On the south side of the canal, the ground always rises, in most places gently, but in some abruptly. And in these elevations, within from 1 to 8 miles of the line, are contained inexhaustible quantities of lime and sand stone. The wants of the country have not yet required, that many quarries should be extensively opened. But, we found some of an excellent quality, that had been. To such we have had reasonable resort ; and we have been very fortunate, in opening several new ones. The prices we have given, for the purchasing, quarrying, and delivering, of large, thick, solid, durable, and well faced stone, has varied from 75 cents to $1 37 cents per ton, according to circumstances. We have, in all cases, chosen to agree for stone, by weight rather than by the cord, or perch, because it lessens the temptation of contractors, to spoil them for our use, by breaking them up into small pieces, which would make them easier to handle, and increase their measurement. And the expense of erecting scales and weighing them, is not greater than piling them up, into compact heaps for measuring them.
There will be 9 locks, upon the middle section, including one, at the west end, to facilitate communication with the Seneca river, at high and low water. As the locks of a canal are contrived, for the purpose of effecting a passage from one elevation to another, they must always be subject, while they are shut, to the pressure of a considerable head of water, and while they are filling and discharging, to the force of a rapid current; and, as they must be made as small as the nature of the transportation thro them, will admit, they will be liable to violent impingements from heavy loaded boats. With us, they are also exposed to injury, by the intense frost of winter. It will be perceived, therefore, that, in the construction of them great care and fidelity are indispensable. The site, which ours will occupy, is uniformly excellent, consisting of gravel mixed with loam or clay, in such proportions as to render it close, heavy, hard, and water-tight.
We have let out, the laying and securing of the foundations, the framing and placing of the mitre cills, and the construction and hanging of the gates, of 8 of these locks, to a single individual of skill and responsibility, who has heretofore been engaged, in similar undertakings. The stone cutting and masonry are more distributed. For the performance of these, we have entered into five agreements, with men, whom we believe to be expert and trust worthy, some of them, from our own knowledge, and the rest from satisfactory recommendations.
The foundations of these 8 locks, are to consist of a solid flooring, of hewed timber, one foot thick and covered with well jointed three inch plank, over which, within the chamber, will be laid another flooring, of two inch plank, accurately fitted together with water joints, and spiked down, so as to prevent leakage ; and this foundation is to be strongly supported and guarded by piling. The lock-walls are to be not less than six feet thick, and sustained by several massy buttresses, to be laid in water cement, and thoroughly grouted--to have all the faces, ends, and beds, of each stone, laid in the front of the wall, together with the hollow quoins, the lock culverts and the ventilators, well cut--and the whole to be sufficiently cramped together with iron, and coped.--The mitre cills and gates are to be of the best construction, and properly fitted, secured, and hung. Having provided, by contract, for all the materials necessary, and the labor to be bestowed upon them, in the construction of these locks ; and, having counted the cost, we anticipate their entire completion, for a sum not exceeding a thousand dollars, per foot rise. In schedule number three, in the appendix, may be seen further particulars relating to contracts for stone, and for the locks.
That portion of the canal line, which we have been authorized to open, is intersected by 52 public roads, on which it became our duty to erect bridges. For all these we have made provision ; and 21 of them are erected. In several instances, where the canal has traversed a farm in such a direction and extent as to forbid the owner to occupy it all, without a bridge, we have paid a reasonable sum, for the construction and reparation of such bridge ; and, in consideration of such payment, obtained from the owner a perpetual discharge, for the state, from all further obligation relating thereto.--And, to prevent these occupation-bridges from ever interfering with the navigation, a suitable plan, for their construction, was made, of which a full description was always given to the builder.
It may not be improper to state, here, that the gentlemen appointed, by the supreme court, to appraise damages upon the middle section, have examined, decided upon, and certified, the most urgent cases of that kind ; and the whole amount of claims upon us, which they have yet authorised, is $1686. A list of all the cases decided, with the amount of damages allowed in each, constitutes number 4 of the appendix.
The middle section is ninety-four miles long.
Every thing that was to be done, on this section, is now either completed, or under contract and to be completed, by the 1st of Oct. next ; except
1st. A few occupation bridges;
2d. A small culvert, to pass the waters of a mill pond, in Whitestown.
3d. A lock to effect a proper connexion with Seneca river, and
a short section of the line adjoining it. The materials for the construction
of the lock, may be delivered by water : And, it was so late in the season,
before the precise location, of the lock and section, could be ascertained,
that no advantage would have been secured, by contracting for them this
fall. We have reasonable propositions, from good men to finish them
both, in September next.
4th. About a mile of the line, on which the original undertaker
has failed, for which we can make effectual provision in the spring.
What is actually done may be understood from the following summary, to wit ;--
1st. All the grubbing and clearing is done, except about five
miles.
2d. Eight miles of excavation and embankment are completed, inspected
and accepted.
3d. Forty miles more have all the excavation and embankment performed
;--and the frost alone has prevented their being finished. When that
is dissolved, and the earth is dry 50 cents a rod, will entirely complete
them.
4th. Ten miles more are about half done.
5th. Twenty-one more miles more, are a quarter done. There
remains on the middle section, fourteen miles more, lying in detached pieces,
which are yet unbroken.
