HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



739 



The matter of making the improvement, however, remained in 

 abeyance until the passage of an act in 1895, which provided for 

 submitting to the people at the State election in November of 

 that year the question as to whether an improvement by deepen- 

 ing two feet should be undertaken at an expense of $9,000,000. 

 Section 3 of chapter 79 of the laws of 1895 reads as follows: 



Within three months after issuing of the said bonds the Super- 

 intendent of Public Works is hereby directed to proceed to en- 

 large and improve the Erie canal, the Champlain canal, and the 

 Oswego canal; the said improvement to the Erie and Oswego 

 canals shall consist of deepening the same to a depth of not less 

 than 9 feet of water, except over and across aqueducts, miter sills, 



Fig. 48 Lock recommended by Canal Committee for Barge canal. 



culverts, and other permanent structures, where the depth of 

 water shall be at least 8 feet, but the deepening may be performed 

 by raising the banks wherever the same may be practicable; also 

 the lengthening or improving of the locks which now remain to 

 be lengthened, and providing the necessary machinery for drawing 

 boats into the improved locks, and for building vertical stone 

 walls, where, in the opinion of the State Engineer and Surveyor 

 and Superintendent of Public Works, it may be necessary. The im- 

 provement upon the Champlain canal shall consist in deepening 

 the said canal to 7 feet of water, and the building of such vertical 

 stone walls as, in the opinion of the State Engineer and Surveyor 

 and Superintendent of Public Works, may be necessary. 



The necessary preliminary work was so far completed that bids 

 for constructing the improvement were called for in October, 

 1896, and shortly thereafter contracts for work amounting to 

 about 14,000,000 were awarded. The canal was closed December 



