New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-15

ductione. TO have so projected the Improvement
that nearly the entire expenditure would have been
to a further development That such policy was
considered has not appeared
After presenting n number OF suggestions Tor al
yantascous changes. the engineers continue:
About "a per cent OF the estimate for work remain
Ing be- Jet Is involved in the special work suggest
cd ana Is therefore every reason 10 consider
cost but give more efficient results -,
The fact that much Of the vertical and slope waiI,
as originally built. was defective In workmanship
and material and that the prism OF the canals mas
the uncertainty Of the work and increased the cost
OF the improvement The cost Of operating a and
maintanins tire Erie Canal proper has averaged rage.
nearly 500 per mile for the last twenty-fye year
the expenditures Tor the same purpose on ot.Iel ca
nails In this country and abroad though your engi-
data intended upon TINS Phase OF the que,s' ,
There does nor seem to DC any reason why; IN me
ana hydraulic drcdges should not be adapted to the
canal. and thus Keep the prism substantially free
the waterway and added to the expense OF naviga-
ton. II is believed that this could be done during
the OF navigation. at less cost than the an
nuai cleaning ou that is attempted in the spring OF
the year under adverse conditions and with made
Ice and frost perhaps the greatest destructive
agents the canal ard we are Of the opinion that
il would be far better to maintain the water in the
canal substantially At the summer level throughout
the winter season. thus preventing heavng OF the
banks AMI the sliding OF slope walls and the shOv
ing of the same by the ice sheet which annually
occurs. with dostrGctice results. and thus conhne
these effects the region near the top Of the
which readily Inspected
from lime to time
40 REASON FOR DRAWING OFF WATER
We have found no one who has been able to give
any for the annual dra wing off Of the water
from the canal. other than that II has always been
done. 1t Is probable that some changes may be re-
CURED in weirs and other structures enable the
water TO be carried in the canal throughout the
winter without danger and likely some care VIII
anal in order that it NAV be eilicentiy cleaned oy
d
The masonry on the canal after II IS once built
seems to receive no care until rebuilding is re-
CURED. whereas we believe that with efficient IN
spection ami repointins from time to time the life
sam" remark aprics 20 bridges over the canal OF
hch there are over twelve hundred upon the main
line OF The Eric. representing a large outlay; ana
tho charge for maintenance and for renewals, no
doubt, would be greatly reduced were these bridges
systcma ficaly repaired and painted
The original bad construction OF retaining ana
cost in the fact hat the conditions OF these struct
We did noi deye.oR IN many cases unt they wire
and raise them TO the new level -, ,
The same asGz-faire policy that has goyer Irc
ords pertaining to the canals: 1t is only recently
that under the present administration OF the state
lui IN shape TO be readiy consulted Ihese iecorus
run back and cover the period Of enlargement ana
available. and had such other maps and data been
in existence as are required for the proper ad-
been possible for the State Engineer TO have APP
,oH;matei ne pIohsnie cost Gt iimproVins tne
sPecicalon FOR that purpose and ne survey under
to surveys for quantities only With such con-
dltions and a Careful study OF tho work on the
would have been possible 10 define Individual con-
tracts with reasonable certainty.
The attempt to assemble new force OF untried
assistants without sufficient number OF men ex-
pvricnccd in canal work 20 supervise their labors
H.nds Of work 10 be classified and specified
ana and. YIN such for to oyer the whole anal
widely distributed. WITHOUT even In most cases.
consulting such experience and records OF the
laiscin"nt a. were known 20 exist. could not but
result in "mbarrassmcnt and seems TO us TO have
To have done this win new work. except .or an
extremely roGsn preliminary, Yould have been i'm
involving large clements or repairs and renewals
;he necessity COR which could only 10 told 10y men
o. actual experience IN this class OF work. After
N" bet had been done.that could be done a large
much laryer ,ian usual ysith new work. On account
81 IN, ne clement G repaiTs ara rcncwai' In Ioved
o. ne seton of 'he year IN which 1t was necessary
20 prcsecuie the work
while We :eel called upon 70 point out the wrong
methods which hive obtained. win a view - their
Ioiiro,l; a., W. nave 10 hspIsl,lon 20 incus. IN
much " ms "'u results rom wrong system and
nai prec"d,nis. rather ,han from any intention on
The engineering ior,e appears 70 be ac,ns,ed ~
succeeded iu obtaining a satisfactory quality Of
worn according - modern Standards and greatly
,'ailyo AND I'm accarlsucc Win he les, ,,,n.nt
"" t'liey" also That no work would have been
greatly improved IL design and in administration.
DUAL CONTROL CONDEMNED
Tho present system u dual control and admins
tralon. Or rather. Lack - administration Is TO be
condemned without qualification. As We cons,r'Ie
'Ac Intention running through ;he law. the super
iuiendeut Ok Public Works IL virtually the prlnci-
pal Who IS o1arg'l with the improvement ~ 10
canal aud Mo- for that purpose has the right 10
call Tor plans ana specifications from the State
Engineer. who is also TO measure the work as tho
Same Is carried 0It. The superintendent let's the
contracts and has general supervision over them.
passing upon the quality OF the work ana making
the payments. iIls position e. the same as that ~
o." man "no proposes 10 buld a building or other
TO prepare pans ANA specifications except I'm this
lut the suIsrutenIent uuQucstiouaiy has tho
Nations afe Valid and suiii,i,nt ike ANY other
man VINO employs an engineer or architect. When
50 ratisned hc lots tAe contract and the architect
or engineer S. relieved OF some Of the functions
ordinarily required Of him by not necessarily being
called upon TO pass upon the quality or sufiiccncy
1he, ensineer.s further duty hcsns IN making he
.r.in m. ur.rnt.gdcut has m. right OF i,drunnt
US to their being made property aud IN good faitn,
aud after the contract Is completed and final meas
ulcn'nis lin'd 10, he has the same risnt as eX-
lists everywhere under contracts. to over the
- y Hama and rnt" ION as 80 GIa"y
., ""," a'ne ana ,~ 1ronn, /, - hol sun In,
havo hcon - Inc ti,ro ~ an mp6vs or e,
connection with the state work lis conduct the
responsibility reefs primarily upon the Supcrntend-
out OF Iublic Works
In 20 far the State Engineer and his agents |
have assumed 10 look after and supervis. the
work. and 20 pass upon It's quality, ANA To direct
the method Of execution They have. Interpret
IN" vs.. done 50 sr1i u!iously. ana not by any ne
c's~iics Of their position. and. without question
th'.r possibility has benefited the state
Tho conduct of work In tho field has not been |
frfricutly responsible. any one OF several IN al-
thorty giving orders to IN" contra
without notice to the particular assistant or inspe-
tor iu direct charg. The contractor seems To have
been IN position To appeal 10 the whom he |
Thought most likely To apprccaf" the OF his !
representations Thi. has resulted at times I'm great
cmharias- ment aud tends To dcmoraize those ir |
Immediate charge.
STATE ENGINEER SHOULD BE IN CHARGE |
We believe that In the work of improving the |
canals II not also in that OF operating and main-