New-York tribune., 1902-01-13
NEEDS OF STATE CANALS.
COLONEL PARTRIDGE ASKS FOR MOD

Albany, Jan. 12.-The annual report of Colonel
John N Partridge, former Superintendent of Public
Works will be submitted to the legislature to-
morrow night by his successor. Charles S. Boyd.
Colonel Partridge says
The Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga and
I & Ga1s Be 0Pned to navigation & & on May st ana G
their closing was November 80 The opening date
more than two weeks later than the previous
senting The amount OF business actually done on
the canals this year with last will show that there
the figures week by week this year with the pre-
vious year will show that the increase which start
ed at the very opening of the season. was main
taned the last AS a matter of fact not in
ProspeToSs season as that of 1s proved to be-
The amount of business was limited only by the
boats which had been out of commission for long
time were given such aasty repair as & would render
The total tonnage all canals was 34o.613 tons,
h tons BEING tons 7ae Of he toS h
carried. 2,276 Iss tons went eastward and liza 4l4
and 21OS.oS7 tons of way freight. OF the through
Westward and of the waV freirht 1i'I 47577 tons
went eastward and 6905l0 tons westward. The de
tons; through freight west 5io3s tons; total de
crease in western shipments of 1886 tons: This
of l6O0SS tons and in through freight east of
freight east and west of 1855 tons While there
was a total decrease in through freight east and
way and through freight east and west 74672 tons
The expendtuIss lit for the mai maintenanss and oGdi
fbdr fSmpns "a Of m aI s 79F the year ended on Sep
OF the thirty-six pieces of public work provided
for by special appropriation twenty-four were be
gun in the year, and of these twelve placed
under contract and twelve were progressed by
State forces. The appropriations for the twelve
pieces under contract and now in progress amount
10 S1I7.457 50, and the contracts awarded for
S152,369 so. OF the work undertaken by State
forces, eight pieces have been completed
of S1S691 O6. against appropriations amounting
to $4,000. Owing to various contingencies which
have arisen. the remaining twelve pieces of work
authorized 70 be done have yet been pro-
gressed. In some cases the reason for the non
progression of work has been the insufflciency
the appropriation.
would again call your attention to the neces-
sity for continuing make provision extraordi-
nary repair and improvement of existing mechan-
ical and other structures and connected with
the canals. The Legislature has for many years
provided annual appropriation for this purpose,
the amount being S35O0o0- Last year the amount
of the appropriation 1926. 600. a reduction OF
900. The funds thus provided have, I believe
been most tudiciously and economically expended,
much that 1t is hoped the time is not far dis
tant when appropriations for this purpose may be
discontinued. This time, however. is yet at
hand, and while large and larger amount
than that appropriated last year might be used
most effectively, / symDathiZe with the spirit of
retrenchment which actuates the Chief Executive
and which is shared by your honorable body and
shall therefore ask for appropriation OF only
S275 900 for extraordinary repairs. This amount
should be available for for early spring and
summer repair and Improvement.