New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-21

should be close at hand; in other words for this
In The hands o the enFnse Pee hg aW bas fur
nished machinery for engineering advice"-multi-
business and law. quite as important to the sue
Of 5s Rsset t Itself as it to the
chinery is vouchsafed at the critical points
advisory board could he better oTsSnized than
being made 10 consist of five engineers OF what
initiate not at all and who accept no Responsibility
in most cases to W. ~ 1b 70 t SIs IL F6T
days out OF each month the rest Of their time be-
ing devoted TO private interests 20 other clients
broadly experienced hard working business man
knowledge OF the law would enable him 10 lay
down a guide on all legal questions met with, and
thhree engineers whose services should be exclu-
siyely devoted to the states interests.
out enasculatinR the statute IN such manner as to
give affront to the sincere and honest believers in
state Engineer any Of those duties and authority
50 amended as to require, that before any plans
for tho barge canal should be submitted TO the
necessary before work may be- initiated the
should have the written approval Of every member
As a further safeguard of the states interests I
believe there should be further amendment max
ing provision IN law for what IS now exacted In
practice by this department namely. affidavit
tached TO every monthly estimate certifying TO the
character OF the work done and that IT con formed
10 the provisions Of the contract.
SURPLUS WATERS
Mr. Franchot points TO tho inadeQuscy Of the
present laws far the protecting or the state
interests is concerned. and says that already sew
eral applications have been made for surplus water
The present law authorizes the disposal OF surplus
waters by the Superintendent OF Public Works on
the approval OF the Canal Board. upon such terms
as he shall deem advantageous to the state The
department has refused thus far 20 consider any
such applications taking the position that sur
plus waters be either sold. leased or even
promised untl the canal and structures shall have
been completed. the canal In operation ard de
termination reached by actual experience 70
what. If any. surplus waters there may be.
He recommends amendment 10 the existing
statutes to the end that injustice be done the
state in the way OF improper leases 1t seems 70
NO." says Mr.. Franchot. that in undertaking
great and so far-reaching in its commercial in
terests and direct financial the state the
methods whereby the state IS reap rnodicum
Of return and reward ought 10 be more specifically
laid DOWN than they in any existing statute"
He calls attention TO the fact that existing leases
made on the present canal for long periods. IN
some cases being for $50 years and IN other cases
for 80 and that the the state from
them is merely nominal compared with. the
proht 10 the persons holding these leases VINO even
sell this water 70 others for large amounts OF
money.
In closing. Mr. Franchot sounds a note OF warn
ing against the suggestions and the tendency In
some quarters 70 respond 20 these suggestions IN
scheme OF the barge canal laid down in the
Barge Canal act"
on this point the former superintendent says:
penditure OF SOL 100000 for this great improvement
they intended the amount then fixed upon as fixing
limit 10 expenditures. and II is the duty OF the
ofhcals TO keep faith with the people in this
gard.