âiAtr Of TCrSosSfofït. No. 146. IN ASSEMBLY, MAB. 8,1855. Sundry Reports in relation to a new feeder for the Genesee STATE OF NE W-YORK—Canal Department : Albany, March 8, 1855. HON. D. C. LITTLEJOHN, Speaker of the Assembly. Under the instructions of the Canal Board, I have the honor iierewith to transmit the report of the Canal Board, together with the report of the State Engineer and Canal Commissioners, and the map, plan and estimates fora navigable feeder for the Genesee Valley Canal, from the Genesee river at Wellsville, to intersect said canal at or near Belfast, in conformity with the requirements of chapter 331 of the Laws of 1854. Valley Canal. SIR : H 3 9 (c r - _ . Yours, &c. M. SCHOONMAKER, Jhdiior. [Assembly No. 146. | 1 |u.n.l ï [Assembly TO THE HONORABLE THE LEGISLATURE OP THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. j Agreeably to chapter 331 of the Laws of 1854, the Canal Board / has the honor herewith to report to your Honorable Body the surveys, maps, plans, location and estimates for a navigable feeder for the Genesee Valley Canal, as provided for in said act, which have been submitted to them by the Canal Commissioners and the State Engineer. This Board has given to the subject of said feeder such con¬ sideration as the importance of the subject, and the amount of expenditure involved in the construction of such feeder, would seem to require. The Genesee Valley Canal was originally surveyed and located, with all its necessary appendages, by able engineers, who planned and laid out all such feeders for it as seemed to them desirable. Their work has been carefully revised by still another corps of able engineers, who have none of them ever suggested the neces¬ sity of the feeder in question. The members of this Board have never yet, from any source, been advised of the necessity of such ' a feeder; but, on the contrary, all their knowledge and informa¬ tion lèad to the belief that it is quite unnecessary. The proposed feeder would enter the canal but six miles below the summit level of said canal, which is supposed to be provided with an abundant supply of water, and three miles above the feeder from the Genesee river. The last mentioned feeder is sup¬ plied by the Genesee river; and as it leaves the river at a point some fifteen to twenty miles below that now proposed, and as several important streams enter the Genesee between these two points, it is evident that the sùpply of water for the feeder now in use must be much more abundant than for that proposed. This Board, entertaining full confidence in the ability of the engineers who have laid out the Genesee Valley Canal with all its appendages, and fully believing that the feeder already projected will furnish an abundant supply of water for the use of said canal, have been unable to discover any necessity for that now proposed. LIBRARY ÍJ h BUREAU OF RAILWAY ECONOÍIÍCS - ■ ' i \ WASHIKSTOM, O. 0. r, dec - r-"'® No. 146,] 3 Neither has the Board been able to discover that such feeder is demanded on the ground of public utility. The Genesee Valley Canal enters the county of Allegany from the north, near the centre of the county east and west, and fol¬ lows the course of the Genesee river southerly almost to the centre of the county; and then bears off southwesterly into the county of Cattaraugus, crossing the west line of the county about two- thirds of the distance from the north to the south line of the same, thus furnishing the facilities of canal navigation to much the largest part of the county. The New-York and Erie Railroad crosses the entire width of the county, south of the middle of the same, and in so irregular a line as to afford very great advantages to all that part of the county. The northeasterly part of the county is crossed by the Buffalo and New-York City Railroad ; and also enjoys the benefits of the Dansville branch of the said canal, which terminates within two miles or less of the north line of the said county of Allegany. Few counties in the State enjoy greater advantages for the de¬ velopment of their natural resources, and for the transaction of business, than the county of Allegany ; and these, great as they are, are to be still increased by the completion of the Genesee Valley Canal. In addition to all this, we cannot but notice that the proposed feeder, for full one half of its entire distance, will run in the immediate vicinity of the New-York and Erie Railroad. Nor can we shut our eyes to the immense damage which would accrue to all the machinery on the Genesee river, between Wellsville and Belfast, by the diversion of the water of said river for such feeder at the former place. For these various reasons, and others which if necessary might be mentioned, we are unable to discover any such amount of public utiliiy to be secured by said feeder, as would justify the expenditure of the money, and the destruction of the mill-power and machinery which its construction would involve. All of which is most respectfully submitted. [ Extract from the Minutes ; By Order of the Board.] M. SOIIOONMAKER, Auditor. 