HYDROLOGY OP NEW YORK 



815 



propelled by steam or electric power. Vessels of such size as 

 those described could navigate the proposed canal with the great- 

 est degree of economy, would have a carrying capacity of at least 

 50,000 bushels, and could carry wheat at a profit from Buffalo to 

 New York for two cents per bushel. When grain can be carried 

 through our canals at a profit from Lake Erie to the metropolis 

 at the foregoing rate, all questions relative to the commercial 

 supremacy of the Empire iState will be set at rest. Without a 

 careful survey it is impossible to determine the exact route of 

 the proposed canal, but it may be approximately stated to be as 

 follows : Beginning at the port of Buffalo, the alignment would 

 follow very closely the present line of the canal, the depth to be 

 secured to Lockport by excavating from the bottom of the canal. 

 Through the deep rock cut near Lockport the only widening re- 

 quired for the present would be that obtained by cutting out the 

 present towing-path. At Lockport a pair of hydraulic lifts or 

 two pairs of high-lift locks would be substituted for the five com- 

 bined locks now there. From Lockport eastward to Rochester the 

 present alignment would be quite closely followed except that 

 considerable detours would probably be made to avoid those 

 rather bold but unnecessary bits of engineering known as the 

 high banks at several points west of this last-named place and 

 that east of it at Irondequoit. Continuing eastward from Roch- 

 ester, making a slight change of alignment near Newark, sub- 

 stituting two locks for the three now there, no special engineering 

 difficulties would be encountered until the Montezuma aqueduct 

 over the Seneca river is reached, where one of two plans must be 

 adopted, viz, either to construct at a very large expense an en- 

 larged aqueduct or drop down by means of a single lock to the 

 level of the Seneca river, crossing at the river level and locking 

 up to the proper elevation on the opposite side, meanwhile retain- 

 ing the present aqueduct as a feeder to carry water to the remain- 

 der of the level eastward. 



As the present aqueduct was constructed over a bed of peat 

 upon sunken cribs of only sufficient bearing capacity to sustain 

 with safety its present weight, it is exceedingly doubtful if any 

 great increase of weight such as would be necessary in making 

 the required enlargement could be had without endaugering the 

 stability of the whole structure. The waste of water caused by 

 locking boats down to the river level and up again while con- 

 siderable, would not be a serious matter since this is the last 

 level fed from the westward. The cost of the two locks required 

 would be a trifle compared fo that of a new aqueduct, but it goes 

 without saying that the building of a new aqueduct is by far the 

 better plan and the one that would eventually be adopted. 



