New-York tribune., 1901-02-22
ODELL AND NEW CANAL.
No OPINION FROM THE GOvERNOR-Pos-
sIBLE PLAN OF ACTION.

Albany. Feb. q CspeciaD.-Governor Oden has
yet formed any opinion expressed any
Judgment upon State Engineer Bonds report
the probable of constructing barge canal for
canal boats, u be propelled by electricity, from
Buffalo 10 COhoes, along much Of the route OF
the present Erie Canal. A part OF this report
was printed in The Tribune to-day. The cost Of
such a canal the State Engineer has estimated to
/ be about S550050)0
There was an erroneous report circulated early
to-day that the Governor favors the scheme to
/ eXpend the S55.0D00)1, but he said later in the
day that he had not yet even read the State En-
gineer's report and therefore il was not in his
power 10 form any judgment 10 the policy OF the
State undertaking any such enterprise. much less
express any opinion about himself and he
had not done Hs added that he was in the
habit Of considering such propositions with great
care. and should not therefore, he doubted. be
able to communicate State Engineer Bonds re-
port 20 the Legislature with accompanying
preaching week IL at that time. He had not said
10 any one whether he favored the barge
canal scheme. In conclusion. he said that of
the figures printed in to-day's newspapers con-
cerning State Engineer Bonds report mis-
leading.
DOUBT As TO GOVERNORS POSITION.
State Ensiner Bond submitted his report TO
Governor OdeH on February II. and was requested
10 revise it and include some figures giving in
detail estimates as the cost Of three different
routes proposed for the barge canal. Mr. Bond,
since February Il. therefore. has been engaged
upon this work. and his report, finally com
Peted reached Governor OdeN at s O'Clock last
night The Governor did not have time to read
Tho report before he Departed for tho executive
mansion AT o'clock. and ne has been extremely
busy upon other official matters from early
hour to-day Neither he the State Engineer
has Yet given out the report for publication, and
the printing Of a part Of its to-day there
fore. unauthorized by them.
Leading Republicans in the Legislature have ex-
pressed doubt that Governor Odeu would assume
any position on the barge canal proposition. il the
Governor should favor I'm all probability the Leg
islature would adopt it. since the Senators and As
semblymen of the Republican majority seem about
evenly divided upon the subject. and the Demo-
cratic Senators and Assembly men. coming they
do from the cities. nearly all favor il. The GOV
ernors influence If exerted in favor of submitting
the canal proposition TO the people at the fall cleo
ton this year would therefore probably carry it
through the Legislature. since the Republican Sen
ators and Assemblymen who do not have tena-
cious view Of the matter would probably follow hts
example. Canal Improvement would thus become
the leading issue OF this falls election.
Senator Hil Of Buffalo. who ardenty favors the
proposition 10 construct barge canal. said to-day:
I believe that Governor Oden hesitates about
Of the state until he can learn What will be the
states probable income from .he oo tSSa,on 6S ts @
LAWS the interest on the BONDS tflnk ne
will support the proposition 10 enlarge the canals
HOSTILITY To IMPROVEMENTS.
Governor Odeu also has 10 consider the hostility
20 the canal improvement scheme felt by the farm
ers living in the non-canal counties There are
also some counties and cities along the line Of the
Erie Canal which do not favor It's improvement
thinking that the railways OF the State fully sCppy
their transportation needs
"One trouble about the plan to improve the
canals of the State" said Colonel John y Part
ridge the Superintendent OF Public Works. the
rresent week lis that the work could not De com
uleed under less than three administrations ~ the
department OF Public Works. You mght have
three different men in charge OF II. and sucn
changes always increase the cost ot such "ork
work would be 10 have state Commission control
II / am not seeking 10 be a member OF snch a
Commission. but nevertheless that Is my opinion
The Senators and Assemblymen nom the Ftu1son
River Valley especially opposed 10 mo p!hh
10 improve the Erie Canal and have had the actlEe
assistance Of those from the southern and noTth-
EN- tier Of counties Tnquestionahy II Governor
0delI does recommend the submission 10 the people
al the fan election the proposition 10 build harse
canal a long the Erie Canal and 10 improve inc
Osweeo and Champlain canals there VIII he an IN
ferestinc conflict IN the Legislature over the eoi
me- rd4ti1.u The memory ~ the mistakes made IN
"Yrar5ry the So co.. OG appropriation for canal i'm
,To,e1ert in 1895 has not died away. and All the
s+.terrants made by the Canal INVESTIGATING com
mission about canal improvement "ork m L''S
80 1SqC II can be predicted. viii be- reAeafS-d oy
he opponents OF a further improvement q the
V.fE