
be required to complete the canal Improvements
in addition to the 100000 voted by the people
for that purpose, and more particularly upon
the elaborate statement recently put forth by
the State Engineer aDd Surveyor, we have said
that searching investigation Of the whole
business Is essential From the general tone
Of the State papers which have reached us,
whether they are at present inclined to COM
plain or excuse 1t is apparent that this Is the
prevailing sentiment Many questions must be
asked and satisfactorily answered before the
people will cheerfuly consent to assume this
new burden or the Legislature can sarely Dlhd
them to do So The explanation offered by Mr..
Adams Is seemingly candid and perhaps as COM
plete as he could reasonably have been expected
to make 1t at single stroke; but as we have
already pointed out. it does not amount to
justification. and cannot until 1t has been ver'-
fled by the results Of an impartial inquiry. II
contains many statements on which great deal
more light is needed We hope that it will bear
all the light which II is the imperative duty or
che Legislature to turn upon it.
An instructive indication Of the further ex-
ploraton which the facts require Is furnished
in the letter from Mr.. David NJ. Greene, Deputy
State Engineer in the years 1874 to 1873, which
was printed in The Tribune on Friday. chief
reason offered by Mr.. Adams for the gross In
accuracy of the original estimates upon which
the sum Of 100000 was devoted to canal
Improvement was that there were no records
in his office on which accurate estimates could
be based To supply the deficiency careful sur
veys were made at great expense In 1896, ana
from these the probable cost of the projected
work was computed to be about the sum which
has just been officially announced. The point
was apparently well taken. But now comes
Mr.. Greene, presumably with full knowledge of
the case which he discusses, and declares that
during his term OF Office, IN 1876 and 1877,
complete detailed surveys were made OF the
"Champlain and Erie canals; that cross-sectionS
"were taken every sixtysix feet; that these
"cross- sections were plated in special uniform
"books which were deposited In the office OF
"the State Engineer: that the field books, kept
latter a form prescribed by the State Engineer
were linked and deposited In the offices OF the
three division engineers; and. finally, that the
'cost of this work. extending through part
''of two years. was less than $4,000" These
surveys were made by engineers OF large ex-
perjence. whose subordinates were selected eX-
cusively for their professional fitness after
careful test OF their capacity. and the express
object was to secure permanent official rec
cord Of the two canals named. which should
mot alone show the exact condition Of the
canals but should also serve as basis for
reliable estimates for future improvement
lust such an improvement as is now in prog
"ress"
There IS an extraordinary discrepancy be-
tween the statements Of the present Engineer
and Surveyor and the former Deputy We do
not say that It cannot be satisfactorily ex-
planned, but we do say that there ought to be
as little delay as possible in furnishing salts
factory explanation If one exists.
This is only one Of the points which Mr.
Adams and Mr. Aldridge will be asked to clear
I'D. We assume that they are preparing for the
examination which they have every reason to
expect, and we hope. every motive to encour'
age