No. 64. IN SENATE, March 21, 1873. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CANAL COMMISSIONERS IN REPLY TO A RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE RELATIVE TO THE REMOVAL OF THE OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE ERIE, OSWEGO, CAYUGA AND SENECA CANALS, SO AS TO HAVE SEVEN FEET DEPTH OF WATER. STATE OF NEW YORK, CANAL COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE, To the Honorable the Senate of the State of New York: } "ALBANY, March 11, 1873. ( "Whereas, it is alleged that there are in the canals of this State deposits of mud and other obstructions to their proper navigation, and that the Erie, Oswego and Cayuga and Seneca canals are not of the depth required by law; therefore "Resolved, That the Canal Commissioners be, and they are hereby, requested to report to this Senate without delay what legislation, if any, is needed to accomplish the removal of such deposit and obstructions, to the end that the Erie, Oswego and Cayuga and Seneca canals shall have seven feet depth of water. "By order of the Senate. [Senate, No. 64.] "CHARLES R. DAYTON, Clerk." 1 beg leave to report: That the Eastern and Middle Division of the Erie canal were constructed with wall benches, giving a bottom width between the slopes of forty-two feet; that the Western Division of said canal was constructed mainly without wall benches, and has a bottom width between the slopes of fifty-two and one-half feet to fifty-six and one-half feet, dependent upon the width of canal at surface of water; that a large portion of said benches on the Eastern and Middle Divisions have been removed, and all on the Western Division have been or will be removed previous to the opening of navigation; that there are thirty-five miles on the towing path and forty-four miles on the berme side of the Middle and Eastern Divisions yet to be removed. These wall benches, and the narrowness of the canal in consequence thereof, are deemed the most serious obstructions to navigation, and should be removed as soon as means can be provided for that purpose, but the commissioners do not understand that your resolution has particular reference to these, but to such other obstructions as high bottom, or where in construction it was not reduced to established grade. There are cases, however, where it would be beneficial to navigation to reduce the bottom below such grade, especially at the end of descending levels, and for a greater or less distance, dependent upon the length of each of said levels. There are some places on the canals in question which were not reduced to the established grade in construction, and which should be so reduced to afford the seven feet of water over such places. There are also more or less deposits on the sides of the central part of the channel, varying in cross sections from nine to twenty-seven square feet. The channel in which the boat is run is from twenty to thirty-five feet wide, varying between these points as the width of the canal varies, and which width, as a general thing, is at and below grade, and will afford seven feet depth of water at all times when the surface of water is maintained at the height contemplated by the plan of construction. The deposits in the channel, outside of this, are in the angles and lap on the walls, and are, in sectional area, about as above stated. The reduction of sectional area of channel, consequent to such deposits alone, is comparatively small, and does not materially increase the traction of boats. It has been customary, during spring repairs, to remove all bars and extra accumulations of the kind to such extent as the limited time and means at hand would permit. While the sectional area of such deposits is small, it aggregates quite a large amount when extended over the whole length of the canals embraced in your resolution, and would probably require an expenditure to remove all such deposits above grade for the whole bottom width of said canals, including the depression of the ends of descending levels below such grade, as before stated, of $500,000. The Hon. Wm. B. Taylor, State Engineer and Surveyor, in his annual report to the present Legislature, says: "The following statement shows the amount and extent of bench walls now under contract, together with those remaining in the enlarged Erie canal, for the removal of which no provision has been made: From lock No. 2 to lower Mohawk aqueduct "On the Western Division, the remaining bench walls amount to only 91.100 of a mile in length. The work is under contract, and can be completed by the opening of the canal next spring, provided an additional appropriation of $10,000 shall be made at the coming session of the Legislature. I desire to invite especial attention to these impediments, and urge liberal appropriations for their removal. In my judgment, all expenditures devoted to the improvement of the prism of the canal are the most judicious that could be made, and from which naviga * Under contract. tion would receive the greatest benefit. An examination of the foregoing statement will show that the larger portion of the bench wall yet remaining in the canal is located on the Eastern Division, east of the city of Utica, and includes that section of the canal approaching tide-water which should necessarily be most free from obstructions. The prism of the canal between the city of Utica and lock No. 45, at Frankfort, is in a very bad condition in consequence of the obstruction caused by the benches. No portion of the canal on this division requires improving as much, and immediate steps should be taken to remove the benches as rapidly as possible. The Commissioners are of opinion that the removal of the remaining wall-benches is the first in importance to an improved navigation. Second, the reducing of certain original high places (not numerous), so as to afford seven feet depth of water over the same. Third, depressing certain portions of the ends of descending levels below established grade, to facilitate navigation and prevent delays from grounding in case of a depression of the ends of said levels; and, fourth, the removal of accumulations or deposits above grade in the angles of prism on each side of the channel. The first and third are extraordinary repairs, and can be provided for only by an appropriation, based on a tax levy, for that purpose. The means for doing the second and fourth may be appropriated from the canal revenues. The amount usually appropriated from the canal revenues is too small to warrant much of it being expended for cleaning out the canals, beyond what can be done during spring repairs; and to enable such cleaning out to be done over the whole bottom width, as above contemplated, will require a systematic effort for its accomplishment, and should it be deemed important, in view of all matters connected with our canals, that it should be entered upon at once, the Commissioners are of opinion that a special appropriation from the canal revenues of one-half the sum, or $250,000, should be made by the present Legislature, and the balance of the amount required, by the succeeding Legislature. And, in order that it may be done in the shortest time and at the least expense, would also recommend that the Commissioners be authorized to let it by contract, or do the same by superintendents of repairs; if let by contract, to be in sections of such length as they shall deem advisable; and that the law authorizing the same have a provision enabling the Commissioners to close said canals on the 25th day of November, in the present and follow ing year, and not open them for navigation, in the next and succeeding years, until the 15th day of May of those years, that being about the length of time, it is anticipated, which will be required to fully complete such work. It is likewise proper to add that on the Cayuga and Seneca canal the draft of boats was last year reduced by the Canal Board to four feet and nine inches at the opening of navigation. This action was rendered necessary by the unprecedented condition of Seneca lake, that body of water being more than six feet below high-water mark. The canal and river, from Geneva to Waterloo, being on a level with the lake, the depth of water in the former was thus very largely reduced. Much difficulty was also experienced on the Seneca Falls level, which seems never to have been excavated to the required depth. During the latter portion of the season the lake was somewhat higher, but at no time could boats be floated drawing six feet of water. As the same condition of the lake may recur in this or any future season, it would, in the judgment of the Commissioners, be judicious to make a special appropriation of $50,000, as recommended by the Commissioner in charge in his budget for the Middle Division, which sum will be sufficient, it is presumed, to perform all necessary dredging and rebuild the dam at Waterloo. Respectfully submitted. JOHN D. FAY. R. W. STROUD. |