New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-24
ODELL'S CANAL VIEWS.
WANTS CLOSE ESTTMATES.
Work to 90 on If 1t Can BE Done
for SIO1 900 900.


Albany. Nov. BIN a manner that won complete
confidence. Governor OdelI to-day told delegation
of the leading barge canal advocates in the State
that the work the waterway would be
begun as soon the expert engineers to act under
the law in advisory capacity had tested the
accuracy of the estimate of $10 0GG 600 made by
State Engineer Bond.
The advisory board of engineers will be ap-
pointed in December. and the State Engineer would
then be directed. said the Governor. to make
survey for quantities. and prepare plans for the
work the five most important sections. Esti-
mates would be made and bids called for. and If it
was found that the canal could be built within the
Sol. the State Controller would be directed
to issue bonds for prosecuting the work of
struction. The Governor said:
If the canal however is going to cost 500 900
or Sl5O00,Oo0 l should feel disposed lay the mat
ter before the legislature with the suggestion that
NV, We all know what happened under the 50 700 coo
scandals of that time: we should know precisely
what the barge canal will cost before issue
can be done within the estimate but of course
the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
NON-PARTIsAN BOARD.
Governor Odell said he intended to make the
board of engineers non-partisan possible,
but, Of course. being Republican. will take the
majority from the Republican party. The mem
bers of the board should be continued i'm office until
the work is completed. which will be in about
years If any change is made in the board it should
be only for inefficiency other good cause.
The Governor told the delegation what the most
arednt canal men had not hoped for. that there
would be no necessity for extending the time Of
paying canal bonds from eighteen to fifty years. and
that the entire money including interest could be
raised in eighteen years. without resortng to
direct taxation. He said the whole work. financial
and engineering, should be undertaken in thor
ough, bIsinesslike way. 1t was hardly in accord
with good business principles to pay out in in
terest sum greater than the of construction.
TO MOVE CAUTIOUSLY.
The Governor said:
I regard 1t Of the utmost Importance that
this work should be carried upon the basis Of
precise information. 1 do not propose to have in
If it can be prevented by forethought and prepara-
canal and U of charges Gaa Of dishonesty
We can, of course. do practically nothing untll
vote upon the canal question After that we pro-
pose that before any bonds issued. bids shall
be received for the critical PARTS of the work and
exhausted in order to assure ourselves that the
work can be done within the s1O1.Oo00o estimate
the estimate. should not feel Justified in going
ahead with the work until the enlarged expenditure
was called to the attention OF the legislature
Charles A. SchIeren here broke IN: ut would be
a great disappointment to the people of the city
of New-York. Governor, if such a contingency
should arise" The Governor replied:
Surely but 1t would be worse to give the people
a half finished canal. For myself. want to say
that never have believed that the cost would d ex
the factor of safety which raised the total 10
the present amount by providing for every pos os
$3.50 100000 $4,000 coo. want to know 1t before
we actually begin. There is no disposition on tne
US evade this proposition We are All anxious
carry out in detail the Will or the peope: ply
outset