New-York tribune., 1901-03-28
CANAL lLE'N SEE ODELL.
THE GOVERNOR WANTS THE IMPROVE
MENT QUESTION SUBMITTED TO THE
PEOPLE AT THE NEXT ELECTION.
IDr rELEGRArH TO THE TRIBUNE. !


Albany. March Ex-Governor odeI indicated un-
mistakaby to-day his opinion that the advocates
OF canal Improvement should support his sugges-
tion TO the Legislature that the people the
should have submitted 10 them next fall the propO-
sition to expend s25000Ooo In completing the Sey-
mour plan of canal improvement. and that at
tempt should be made press the barge canal
scheme involving expenditure of sloo,00O0oo. A
delegation OF canal men. headed by John D. Xer-
OF Utica, called the Governor in the execu-
tive chamber and submitted to him the resolutions
passed the recent canal convention in Syracuse
in favor of barge canal. The Governor also
listened to the reading of a paper by Mr.. Herman
supporting the resolutions In reply the Governor
said:
Before l sent my message TO the legislature rec
what Is known the $9O0o.00 improvement gave
this canal question very carefu, STUDY sasg hsge
which has caused TO hold any different views
message before the legislature somewhat because
believed mat II no acti3n Tor the me % 16 e el
cision the matter was likely TO be deferred Tor
tions of this State which would be ready to vote
for the abandonment of the canals. hom , gentle- N
pable OF floating thousand ton barses. THESE
reached the conclusion that the Improvement which
you are advocating would not bring the results
could be brought from the West TO New-York with
out the necessity of unloading perhaps your nGpes
tance which they once had could be realized But
a
with one thousand ton harges | cannot see that
the results TO be attained by such an Improvement
would justify the enormous cost.
I can remember when was a boy going ing down W
canal boats Sow You may 60 there. and i IS
only occasionally that you will see one | have
their merchandise brought by way Of the. the canal
d s wf Tas 9s ' they fhS reTd io
goods come by railroads; Now. l 90 not 6eheps
believe the canals can be made an active active com. tH
eW aH Ha m MADE @ by bur whie6 eR eSoronate
freight charges by railroads can be prevented;
will serve, in my judgment; quite as well as the
too. from talks which have had with members
of the legislature that il is the view OF the legs-
he larger hpb h KQ viii S be that
you will get nothing II you think that am mis- mis-
iature You can. go before the committees OF the
Assembly and Senate and ascertain for yourselves
what the legislature is willing TO do.
The canal men accompanying Mr Herman were
Frank Brainard and Aaron Vanderbilt. OF New
York; ex-senator John Laughlin ard George H.
Raymond. of Buffalo, S. c Mead. Of Troy: T. s.
Fassett. Of Tonawanda; Willis II. Tennant, Of May
VILE and Samuel H Beach. Of Rome. After they
left the executive chamber some Of them said that
perhaps Governor Ode could be persuaded 10 con-
enlargement OF the canals which would
permit OF the running of boats 125 feet in length
Senator George A. Davis of Buffalo. said. how
ever. tonight that at the request Of Governor
Odell the State Engineer. the Superintendent Of
Public Works and the Attorney-General would draw
provement TO the completion OF the Seymour plan
Under this plan canal boats OF only ninety-eght
feet in length will be used.
State Engineer Bond said tonight:
have not begun work yet the Canal I'm
proyement bill suggested by Governor Odell owing
10 the absence from the city Of Colonel John y.
Partridge, the Superint endent of Public Works
When he returns 10 the city We Will have confer
ence with the Attorney-General and draw up the
bill
1t is presumed that the bill suggested by Gov
ernor Odell 10 submit 10 the people at the polls at
the November election a proposition TO expend
SIS 900 additional in canal improvements, VIII
come before the legislature next week From
present indications il is likely 10 pass the legis-
lature and thus the issue OF canal improvements is
likely be the chief before the people Of the
State at the polls next fall Virtually the people
will be asked TO approve disapprove OF expending
s34 000e in canal improvements, since 100000 has
already been expended toward the carrying out Of
the Seymour plan OF improvement. The Seymour
plan provides that the Erie and Oswego canals
shall be deepened nine feet and give not
less than eight feet aQueducts, mtre sills.
culverts and other permanent structures and that
the Champlain Canal shall be deepened to seven
feet