New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-19
COSTLY CANAL CONTRACTS.
COMMISSION HEARS FURTHER TESTl-
MONY REGARDING WORK ON
THE ERIE.
ENGINEERS SAY BILLS FOR EXTRA WORK.
INCREASED THE COST BY HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNR.l

svracusr n Y Nav ls-The Canal Commits
sion began to-day the Inspection OF the bills paid
by the State for the cosest stretch or canal I'M
provement work along the line Of the Erie THIS
contract for the improvement OF six mics OF
Erie Canal a little to the westward Of Syracuse.
beginning at Camius Road Bridge and ending
near the Peru Road Bridge. II was contract
originally let to John Dunfee. who sublet 1t to
Beden e. Seeley.
State Engineer Adams estimated that this WORK
would cost $l35S4c. Tho contract price was Si5f4H
But bills for extra work. brought tho total cost
OF Improvement up TO x3s 900. and according TO tho
testimony given to-day. the work Is not yet COM
pleted II Is estimated that tho total cost will be
$4,000
Ever since the Erie Canal was constructed
across the swamps OF Jordan Level II has been
known that the character OF soil between the
Camillus Bridge and tho Peru Road Bridge vas
exceptionally treacherous. bed OF mari under
lies the swamp, and the State Engineers Depart
ment has had trouble In maintaining the banks OK
tho canal since 1888 In 1880 a special approprla-
ton OF $50 900 was made for work on the jordan
Level In report after report state engineers have
pointed out the difficulty OF maintaining a navi-
gable canal across ths marsh Yet apparently
there was no thought OF these reports when tho
contracts were made.
tho consequence was as stated by two Wit
nesses before the Canal Commission to-day, no
sooner did tho work OF improvement begin than
tho canal banks SEEMED 10 conspire TO sink into tho
marsh The mari would rise in the channel OF tho
canal faster than It could be taken out. while the
canal banks either sunk or slipped on Into the
marsh. Ono bit OF canal bank was swept away
three times. Banks would slip and push pilinz
over. and water would bubble up into the canal az
inopportune times and prevent work
Marshall B. Palmer. assistant engineer. In giving
testimony about this contract. said that railroad
ties were used as piles at the foot OF canal walls.
and were paid for at - cents each. The ordinary
price OF railroad ties Is from 20 TO 10 cents each
The witness testified that tho contractor. on be-
ginning work. drained the canal In places the
canal bottom was below tho level OF the swamp and
the water OF the swamp percoated into tho canal
until the dams were built TO cut It OF from the
canal. The streams flowing across the swamp were
also cut OF.
What was the effect Of cutting OF the streams7"
inquired Mr.. Blackmar. counsel OF the Canal Com
mission.
THE water collected until Il flooded tho canal
Mr.. Blackmar read letter from Division Ensi-
neer Gere saying that tho result OF contractors
work flood the swamp with water and In
terfere with the canal improvement work The only
remedy. Mr.. Gere thought. was 10 dig bitches and
drain the swamp. Then Mr.. Blackmar Ind the
witness describe the extra work done by tho con-
tractors under the direction OF State authorities 10
remedy this condition OF work. bitches were dug.
but on attempting TO proceed with the excavation
In January 1877. beds OF mari and Quicksand wer.
encountered and tho banks o.. tho canal began TO
slip away.
Piles BY the hundred driven near Newport
Bridge 70 retain the bank. Gravel was hauled from
Warmers and dumped into tho canal. bu, this
terial would slip away. No account was kept OF
this lining which slipped away into tho swamp.
This occurred IN tho latter part OF January. 1891
Up TO this time agreement had been made for
tho payment OF contractors for tho extra
done by them As fas, bank would slip away
a one would be built
How much wall was lcst?" inquired Mr.. Black
mar.
About one thousand feet" nnrwercd Mr.. Primer
"Do you think this loss OF wall due to tho
damrning UP OF water by the contractors?"
ION the BERN bank think Il was. but not
the towpath eide, for that side II dry
How long did you continue doing work in this
way
Nearly to May l. 1897"
when DID you take out tho material which
moved up in the bottom OF the canalr'
1T was taken out In April 1891"
How did you measure this excavation materially
1--WE tried measuring (, by cross-sectioning II.
but found II TO be impossible for rs fast as II
taken out fresh earth would rise up in tho centre
Of the canal Sometimes on Monday mornings we
on The preceding Saturday. after a weeks work"
What became Of the canal banks wh!lo this was
They were sinking"
How DID you manage to measure this excavn'ed
''We wheeled 1t out and paid for II force c.
count. Then took into account tho amount OF
scttlement OF the walls OF the canal The claims
for the extra work were brought to the attention
OF tho State Engineer"
The witness said 81 ,4sl paid for tho re-ex-
cavation and $35. 600 for earth excavation.
william Landreth assistant engineer. succeeded
tract No. T. He said In testifylng that there
yet considerable work 10 DO done on this costly
contract. and that one OF the banks gave way last
fall because IL was overloaded.
I'VE might infer" said Mr. Clinton. that the
contractors stored stone and gravel the BERN
bank to such extent as to overload the bank
and cause II to slide into the canal"
The bank did slide into the canal because II
was overloaded" said tho witness
Daniel O'Brcn, OF the contracting 1rm of O Brion
a. Hoolihan OF Syracuse gave testimony regarding
contracts Nos is and 10. Utica. which his firm
executed He explained that there "a sudden
Increase Of rock excavation In April last his con-
tracts because they put all OF their forces at
work cleaning up the work OF excavation. and more
hard pan was taken out that month than before.
In regard TO tho revision Of measurements OF
sheet pilng. by which the amount driven was In
creased by 1900 feet and the amount OF material
was Increased by 5000 feet. Mr.. OBrlen said that
the agreement that there should be measurement
OF the space piled instead OF counting the piles
made before the work was begun. the material
ranging from eight 10 twelve inches In width As
sistant Engineer Dichl testified yesterday that II
was not utii April that tho estimates OF work done
was mado according 10 measurement Instead OF by
counting tho piles The effect OF this change Of the
method OF measuring the piles will largely increase
Mr.. o Bren's compensation
POPULTSTS TO CONFER WITH DEMOCRATS.