New-York tribune., 1901-04-04
TO REPORT OUT CANAL BILL.
PLAN INVOLVING EXPENSE OF S26.ooo.coo
DECIDED UPON.

Albany April 3 (speciaD.-The Senate and the
Assembly Committee Canals both TOOK up Tor
consideration this afternoon the bill submitting to
the people proposition expend S26.00OOO in canal
improvements This is the bill framed by State
Engineer Bond. Attorney-General Davies and
Colonel John w Partridge. the Superintendent Of
Public Works. and then submitted to Governor
OdelL At the conference in Governor OdeIIs room
at which this bill was selected from three others
the best TO be submitted TO the Legislature for
nts sanction there were present Governor Odell.
Controller Knight. Speaker Nixon, Senator Els
worth, Senator Davis of Buffalo, and Assembly
T. D Lewis of Oswego County. the two latter
being the charmen of the committees on canals In
the two houses. Governor Odell was persuaded that
it best favor the deepening of the Erie and
Oswego canals TO a uniform depth OF nine feet
rather than attempt to complete the 100000 plan
of canal improvement. which would leave the
canals mentioned with a depth Of only eight feet
the aqueducts and culverts and thus cause the
loss of the benefit of deepening the channel of those
canals TO a depth of nine feet.
The bill also provides for the lengthening of one
tier OF locks sufficiently 10 accommodate two 125
foot boats and OF the other tier sufficiently to ac-
commodate boat 125 feet in length. The first
section OF the bill provides for the submission of the
S260oo000 proposition TO vote of the people at the
fall election Of the present year. If the people give
majority vote in the affirmative the PROPOSE
ton the State Controller viii sell State bonds, TO be
paid in seventeen years, to raise funds for the
work
John I. Platt. Editor Of THE Poughkeepsie
Eagle" who has steadily fought the proposition TO
improve the canals. here to-day and obtained
assurance from Assemblyman Lewis chairman
Of the Assembly Committee Canals. that hear
ing would be given upon the bill Mr.. Platt said
that the anti-canal would oppose the bill with
| all their strength.
| The Assembly Committee Canals amended the
bill this afternoon TO provide that the Oswego
| Canal shall have depth over aqueducts and cul-
verts OF nine feet. and that its locks shall be en-
| larged the dimensions those of the Erie
Canal The committee then resolved 10 report the
bill favorably 10 the Assembly tomorrow COM
nittee measure
Senator Davis. Of Erie County, the chairman of
/ the Senate Committee Canals, will submit TO
| the Senate tomorrow the bill for the Improvement
OF the canals OF the State at cost of S26,ODOp9,
| which met with the favor of Governor Odell,
Speaker NiXor. Senator Ellsworth and other Re
| publican leaders at their conference yesterday.
| Senator Davis and other members Of the Senate
Committee Canals have amended the bill as
10 conform it the bill which favorably acted
| upon by the Assembly Committee Canals this
afternoon. The effect of these amendments will
| be TO make the dimensions of the OsWego. Canal
| the same as those Of the Erie Canal. The friends
1 OF the measure say they confident IL will meet
with the favor)of the legislature.