New-York tribune., 1902-02-03
FOR CANAL IMPROVEMENT
BESIDES S2sOooOoO FOR THE ERIE,
FRIENDS OF THE OSWEGo AND
CHAAIPLAIN WATERWAYS
WANT MONEY.

Albany, Feb. Especially conflict between
fhe canal ard the anti-canal men. which has
thus far been deferred while the canal bills have
been quietly umbering in committee, will begin
an good earnest this week. when the Erie Canal
bill, which provides for the improvement Of that
waterway at q cost Of $2S,0O0000. will be re-
ported favorabiy by the Senate Canal Commit
tee. It is expected that the committee Will have
q meeting on Tuesday, and that the fight over
the bill will be precipitated on the floor of the
Senate Wednesday morning by the favorable re-
port Of the bill. Friends Of the measure be-
Jeve that II has the support of the majority of
the Senates members, and that any effort to
1ecomnit viii prove futile. 1t is understood that
no hearing has yet been asked on the bill, and
that consequently the majority OF the committee
DO not think any further delay in acting upon
st advisable.
The canal situation has been somewhat COM
5licated by the introduction of an Oswego Canal
bill, which provides for the improvement of this
canal on the same lines as contemplated for the
Erie route in the Erie Canal bill. The Oswego
men arc naturally averse to the Improvement Of
the route to Buffalo unless the Improvement of
the Oswego Canal is provided for. They say
that unless the latter waterway is also deepened
10 nine feet and its locks lengtheAed TO accom-
Snodate 1000 ton barges, as is contemplated for
the Erie route. the city of Oswego Will su1er
great nnancidl loss. ana tnaL lls Cdlidl AiHhAAS
will be reduced more than one-half For this
reason the representatives from the Oswego dis
trict Will fight the big bill unless it is amended
TO include the Oswego Canal. Such a factional
quarrel among the friends Of canal Improvement
IS looked upon with considerable satisfaction py
the anti-canal men. led by senator Anpler IN
the upper house and Assemblyman burnett lh
the lower. -,
still further make trouble is the attitude of the
Senators and Assemblymen from the northeast
ern border of the State, who are in favor OF the
Improvement OF the Champlaln Canal A Dill
is now being prepared for introduction calling
FOR an appropriation Of about SI,50OO0O for the
Improvement of this waterway. The argument
for such an Improvement is that the traffic on
this branch Of the State canal system has in
c-easad more than on any other part which is
SAID to be attributable 10 the rapid development
OF the iron mines on the NewYork shore of
Lake Chanplain. IN the vicinity OF Crown Point
This route follows the Hudson River to Fort
Edward above the city OF Troy, and from this
point the canal extends north TO the lake. which
it taps at Whitehall.
The three rival routes and the appropriations
necessary for their improvement on the plan
laid down IN the Erie Canal bill are as follows:
,To Is T0uIS qSue A0sT syyae2se 9 70 $4,000
Total sal 0o6. 600
The scheme which the Governor recommended,
and which II IS believed is the one that is likely
10 be adopted, is the Improvement of the Erie
Canal II IS believed that after this improve
nent IS made the people can more readily
he persuaded TO make appropriation for the
roupletion Of q barge canal along this route.
The locks Of the Erie are to be made of barge
dimensions with part of the S2S000,O00. The
Governor evidently believes that a greater ap-
propriation than that called for in the Buffalo
route scheme at present will be opposed by the
people since he only favored the Erie scheme
IN his message. It is estimated that the cost
of a 900 ton barge canal for the Erie route will
be $50 100000. II S2S000000 is paid now for
the proposed improvement of deepening the
channel and frightening the locks, an additional
appropriation OF S54 100000 would give a canal
Of barge dimensions both in respect to channel
! and locks,