New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-21
MR.. FRANCHOT'S REPORT
AGAINST Plan CHANGES.
Recommends abolition of Special
Examiners and I4praisers.

urea as superintendent OF Public Works, besides
presenting a statement Of the finances OF the de-
partmeHt OF the tonnage Of the canals and dealing
with other purely department matters. deals rather
exhaustiVely with the subject OF the barge canal
and points out In emphatic manner features Of
the machinery provided for carrying on this i'm
provement Mr. Franchot not only recommends
the abolition of the board Of special examiners and
appraisers, being in accord with Governor Hughes
IN respect TO this. bur he also strongly expresses
his belief that even the advisory board of consult
Ing engineers is not the complete safeguard TO the
states interests in connection with this work
which il was planned to be
MI Franchot also points out the weakness Of the
present laws so far the disposal Of surplus
ters is concerned and sounds a note OF warning
against departure from the plans for the barge
canal work they definitely agreed on when
Inc legislation was accomplished According to his
report there was total OF S54O 9C7 tons carried
The canals, an increase Of 314.O11 tons the
son OF 1905. and of 400 S02 business Of
4So4 With only three exceptions. the tonnage Lass
year was heavier than IN any year for the last ten
years The exceptions being the years 1897 1899
and 1902 The fact is emphasized that there
no breaks and no serious interruptions traffic
from any other The significant statement Is
made that there is no doubt that from a physical
sandpoint-that is. the absence Of all breaks. the
uniformly good water levels and the generally
ceent condition Of the towing path locks and other
structures-a total Of million of freight
could have beer carried the canals. but for the
single fect-a total nadequacy of seaworthy boats"
Mr.. Franchots remarks under this head are the
more interesting for the that the amount OF
tonnage which he the present canal could have
carried except for the OF boats is the tonnage
which is made the basis for the computed benefits
Of the barge canal.
COMPARISON OF EXPENDITURES.
The financial report the department presents ar
interesting comparison OF the expenditures during
the fiscal years ended 1906. 1905 and 1904. There
was expended for all purposes during the fiscal year
I a. G.rafn -
Same period 1908. S114l.552 %, and in 1904 s21s.-
994; which shows decrease OF S3S441 OS for 1906
the first year OF Mr.. Franchots administration,
over 1904 and a decrease OF *2l7.3S2 o. FOR 1906.
in comparison with 1904
Mr. Franchot calls special attention TO the ex-
penditures made account of the board Of special
examiners and appraisers, which consists of three
members. and for portion OF the time has had
secretary and a stenOgrapher While discalming
any criticisms Of the persons having membership
in the board. Superintendent Franchot says he has
been for a long time convinced that the machinery
OF this board is entirely too expensive and
wieIdy TO accomplish the purpose intended when
the board created
TO mind a triple headed commission" says
the former superintendent sitting in conferences
on a separate piece OF property. tends directly
increase in the mind OF the the value OF the
property TO be taken. and thus only increases
the amount OF the claim, but also tends to de-
crease the likelihood Of the owners being willing
To agree upon price for settlement which actu-
ally would be fair compensation"
The total OF the claims negotiated complete
settlement by the board. shown by the Con-
troler's figures OF moneys paid, amounts $685.
SCI 20. other settlements have been negotiated by
the canal board with the New York. Ontario &
Western Railroad Company. the Delaware & TIud-
son Company and the New York Central & Hudson
River Railroad Company. the board OF appraisers
being used merely the legal channel. and OF
course. the total OF these would bring the total OF
settlements negotiated up TO a somewhat higher
Rpur rovtr1 oro b. F,a "a nf afaera
IS akiR to that OF a right-of-way man OF railway
company. and the Superintendent believes that a
single individual working similar lines, would
accomplish better results only in the way OF
reducing the amounts which would tie allowed and
IN dispatching the business in hand but would
der great saving in the cost Of doing the work
AS to the advisory board OF consulting engineers.
Mr.. FrsnChOt says
There IS another part OF the machinery IN con
nection with the barge canal work which though
authorized by the statute, / believe, n not IN
by those VINO mad to do with the framing Of the
Legislation: refer 10 the board of consulting en-
Governor by Section OF Chapter lii OF the Laws
The governor may employ. at a compensation to
be fixed by him. nVe expert civil engineers to act
duty 1t shall be to advise the state Engineer and
the superintendent OF Public Works. TO follow the
thereon TO the Governor. the State Engineer and
require the board deem proper and advisable
AS in the case Of the board OF appraisers, / would
persons who were honored by the Governor by APP
pointment under this provision There are. how
peal TO your mind as they have to mine in connec-
ton with the work performed. the responsibility
borne and the compensation paid to these advisory
engineers in comparison with the work performed,
the responsibility borne and the compensation paid
TO the State Engineer. not to speak OF a Ike com
who. for the purpose OF presenting this case may
be entirely eliminated from consideration.
RESPONSIBILITY RESTS ON ENGINEER.
Section Of chapter lF OF the Laws Of 1893 di.
certain bonds. part thereof, the superin-
and Surveyor shall proceed TO improve the Erie
canal, the Oswego Canal and the Champlain
All the responsibility for the preparation OF the
plans. for their completeness suitability and ef-
fectuality rests upon the State Engineer and Sur
veyor until they have been presented to the canal
board for approval. OF course the action OF the
OF responsibility from the shoulders OF the eng
neer actually, but probably not in the estimation
OF the public, In the event that later errors shall
Section 3 Of the act above referred TO provides
orks 10 the contractors OF Ascertain sum upon
the certificates of the State Engineer"
Section 10 of the same act provides that ''all
surements, inspections and estimates shall be-
made by the State Engineer And the engineers and
inspectors appointed By him and that further
the Superintendent of Public Works may. in the
performance of the duties devolving upon him by
this act. rely upon the certificate of the State
Engineer and his assistants to the amount
character and quality Of the work done and ma
This latter provision would lift from the Shout
ders Of the Superintendent of Public Works all re-
sponsibility as TO the character. amount and COM
pleteness Of the work done and performed, and
place II upon the shoulders OF the State Engineer.
but for tho fact that under the provisions of section
: OF the same act the Superintendent ot Public
works ana the state Engineer must Jointly pass
upon the character OF the work at completion.
the law says he may rely upon the State En-
gineer for all measurements. inspections and esti
Engineer for the condition OF the work at compile
non since tne act PROVIDES no machinery whereby