HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



817 



The original Erie canal, completed in 1825, carried 4 feet in 

 depth of water and was 26 feet wide on the bottom and 40 feet 

 at the surface. The sectional area was 132 square feet. The 

 boats navigating the original Erie canal were 61 feet long, 7 feet 

 wide by 3y 2 feet draft, and with a capacity of 30 tons. An enlarge- 

 ment of the Erie canal was authorized in 1835, which, however, 

 was not fully completed until 1862. The size of boats in the mean- 

 time had increased during this enlargement to 75 and 100 tons. 



The enlargement completed in 1862 made the canal 7 feet deep, 

 52 feet wide on the bottom, 70 feet water surface, and gave a 

 sectional area of 427 square feet. After the completion of this 

 enlargement the boats were 98 feet long, 17y 2 feet wide and 

 with 6 feet draft. Their capacity was 240 tons, which size boat 

 is still used on the Erie canal. 



The improvement suggested by State Engineer Adams and 

 seconded by the Canal Committee is 9 feet deep, 49 feet wide on 

 the bottom, with 73 feet width of water surface. The sectional 

 area is 549 square feet. For this improvement, the boats would 

 be 125 feet long, 17y 2 feet wide, with 8 feet draft. Their capacity 

 would be 450 tons. 



The barge canal recommended by the Canal Committee has 

 12 feet in depth of water, is 75 feet wide on the bottom and 122 

 feet water surface. The sectional area is 1182 square feet. For 

 the barge canal recommended by the Canal Committee boats are 

 proposed 150 feet long, 25 feet wide and 10 feet draft. Their 

 capacity is to be 1000 tons. 



The canal suggested by Mr Schenck in his report as State 

 Engineer for 1893 was to have 12 feet in depth of water, carry- 

 ing a boat 25 feet wide and 250 feet long, with capacity of 1500 

 tons. Major Symons proposed a canal carrying boats with width 

 of 30 feet, length of about 190 feet and a draft of 10 feet, the 

 capacity to be 1500 tons. Major Symons also proposed a ship 

 canal from Lake Erie to the Hudson on the line of the present Erie 

 canal, 24 feet in depth, bottom width of 138 feet and water sur- 

 face of 210 feet. The sectional area of such a canal would be 

 4176 square feet. The boat was to be 50 feet in width and with 

 draft of 20 feet. As we have seen, the Committee on Canals 



