New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-27
MR.. ALDRIDGES REPORT.
A LONG STATEMENT AS TO THE WORK
ON THE CANALS.
mirage ArrR1nl-TEp TO THE IMPROVEMENT
OPERATIONs-THE SUPERINTENDENT
STATEMENT OF HIS OWN CASE.

Albany Feb % (Spccia).-George W. NJ
bridge OF Rochester. the former superintendent
OF Public Works. made public to-day his report
to the LEGISLATURE upon the operations Of the
Department Of Public Works for ls'S. Inc
rcnort contains an elaborate statement Of the
conditions which caused so many bad breaks
in the canals interrupting their navigation
during the gear 1893 and lessening the canal
commerce until It was smaller than in any other
wear since 1851 The breaks are chiefly at
tributed TO the chalges made in the channels
OF the canals by the Improvement or the
canals under the S9OOOOO0 appropriation Some
critics Of the canal Improvement work have
suggested the suspicion that the canal con-
tractors did such poor work that the canal
breaks inevitably occurred
Mr. Aldrdge says in regard to the leaks ana
breaks and the canal commerce:
CAUSES OF LEAKS AND BREAKS.
The canals were officially opened for navigation
for the season Of 1895 May s. but a series OF
leaks and breaks at and around structures caused
many yexatious delays TO boatmen for at least two
weeks thereafter. These leaks and breaks resulted
from the following conditions:
The culverts at which they occurred are, most OF
them old and many OF them were constructed Of
timber from forty TO fifty years ago. and are In
such dilapdated state that the least change made
in conditions about them produced leaks. Acting
upon these old structures the following named dis
inteGraiing and destructive forces were brought
Firsi~For the three preceding winters the water
necessarily all drawn from the canal. to make
possible the several operations connected WIN thc
general improvement OF the canals, uune: chIp,rr
-. Laws OF 1898. AZ amended by chapter ~, Laws
OF 1896. This was done. in the Arst instance 70
enable the Engineering Department TO MAKE VIC
necessary preliminary examinations ana measure
ments. and later 20 enable the improvement work
to he progressed during the winter season. As q
result The frost penetrated deep around and beneath
the structures ana when IT t9nweG Ga n w ere
left in extremely porous condition, and through
about the body OF the culvcrt or other structure.
and thence along same through tho emoankments'
thus resulting I'm leaks and breaks
Second Many Of these culycrts are not placed al
O sufficient depth below the bottom Of the canal 10
CURED with safety. and the deepening was I'm many
cases done without rebuilding the structures. or
even surrounding them with concrete or other ma
tcrial impervous to water under the added head or
pressure .,... -, .o..,,,. ,oo,. .,so
tends to scrape out channel OF extra depth in
the centre OF the prism OF the canal over these
canal water an opportunity 10 find passage
around ana beneath them, and through to the out
Fourth-Thc removal Of the silt from the prism
Of the canal which silt was the accumulation OF
thirty years. opened mp many old sources OF leak
which had been closed by the filing OF the loose
strata by this fine material being drawn into It's
Fif;h-The deepening Of the canal in many cases.
carried the bottom into loose material. sometimes
consisting OF coarse gravel. Il rough which he
canal water would percolate with the utmost a.
resulting in disastrous breaks
The last season did not prove prosperous one
FOR boa,men generally. and believe that no sue
tons are materially changed The ADVANTAGES m
arce Of it's canal system are potent enough war
rant any expenditures necessarily required for the
purpose These advantages may be summarized
as follows
ADVANTAGES OF THE CANAL SYSTEM.
The canals II maintained In proper condition. will
furnish an outlet for the productions Of the West
through the State of NcwYork TO the seaboard In
the city OF Now-York. ut rates Of transportation
s cheap that railroads competing for this traffic
10 the same or other destinations must meet, or
nearly So the rates by water
! am reliably Informed that the railway lines
during the last season have transported wheat 10y
rail from Duluth to the city Of New-York In block
trains ~ six cents per bushel rms Is n rA.e
representing $50 per car, or Tor traih OF ioNy
TO make competition effective by all-.water trans
portation between Duluth and New York wheat
would have to be carried at about five and onehalf
cents per bushel, and that rate divided a6out as
two cents per bushel; for elevator charges at But
fac. one cent per busheL and canal rate RON but
falo. two and one-half cents per hushe- Oi thcSSe
CHARGES the canal rate is too low TO he pro1taolc
70 The forwaTder Lndgr the present p
navieation Some provision must he made by
rnHtr ana AZ an increased rate Of speed so that
greater number Of trips may be made each season
Nine Million Dollar act and partially carried out,
will furnish waterway OF sufficient capachy 10
improvement should result In new class OF boa.s
OF greater carrying capacity TO be moved oy inH'e
modern MODE n systems OF 'r"c''o" ''''" '"'
/ am satisfied that with such an improved water;
Cif6cr bv steam or eIectrcity. wheat may be trans
yor,od nom TNiffalo 10 New York for two and
half cents or less, per bushel, win falr margin
The advantages Of cheap freight rates. both by
an
within the State. will thus be secured ditecty 10
Nat indirec:iy accrues to the whole State by the
Increased prosperity accruing to the city OF New
IS a further means by which the canals may be
maintained IA a controlling factor IN me h~ing
oe transportation rates beg cave to refer TO my
RECOMMENDATION In other yearly reports that the
law row the statute books OF this state limiting
business on the canals Of this State to capital
Of SsooO should be amended so that their capital
aInsndment arises from the following facts:
matters is toward Constellation Of trunk lines into
vast corporations controlled by one management.
As a consequence n wheat dealer In Duluth. or at
any other point on the great lakes can make sales
Of wheat for a fixed price. laid down in New York.
clally liable railway corporation Cor al-rail scr
vice at a fixed price for transportation Ihe snip
Arrangement but Is confronted with the fact mat
there is 70 financially strong company engaged IN
from so doing. The business is at the mercy first.
Of the elevators. and. second, OF hundr'ds OF ~
bility. .
| am convinced that the State should encourage
the formation OF financially strong companies Tor
os' aq hoais clevaors tgs and axe freight yes
sos so that the shipper OF grain at the West can
make contracts for through shipments Of grain IN
Guiding all Incidental charges, with such company
~ safely as with railroad corporation. ana w.ih
the same certainty that such contract may be en-
forced.
AGAINST STATE ELEVATORS.
As stated in my report for last year. do not
favor state ownership. or operation Of elevators.
believing that such services can be more cheaply
and satisfactorily done by private parties. and the
foregoing suggest lion would seem 10 accomplish the
end desired. as the private owners OF elevators
could not form "a monopoly OF tho business hy the
formation Of trust with consequent establish
Incnt Of enormous rates. but would be brought into
competition with the rates established by the COM
panics or corporations herein proposed
This suggestion. II carried into effect. would also
have a tendency to reduce al terminal charges TO
MN