The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-25
BLACK RIVER CANAL GRAFT.
INVESTIG ALTON REVEALS 4 ROT
TEN STATE or AFFAIRS.
Lock Tenders and Bridge Tenders Draw
$3.50 Month for Opening Locks That
DO Not Open and Swinging Bridge
That Have No Occasion to Swing.

UTICA, Oct. 24-When Francis Burton
Harrison, the d. mocratic nominee for
Lieutenant Governor, made speaking
tour through jefferson and Lewis counties
a week ago he encountered a condition of
legalized graft along the line Of the Black
River Canal which was so barefaced and
startling in character that he dilated at some
length on his discovery in a speech de-
livered subsequently in Saratoga, The
facts as recited by MIR. Harrison laid bare
such a condition Of official rottenness that in
some quarters the expose was cepted as
campaign roorback. invented to bring
discredit ON Governor Chairman Odell and
incidentally harm his candidates on the
State ticket
Mr.. HaIrison's tip on conditions along
Black River Canal has been investigated and
a shocking state of affairs has been revealed.
Lock tenders and bridge tenders who draw
their pay regularly for opening locks that
could not be opened with 40 horse team
and for swinging bridges that have no
reason to swing begin to tremble for fear
their pet graft will be curtailed as result
of the exposure.
The Black River Canal extends from
Rome to Carthage The sec ond division,
upon which this controversy has arisen,
runs from Bonneville to Carthage. For
seven miles outside of Boor evlle it is a
made channel. Then it joirs the Black
River. a wide but winding stream, and the
rest of the distance the two are identical.
There is no towpath. The towing is, or
rather was. done by steam tugs.
Three miles north of the junction OF the
dug canal and the river. or ten miles from
Boonville, is Lyon Falls, at which place
there is a series of locks. At the very
first of these four locks the Use of the Black
River Canal has been discarded. All of
that portion north including forty-three
of the entire fifty-three miles of the division
disturb its waters. That leaves but ten
miles OF used canal in the division, but
the operating expenses are great or
crater than when the whole fifty-three miles
from Roonville to Carthage Were kept in
shape for navigation and used by boats.
Some of the men holding jobs az bridge
tenders have never drawn a bridge to
let q boat through. Gradually the en-
ployees of the State who were paid for
standing guard over bridges and locks be-
wearing out shoe leather or wasting time
by going to the locks, 1t was oinch that
there would be nothing to do there. Last
summer went by, and aside from few
looks at their noses the people saw, nothing
but the monthly payroll in the local pagers.
River Cana! north of the Lyon Falls, had
not improved Boats were still an absent
quantity. The deserted Lighthouses and
bridge houses showed their neglect The
locks began to fail away but the appoint,
ments were made just the Same and favor
sons were sworn to do their duty. That
was to open the locks every time boat
appeared or to draw a bridge. No boats
appeared There is one bridge house
where signs of activity are to be found,
That is at the Illingsworth bridge. A
sign of present habitation presents itself
in the shape of pyramid Of beer barrels
on the front stoop. But the occupants
are not Johnny Graham or Jack Maths,
the tenders employed there.
new railroad running from Lnwville
to Carthage. and called the I.owville ard
Beaver River Railroad. is constructing big
trestle over the oanal-fiver Iafallel with
the Illin1swoTth Ri idae, ard tho gang of
Italian laborers em"lored on the job have
been housed in TIE bridge house all sum
mer. Naturally the railroad must be ray
ing some conn ensation for that privilege,
but the peope ask: where does the ev-
enue go?" No reference to it appears in
the monthly reports Of Charles f Sea- los,
super intendent q the second division of
the canal, whe-e the house is located.
Here is a list showing twenty favored
SONS of the Odell administr alton who are
furnished employment as bridge tenders
and lock tenders on q section of ca al that
has not seen boat in two wears, the aggre-
gate salaries raid to them every month
FOR doing nothing being $3.50
Robert Hartz, SOS per month, j. W.
Parker, sos; John Graham, 500 John MATHS.
s21, Daniel Merry, $50; John NJ Waters, 500
George jackson. $40; john Allie tson, $50
Fmmet Plato. 500; }. l.. Clark. $50: Clinton
Allen. $40; John X. Roberts, $40; A. b. Bur
dick. 500: Frank jackson, $50; FRED p Hart
lev, $50; De Mors Daney 500, Charles +
Mills, SOS: Edward Dolan, SIS J Adelbert
Barber, SIS, Jerry Upright, SIS,