The most costly embankments, were to be made at Nail creek, at Sedaqueda creek, at Brown brook, at Brandy brook, at Oneida creek, at Canastota creek, at Olcott's brook, at Canaseraga creek, at Chittenango creek, at Beaver dam creek, at the outlet of the Litte lakes, at Limestone creek, at Cadwell's swamp, at Butternut creek, at Onondaga creek, at Harbor creek, at Geddesburgh, at the west end of section 37, at the Skaneateles outlet at Bread creek, at the Owasco outlet, at Great brook, and at Crane brook. All these embankments, the 9 most expensive are completed, and the residue, in the average, half completed.
Two thirds, of all the deep cutting, is accomplished.
The whole number, of expensive foundations required was 17, of which 10 are sunk and secured, and the rest, in considerable forwardness.
The timber, for the waste-weirs, is now felling, and hewing, and sawing : and their construction, is all stipulated for, at about $4 per foot run.
The whole amount of mason work necessary, in culverts, aqueducts and bridges, is one fourth done.
The timber for the lock sites is preparing ; the requisite quantities of stone, for all purposes nearly quarried ; and scales to weigh them, are all erected.
The only expensive dam, on the whole route, is that at the Oriskany creek, which is to be built for $5,700, and is already in some progress.
Taking into consideration every item of material and of labor, actually provided & paid for ; and comparing them with every item remaining to be provided and paid for, in order to the enjoyment of a navigable communication between the Mohawk and Seneca rivers ; and it is our opinion, that the proportion of the former to the latter, is nearly as two to one.
The whole estimated expense of the canal, from Utica to the Seneca river, including a proportional part of the general allowance, for utensils, workshops, barracks for the men, &c. as stated, in our Report of 1817, is as follows, to wit:--
From the west end of the old canal, at Rome to Seneca river, $853,186
From the east end of the old canal, at Rome, to Nail creek in Utica,
exclusive of locks, the distance being 14 miles, 108,128
Add 8 feet lockage between Rome and Utica, at $1,250 per foot, 10,000
Twelve road bridges, at $500 6,000
Forty two occupation bridges, at $200 8,400
The proportional part of the general allowance above mentioned, is
17,837
The expense of widening and deepening the old canal was not included
in the Report of 1817, but was estimated, in another place, at 4,000
For superintendance of Engineers, &c. from west end of old canal,
at Rome, to east side of Nail creek, at $1,000 per mile 15,000
Aggregate amount, $1,021,851
The whole amount of actual disbursements, is 578,549
Which being deducted from the estimates leave the sum of $443,302 applicable to the completion of the middle section.
This sum is believed to be more than sufficient for that object. And, if the present winter shall afford five weeks of good sleighing to draw stone, & the summer shall not be unfavorable, the commissioners entertain sanguine hopes of being able to pass in a boat throughout this section, before the next meeting of your honorable body.
Believing we were authorised to institute and carry on further surveys, on the eastern and western sections, of the Erie canal, Isaac Briggs, Esq. has been employed to explore, and re-survey, and locate, the line of the canal, from Utica towards the Hudson river. Such a location he has made, for upwards of 40 miles, including all the difficult places, at Herkimer and Little Falls. Of his work he has made ample returns and estimates, accompanied with elegant maps, and profiles, which are herewith presented.--From his estimates, it appears that the cost of opening the canal, through that portion of the line, will be less than our first calculations.
In pursuance of that part of the law, relating to their duties, which requires the Canal commissioners to recommend such measures, as they may think advisable, for the accomplishment of the objects intended by legislature ; we beg leave to recommend :
1st. That adequate provision be made for opening a navigable side cut, in course of the ensuing summer, from the main canal to the salt works, at Salina. This may be performed in six months, at an expense not exceeding $6,000; and, as the main canal is expected to be navigable to the waters of the Cayuga and Seneca lakes on the one side, and to those of the Mohawk river, on the other, by the close of the next season, it is apparent, that such side cut would immediately become profitable.
2d. That militia law be so modified to excuse from militia duty all persons actually engaged in laboring on the canal. Such laborers are, for the most part, in situations which do not permit them to be properly armed and equipt :--They cannot therefore be useful in the parade ground. And, upon a reasonable calculation, there were, during the past season, $20,000 worth of service lost to the canal, by militia interruptions.
3d. That a law be passed, the present session, authorising and providing for, the entire completion of the Erie canal. Sufficient experience has now been acquired to establish the practicability of such a measure, within the means of the state.--and surely, the prosperities which it will advance, of an agricultural, a commercial, and a manufacturing, of a public and private, of a pecuniary, a literary, a poetical and a moral character, commend it to your patronage. It appears to us to be a measure involving the highest earthly interests. And, illustrious as our country has become, for the utility and glory of its achievements, it never had a legislative body, engaged in a measure teeming with benefits, so various, so extensive and so durable, since the cry of "land, land," was first heard from one of the ships of its great discoverer. If honor be coveted, solid and expensive as "the great globe itself, and all which it inherits," the accomplishment of this work will ensure its attainment.
Dated Jan. 25th, 1819.
De Witt Clinton,
S. Van Rensselaer,
Myron Holley,
S. Young,
Ephraim Hart
N. B. Mr. Hart was appointed a canal Commissioner in the room of Joseph Ellicott, resigned.