816 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



From Port Byron to Jordan the present line of the canal would 

 be followed quite closely, but it is probable that it would be better 

 to make a detour at the Jordan level so as to drop it down to the 

 elevation of that at Port Byron. The rather limited water supply 

 on the Jordan level makes it extremely desirable that the pro- 

 posed change be made so that the reliable water supply of the 

 western slopes of the Adirondacks can pass unimpeded to meet 

 the waters of Lake Erie on the Montezuma level. From Syracuse 

 eastward to Rotterdam the present alignment would be quite 

 closely adhered to, with the probable substitution of a hydraulic 

 lift or one lock for the three upper locks at Little Falls. From 

 Rotterdam eastward we have presented to us the choice of two 

 routes, the one following the present line of canal, the other cross- 

 ing the Mohawk on a new aqueduct to be built at that place and 

 making a short cut across country, striking the present canal line 

 at the eastern terminus of the upper Mohawk aqueduct. 



Fig. 72 Earth section of Welland and Soulanges canals. 



This report was followed by that of Major Symons, dated June 

 23, 1897, who proposed a boat of a capacity of 1500 tons burden, 

 the same as proposed by Mr Schenck. Neither made any estimate, 

 although Mr Schenck considered that his canal could be built 

 for $25,000,000, while Major Symons considered that $50,000,000 

 would be sufficient. The Committee on Canals considered that 

 $63,000,000 was sufficient to build the canal; the barge canal 

 survey of 1900 placed the cost at from $77,000,000 to $87,000,000, 

 depending upon the route, while in 1903 the State Engineer 

 placed it at $101,000,000. 



Increase in size of boat in comparison with cross-section of 

 canal. In order to show the progressive changes which have taken 

 place in our ideas of canals, Hie cross-section of the original Erie 

 canal and of the various enlargements, together with the cross- 

 section of the recent proposed canals, will be cited in comparison 

 with the size of boat for navigating each section. 



