HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



811 



The abolition of the two aqueducts across the Mohawk river, 

 aud the substitution of the river for the canal from Rexford Flats 

 to Oohoes. 



The construction of a new canal from the foot of the falls of 

 the Mohawk, near Cohoes, to the Hudson river, near the West 

 Troy side-cut. 



The second project is for a canal to accommodate boats of the 

 same dimensions as above given, but which shall follow the route 

 of the present Erie canal, except from Albany to lock 18, in place 

 of which the diversion by a mechanical lift over the Cohoes falls 

 and a canal from the foot of the falls to the Hudson river at 

 West Troy side-cut shall be substituted. 



The third project is for a canal following the same route as 

 the first project, but of sufficient size to carry boats 150 feet in 

 length, 25 feet in width and 10 feet draft, with a cargo capacity 

 of approximately 1000 tons each, with locks capable of passing 

 two boats at one time. 



The estimated cost of the barge canal, including the improving 

 of Oswego and Champlain canals, was, in round figures, $62,000,- 

 000. In regard to this estimate of the Canal Committee, it may 

 be stated that they made no surveys, although the writer in esti- 

 mating upon the southern and northern routes between Newark 

 and just east of Syracuse, as well as on the estimate for the Syra- 

 cuse level extended, and on the Seneca-Oneida route, availed him- 

 self of the field sheets of the United States Geological Survey at 

 a scale of rw^ooo- With these sheets in hand the several routes were 

 traversed, a distance of about 320 miles in all. Subsequently, 

 profiles were platted from the locations decided upon in this way, 

 quantities taken out and an estimate made. These estimates, 

 therefore, may be considered as in the nature of preliminary — 

 they could hardly be classified as final estimates. On other 

 portions of the canal the maps prepared in connection with the 

 improvement of 1895 were used. 



Attention may be called to the maps which were prepared of 

 these surveys in 1899. They present the topography for a con- 

 siderable distance each side of the proposed lines and enable 

 anybody with the requisite training to determine whether or 

 not the best lines have been selected. They accompany the 

 Report of the State Engineer for 1900. 



