HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



799 



The second change is to do away with the two aqueducts across 

 the Mohawk river and the portion of the canal in Saratoga county. 

 This is to be done by throwing the canal into the Mohawk at 

 Rexford Flats, and following down the river to the vicinity of 

 the great falls of the Mohawk at Cohoes. 



The third change is at the AVest Troy side-cut where, instead 

 of the awkward right angle turn requiring even small boats to 

 uncouple, a diagonal deflection is made which will enable fleets 

 to pass directly and conveniently into the Hudson without 

 breaking up. 



3) Pneumatic or other mechanical locks or appliances for 

 the passage of boats to be provided at Cohoes and Lockport, and 

 possibly at Newark. All other locks (one of each pair) to be 

 lengthened and enlarged to take in two boats of 125 feet length, 



Fig. GO Earth section of improvement of Erie canal suggested by Canal 

 Committee. Width of bottom of canal 49 feet. 



8 feet draft, and of the present width. The locks to be provided 

 with water-power generating apparatus wherever necessary, with 

 steel quick-acting quadrant gates, equipped with spring buffers, 

 or other gates equally good, with power capstans at each end of 

 the lock for pulling the boats in and out, and generally with every- 

 thing of the most modern and up-to-date character. The other 

 small lock of each pair of locks to be lengthened to take in one 

 boat 125 feet long. 



On a canal by this plan the cost per ton for carrying freight 

 from Buffalo to New York would be 41 cents ; the cost per bushel, 

 1.32 cents, and the cost per ton mile, 0.88 mill. 



The enlarged canal. After giving due consideration to the vari- 

 ous features of the problem, the Canal Committee decided that if 

 the canal were to be materially enlarged its new dimensions 

 should be such as would fit it for use by barges'of 150 feet length, 

 25 feet width, and 10 feet draft of water, with all locks arranged 

 to take in two boats coupled together tandem. 



