HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



593 



Further mention of the Genesee river as a possible source of 

 water supply of the Erie canal is given in a letter written by 

 Mr Geddes to William Darby, under date of February 22, 1822, 

 which may also be found in the official history of the State 

 canals. Without giving these interesting historical documents 

 in detail, it may be stated that Mr Geddes considered the 

 Genesee river as an exceedingly important feeder of the Erie 

 canal. We shall see, however, as we proceed how very 

 materially this view was modified as more information was 

 gained as to the dry weather flow, not only in the Genesee river, 

 but in the other streams in western New York, until finally 

 it became the settled policy of the canal authorities to derive 

 water supplies from the lakes rather than from rivers. The 

 effect of this settled policy upon the present project for storage 

 of the water of the Genesee river will also appear as we proceed. 



In order to exhibit the history of the Genesee feeder clearly, 

 it will be necessary also to consider to some extent the general 

 history of the New York State canals, and accordingly certain 

 facts which are not set forth on a later page are given here. 



In 1810 a concurrent resolution was adopted, appointing 

 Gouverneur Morris, Stephen Van Eensselaer, DeWitt Clinton, 

 Simeon DeWitt, William North, Thomas Eddy and Peter B. 

 Porter commissioners for exploring the whole route of the Erie 

 canal, etc. Chapter 193, section 43, laws of 1810, appropriated 

 $3000 for the use of this commission. The commissioners 

 reported under date of March 2, 1811. 

 . They discussed questions relating to the Erie canal broadly 

 and specially at considerable length the future water supply. 

 The following extract from their report will show the conclu- 

 sions to which their studies had brought them, and indicates 

 they did not favor placing any special dependence upon a per- 

 manent supply to the canal from the rivers. 



We shall see as we proceed that the principles announced in 

 their report of 1811 were so far as possible followed in designing 

 the permanent water supply of the Erie canal. 



The following is from the commissioners' report : 



In the construction of canals, when recourse is had (as must 

 generally be the case) to rivers for a supply of water, it is found 



