HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



805 



water level 48 feet above the level of Montezuma marsh. Hard bot- 

 tom is found at a depth of 20 to 60 feet below the marsh level — 

 probably 30 feet is a fair average for the whole distance across. 

 For the first twenty feet in depth the marsh is in many places 

 composed of nearly pure marl, below which is found either firm 

 soil, gravel or hardpan. Xo rock indications have ever been 

 determined in this portion of Montezuma marsh. 



The next objectionable feature of the southern high-level route 

 is found in the city of Syracuse, where the effect of changing the 

 present location would be merely to take the canal out of the 

 business part of the town, where dockage and business arrange- 

 ments are now established, placing it instead in a residence dis- 

 trict, where new arrangements for transacting canal business 



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Fig. 69 Cross-section of Erie canal. 2*2 miles above Lockport. 



would have to be made. Aside from an expensive right of way. 

 this change would be exceedingly undesirable. 



As to the third difficulty, the region through which the southero 

 line would be laid is largely sand and gravel, requiring expensive 

 puddling in order to insure water-tightness. The location is 

 largely on a side hill, where the conditions for water-tight work 

 are unfavorable. The estimated cost of right of way on this route 

 was #4,666,000 and the total cost #29,000,000. or for 57.8 miles, 

 the average cost per mile was #501,730. 



The northern route. The southern high-level route having 

 turned out to be so expensive, a route on the north side of the 

 Seneca river wax then examined between Newark and the west end 

 of the Rome level. The chief difficulties of this route are: (1) 

 Seneca river crossing;, and (2) difficult construction on account of 

 lack of water on surface, as well as extensive sand and gravel 

 areas. 



