New-York tribune., 1903-03-03
COST OF BARGE CANAL.
BOND MIKES HIS REPORT
His Revised Figures 500, SOC. SsS,
Compared 10Th $S2, 600, 900.
TRr -xLReRAPH TO THE TKIBUSE.l

Albany, March 2-The report OF SCale E"'
xineer Bond, giving his estimate OF the cos'
of traprovtnE the canals Of the State, whfcH
w.. aubrnftted to the Assembly tonight, does
MT discourage some members OF the legislature
who advocate the improvement Of the canaIs'
In the opinion of Senator Davis and Assembly
man Fsostwick who introduced the Dill pro-
D-tding for the submission of a proposiIoh "
the ueopIe to expend 100000 In improVi's
the Erie, oswego and Champlain canaIs' the
tJu win ne amended to appropriate htOre
money for canal work. and as amenoeo WIN
have lust as much support in the ieglsia'uFe @"
before. ...,-.
Mr.. Bond e. his report estimates that the cost
Of executing the canal work provided 1or IN
E,.a-,b,1-rnan Eostvick-s bill will be $916f4Yo00
The canal work provided for In that Dill Is iOi
thA construction of barge canal along the line
NJ the Erie and Oswego canals and the deepen
snE Of the ChampIain Canal to seven teet> NT.
Bond also estimates tina: it will cost Sf'6'O'OO
additional to build barge canal from wafer
ford to Whitehall or the line OF the Cnahilldlii
Canal and S129.16S for barge canal lock; max
tns q total for the improvement OF the canais
in the manner described, based upon present
prices of labor and material. OF $SS' 'I9S,Ooo'
Then there are some additional estimates which
increase Mr. Bonds estimate OF the oo IOoal coS'
of the barge canal project TO SIVV''O-'"OO'
Senator Davis said tonight:
I think the people Will accept the $780, OOOOOO
estimate o. the cost of canal improvements as
readily as the estimate Of $S2OOOVV0.
Senator Hill, of Buffalo. said:
don't think the additional money which ap-
rarentiv is required for these canal lnpToNe-
ments is sufficient TO cause the 9eLga 5 % o The
Canal Improvement bill The inclusion OF @ tLIe
ChaJuplain Canal in the barge canaI sCHTir I'm
will hiring votes to the Canal Improvement piII;
The proposition to include the CnaInplatn CdIi i :
a.. - 500 canal MAN would solidify the canal
interests of the State
Assemblyman Bostwick. of New-Yori saio'
think State Engineer Bonds report Is e3-
c-edinrIy favorable, because the principal item
is an allowance Of per cent for emergencles
when NE have already granted 10 per cent
eIieve the $S1,O000O0 expenditure VIII De az AZ
cept-ble TO the people the people TSraa %a INV en.
P:neers of eminence have said that the lcanal
work specified in the bill now before lore the legls-
lafure could be done for $S2OO0,OOO. had
ronference with members of the Greater New
York Canal Association on SATURDAY "neH a III u
New-York, and I think they VIII acquiesce t IN q
rrcposition to increase the proposed amount
fr he expended on the canals to $91OO0UOO.
Mr. Bostwick said he could not tell tonight
7-hat would be the attitude of the Greater New
York Canal Association on the proposition TO
enlarge the Champlain Canal to barge canal
rroportions which would increase the cost OF
improving the canals by $G.0C0O0O- There VIII
probably be conference of canal men held mere
TO consider State Enginee Bonds report ana
determine upon amendments; to the canal i'm
provement bill.
Mr.. Bonds revised estimate states that of the
added cost S5a0a9S4 is for increased cost OF
labor and material and $4,365.454 for unfore-
seen e, ,ntinrencies and erroneous estimates
Mr.. Bond declares that the price Of labor and
material has advanced within two years; that If
the business Of the enlarged canal were doubled
1t would increase the estimate by $l,3oo"Oo
that the dams for canalizing the Mohawk, SEN
- eca and Hudson rivers will cost $31345I0, and
the dams for impounding water S1,I69,oSo' tha'
his estimate does not cover riparian damages
except on the Oswego River; that the right OF
vsy will cost s. TSS S43 of which the sale OF
lands will repay 81 a663 that in his first es-
firnate 10 per cent was allowed fo- engineering
and Contingencies. 70 which he has added in
this second estimate > per cent to pay for the
services Of five expert engineers, to cover added
expense. and To make reasonable allowance
for erroneous estimates. Mr. Bond says:
It was the intention Of this department TO
cover every Unforeseen condition in 15Uo. when
the estimate for barge canal was made. AT
that time many Of the ruling unit prices were
esfs bIished with tie consideration and under
standing that by improved modern machinery
work could be successfully let 10 rellabIe CON
tractors at those prices. Some may still think
that this barge canal can be built for the estl-
mated price ~ 1910 for that reason. But call
atfenfjo7 10 the fact that SO far as we are to-
dav acquainted with conditions there is no
modern machinery in use which was not dis
ClGSsed and considered At the time OF nXlhg the
unit prices: and by reason of this fact the real
increase in the price of labor and material en-
fering into the consideration Of this canal should
receive recognition. has been given by this
revised estimate.
In reaching these conclusions have tried
10 he Just tU those who are advocating and
believe in tine barge canal project, 20 those who
are advocating and believe in what IS known
as the Finishing of the S9.O00.OJU work, and
f,aIio hat Iyp should
more money in the enlargement OF the canals
hut simply maintain them in their present
normal condition