New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-08
THE PEOPLE WERE FOOLED.
STATE ENGINEER ADAMS SAYS so AND
TELLS HOW.
NINE MILLIONS NAMED AS THE COST OF CANAL
IMPROVEMENT FOR FEAR BIGGER SUN
WOULD BE VOTED DOwN-HE IS OP-
POSED TO STOPPING WORK.
NEVERTHELESS
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBrNE.l

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE1
Albany, Jan. State Engineer Adams takes
issue with Controller Roberts who thinks the
S3'23oND Of canal contracts recently executed
py the Canal Board should be suspended pend
ing an inquiry as TO the probable cost OF the
canal Improvement Mr. Adams admits, how
ever. that the work Of enlarging the Erie Canal.
which went on between 1896 and 1863, was fire.
quentIy Interrupted owing to lack OF appropria-
t.ons, the interruption in one instance extend
Ing seven years
Controller Roberts undoubtedly bases his sug-
gestion to Superintendent Aldrdge Of the De-
partment Of Public Works that the contracts be
suspended on the following clause in each con-
tract. signed by the contractor and the Super
intendent OF Public Works.
Provided. however. and It is expressly covenanted
first part. that the work hereby specified and en-
braced In this contract shall be commenced and
ner directed by the resident engineer or superin-
tendent OF Public Works and that the said work
18th day OF Apr isss Mnd it is further mutu
ally under stood and agreed that in the execu
tion OF this contract shall be suspended by the
party OF the second part at any time or for any
cause no claim for prospective profits on work not
the first part shall complete the work when the
party Of the S second part shall order 1t to be re-
pension shall be fixed by the Superintendent OF
Public Works.
ADAMSS VIEW OF THE CONTRACTS.
Speaking about this clause and Controller
Roberts's letter. Mr.. Adams said this afternoon.
II do not think it would be ise to suspend and
thus stop the canal contract work. for the
Canal Board made its contracts such fa-
vorabe terms that doubt if II could be sim-
larly fortunate again. The hard times follow
ing tho financial panic Of 1893 made contractors
eager 10 get work and their bids tor this work
were extraordinarily low Moreover. the con-
tracts let have been so far proceeded with that
the contractors have collected at various points
on the canal large quantities Of sand, gravel,
stone and timber. and there would be great loss
on material II the contracts should be sus-
pended
Il do not know, either that the Superintendent
Of Public Works has the authority 10 annul a
contract except for cause such as the con-
tractors inability to execute the contract or
lack Of material. The contracts are all drawn
with the idea Of their being carried out not with
the thought Of their being suspended. The
Constitution says that the Canal Board may
annu contract on the application Of the con-
tractor when he makes it plain that 1t is
onerous. but only on that ground
Controller Roberts says that contracts should
be suspended Concerning that l would like
to state that Mr. Aldridge and myself are not
satisfied with the rate of progress OF canal
contract and for three or four months have
been examining the statutes to discover how
we can abrogate It. l think the sole purpose OF
the suspension clause is to give authority TO the
Superintendent Of Public Works TO stop work
on a contract at the time of the opening Of
navigation and defer its completion until fall"
you favor. then. going forward with the
canal work and having every contract thus far
made executed|'
Yes I do" answered Mr. Adams. FOR be-
lieve that the Erie Canal will be left in far
letter condition for commercial purposes. Why
all but ninety miles OF it will be in an improved
condition. If we go forward now. we shall so
much decrease the time in which the canal-boat
men can take advantage % the canal improve
ment
HIS TRUTH-TELLING SUPPRESSED.
"Vithout rejecting on the members Of the
Constitutional Convention the friends Of
canals I would like to say that this Department
always deprecated stating the cost Of the pro-
posed improvement too low. but the friends Of
enlargement were afraid os stating its cost too
high and thus endangering its adoption. Dur
ing the canvass Of 1898 was asked 10 write
|'f''''fFN'
but I declined to do so. l did write a letter
stating my belief as to wnat 1t would cost. but
that letter was returned to me unpublished. and
tore it up said in that letter that the work
would cost mere than S90O0WO. The letter
was not printed. because 1t believed by
the supporters Of the canal enlargement scheme
that it's publication might cause the defeat OF
the proposition.
Lo.., hoIf hat wa piif IN
defensive regarding the execution OF this work,
because l have followed strictly the will of the
people and the laws of this State. The very
method OF doing the work and Of letting the con-
tracts was prescribed by the Legislature. I
think Mr. Adridge and myself have proved by
faithfully following the course laid down for
us by the Legislature that ts work cannot
be done for S9.O00,OOD. Any statement that We
have said that the work could be done for
S9OOOOO merely meant that IL such and such
things such vertical walls and slope walls.
were left out OF the estimate, II could be done
within SD00O,0U0. II any mistake was made 1t
was made in leaving out these estimates for
vertical walls and slope walls. | may have
made a mistake Of judgment in emitting certain
estimates. but there mistake in the
figures.
1--WE did the work in the interest OF the State
Only one man. for instance. bid for Contract !
No l. on the ,astern division, and his bid was |
about 100000 above our estimate. He was
Republican politician but felt II my
duty TO resist his receiving the contract Mr..
Aldridge rejected his bid and readvertised the
contract and II was let to another bidder at only
SIG 900 above our estimate. Mr.. Aldridge has /
not given out a contract that vas not previ- |
ously submitted TO me-
HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT
Are you in favor Of having 100000 ap- /
oronriated at once for additional work on the /
,anals?"
THE LEGISLATURE must determine that ques-
ion said Mr.. Adams. "and / do not care TO /
express an opinion What is plain Is that the |
york OF canal enlargement contemplated by the |