New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-24
STATE ENGINEER REPORTS
Says Barge Canal Will Be Fin
iShed in 1915.

Albany, Jan. l1.-EN state Engineer ram
VI. Williams, in his annual report - the
Legislature. says that nearly the entire
barge canal system. including all four
branches-the Erie, the Champaign, the Os-
wego ard the Cayuga and Seneca-sre
either under contract or construction has
been completed. The work If planning
ana building the canal during the last year
has been unprecedented In amount in the
history Of the enterprise, the report de-
clares, and adds.
AZ the end Of 1910 about oue-third Of the
Work or construction on the whole canal
~ completed. There are under CONTRACT
to- miles Of cana. Including fhe Cayuga
ana Seneca. besides contracts tor various
eltcu lcdl installations. bridges. dams and
othei structures, two great storage 'reser-
h"Ts anu feeder or nearly SIX miles
leaGlLg from one OF them. Of tho remain
Ihs work plans for : miles are competed
WINE those .or 2.3 miles are n least three
quarters finished and those tor 81 miles OF
car and Tor the Glens FAILS FEEDER are
wei under wav.
Thus it is seen that about % per cent of
the canal mileage is under contract The
man plain aud Oswego canals are under
contract throughout their entire length, the
extent OF the Erie Is broken only BY gap
OF 2 miles a. Medina and by halt-mlie
stretches at each end, and the p miles OF
mo 'ayUga and Seneca are three-quarters
contracted FOR
, ne value Of work under contract. a. con-
tract prices. or completed. amounts TO ST.
he33S, inclusive Of the Cayusa and seneca
canal. and at the close Of 1910 81, so, - has
Teen earned on construction work
Canal Within Original Appropr alton.
At the end OF another year repeat the
statement that the whole canal can be
mt within the original appropriation
Su'cr - per cent OF tho entire length OF
I'M ranal - under contract a. prices ag-
Cregating between 100000 AMI S,.GO,n1
less than the appropriation for these pieces
Of WCrk, AMI since a contingent fund OF
about 10000. included I'm the original ap-
precipitation. has not been drawn upon, this
prediction seems we'll founded.
II A rate OF progress equal TO that at
taln"d during the last year b. maintained,
the Chomplain canal throughout it, length
nom Whitehall. at the head OF Lake
Champlain. TO the Hudson River. at Water
ford, should be ready for operation IN
ltttl" more than two yearS-for the open
ing Of navigation IN the spring OF 1913. BY
a year later tEe spring Of 1914 the Oswego
anal and that part Of the Erie lying east
ot iis Junction with tho Oswegy should be
comHeted opening navigation from Lake
ontario 40 this city OF Oewego 10 the Hud-
son d. Troy In the sprits OF 1915. or four
years hence. the remainder Of th- Erie
should Do finished. giving au improved
channel from Buffalo 60 Troy and com
peting the whole barge canal system.
such portions Of the barge canal as have
been completed. out will not form a part
of the channel used FOR navigation TIL ad-
iacent sections or the whole length Is I'm
-hed n IS not possible % complete eacn
part Just prior 10 the final opening 10 navi-
-ation and consequently some portions
must he subject ~ deterioration. To allo"
sIcU impairment 10 continue until the cost
Of restoration should become large would
be folly. Accordingly. I recommend an APP
preparation for this purpose.
When the barge canal is completed much
Of lis channel will lie not like rhe present
canal confined between carthcu emOank-
mefts. hut somewhere in the broad eN-
Uanse Of river or lake surface. II seems
best that the charts made for the barge
tanal should be similar IN form 10 tnose
u Use BY tho United States and Canadian
governments A. the state Of New YORK
Is not so well equipped FOR this kind OF
work as the United States. which has a
complete equipment and organization, II
seems desirable 20 solicit the aid Ot the
federal government i'm charting the waters
% the barge canal system. To TINS enc /
recommend that both branches or me state
Legislature formally petition the Congress
OF the United States 10 undertake. this
work. aud that our members or congress
be urged severally 10 use their best err
GeavOrs to obtain favorable action and 10
ohteir IL without DELAY
In building dams 70 canalize the rivers
Of the barge canal system valuable water
powers have been or will be created in the
ments amounts 20 several million dollars.
and as the states money has created this
value IL is important that this energy
should not be wasted and that the state
should receive whatever income may ac-
crue from its expenditure.
I have recommended. and renew the
recommendation. that the state retain the
fee interest in all these properties. ana
that any contracts made for their DISPOSE
ton be based on leases OF twenty 10 thlTtY
years. with power of renewal fo- an addl-
tional term.
II seems desirable that the state should
exercise more authority over the type or
boat 10 be allowed on its canals. but be-
fore this can he done Ii should be IN pos
session Of accurate knowledge as 10 me
hest tvpes for various purposes, and should
he able 10 direct boat builders in general
along the lines 20 he followed Accord
inglv. recommend thar the State Ensl-
ueer he given authority and. II need De:
an approDrfatiOn. 10 make thorough ana
carefIIl study OF this whole subject.
I recommend IN order that inteiligent
rrogress may be made IN the development
~ additional waterways and before other
ricI Is are usurped or existing INSPIRATIONS
are strengthened through lapse OF time,
thar proper legislative provision he made
for rnstitutinS a broad lhVestl-d1Ion u , III
reconnaissance Of navigaEle streams, Wnlch
should include G) \ compilation OF the MS
tory Of all important uavieable streams
ial \ general engineering reconnaissance 70
determine the characteristics or the
streams and the steps. IL anv. which may
beet he taken looking toward their de-
yelopment together with study or the
probable utiltv OF greater navigation "a
cilties.