806 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



As to the crossing of the Seneca river, while the river is only 

 about 400 feet in width, the depth is 30 feet with soft bottom. 

 A few hundred feet north soundings indicate a depth of water 

 of 46 feet. Probably foundations of the aqueduct would have 

 to be carried considerably deeper than this. 



The most serious objection to the northern high-level route 

 was found in the considerable areas of sand and gravel which, 

 on the north side of the Seneca river, are even more extensive than 

 on the south side. For the whole distance there is very little 

 water upon the surface, and during the fall of 1899 the farmers 

 of the region were hauling water for domestic use several miles. 

 Not only this region, but that along the proposed southern route, 

 is entirely destitute of stone — for miles only an occasional 

 bowlder is seen. 



Fig. 70 Earth section of Erie canal from Pendleton to 2y 2 miles above 

 Lockport. 



The length of the canal by this route is the same as by the 

 southern route. The estimated cost was #22,400,000, which for 

 a total length of 57.8 miles is #387,540 per mile. 



Extension of Syracuse level. It has also been proposed that a 

 rectification could be made more cheaply and safely by extend- 

 ing the Syracuse level westward near the present canal location 

 and eastward through the flat country south of Oneida lake, 

 cutting down the Rome summit to correspond. In order to under- 

 stand this possible change, it may be mentioned that the Syracuse 

 level locks up at both ends. To the east it rises by three locks 

 to the Rome level, and to the west by one lock to the Jordan 

 level. The elevation of the Syracuse level is 40*2 T. W. ; of (he 

 Rome level. 430 T. \Y., and of the Jordan level. 410 + T. W. 

 There arc 1 also long stretches of marl Dear .Ionian. This rectifica- 

 tion was examined into with Ihe result that it is shown to present 

 greal difficulties. The estimated cost lor L13 miles amounts to 

 132,500,000. 