4 Assembly STATE ENGINEER AND SURVEYOR'S OFFICE : } Jllbanyj February 28, 1855. ^ TO THE CANAL BOARD. By Act, chapter 331, Laws of 1854, the Canal Commissioners and State Engineer and Surveyor are authorised (and required) to cause a survey and estimate to be made for a navigable feeder for the Genesee Valley Canal, from the Genesee river at or near Wellsville, and to intersect said canal at or near Belfast. The act also provides, that when the surveys are completed, the maps, plans, location and estimates of the same shall be submitted to the Canal Board, to be by them reported to the next Legislature within ten days after the commencement of the session, with their opinion thereon. The officers charged by law with the execution of the surveys have performed that duty, with the exception as to the time spe¬ cified in the act for submitting their report to the Canal Board. It is not believed, however, that the public interest will be seriously affected by the delay in submitting the report. The undersigned have now ihe honor of submitting to the Hon. Canal Board a map, showing the location of the line for the pro¬ posed navigable feeder, and the Resident Engineer's estimate of the cost of construction ; together with the reports of the Division and Resident Engineers, embracing some interesting facts con¬ nected with the project. It will be seen by the reports referred to, that the length of the feeder as surveyed is nineteen miles ; its confluence with the Ge¬ nesee Valley Canal is at Belfast, only three miles southerly from the present feeder at Oramel, a feeder from the Genesee river which was brought into use in 1851, and only six and a half miles from the summit level of the Genesee Valley Canal. By the pro¬ posed feeder, the water is taken from the Genesee river at Wells¬ ville, which is 168 feet above the canal at Belfast. There are nineteen lift locks, one guard lock, thirty-three bridges, eight culverts and three wasteweirs required j and the estimated cost of the whole work is $678,105, exclusive of land damages and da¬ mage to the water power on the Genesee river below Wellsville. These are the general characteristics of the proposed navigable feeder, which are submitted without comment. JOHN T. CLARK, State Engineer and Surveyor. FREDERICK FOLLETT, C. GARDINIER, Canal Commissioners. No. 146.] 5 Report of the Division and Resident Engineers on the Wellsville Feeder, January 15, 1855. HON. JOHN T. CLARK, State Engineer and, Surveyor. In compliance with your instructions, I have caused a survey to be made under act chap. 331, Laws oí 1854, " for a navigable feeder for the Genesee Valley Canal, from the Genesee river at a point in Wellsville, to intersect said canal near Belfast." The survey was made under the special charge of 0. W. Storey, esquire, the Resident Engineer upon the Genesee Valley Canal ; and I herewith submit a map of the proposed route of the feeder, together with his statement and the detailed estimate of the cost of the work. The survey for said feeder commenced near the head of Lock No. 80, about one mile southerly of the village of Belfast, at the point where the Genesee Valley Canal leaves the valley of the Genesee river ; and following the valley of the Genesee river, mostly through the improved lands of that valley, connects with the river near the mills of E. J. Farnum in the village of Wells¬ ville. The length of the feeder, as surveyed, is nineteen miles. The elevation of the river, at the point of intersection at Wells¬ ville, is 168 feet above the water in the canal at its junction. To overcome this elevation will require nineteen lift-locks : one guard-lock, thirty-three bridges, eight culverts and three waste- weirs will also be required. The estimated cost of the work is $678,105. The estimates for this " Navigable Feeder" are based upon a canal of the same dimensions as the Genesee Valley Canal, and for similar kinds of structures. The estimate does not include any thing for land damages, nor for the diversion of water from the mills located upon this part of the Genesee river. The damages to the mills alone (twelve to fifteen in number) must be a very large amount. This feeder would undoubtedly furnish an outlet, for some years to come, for a large quantity of pine lumber to pass through.the 6 [Assembly .Genesee Valley and Erie Canals to an eastern market. This lumber now finds a market over the New-York and Erie Kailroad, which, for about eleven miles, runs parallel with this proposed feeder. From the fact that the Legislature passed this law, the inference would be that a feeder was required at that point. Such, I think, on examination will appear not to be the case. By reference to the accompanying map, it will be seen that the Genesee river is now taken into the canal as a feeder only three miles below this point, and therefore this proposed feeder could be needed only for this three miles. This feeder would also intersect the canal only two miles below.the Rockville reservoir (which has of itself sustained tlie navigation of this part of the canal since its completion last fall), and six and a half miles below the summit level of the canal. It is therefore believed that the water which would be passed from the summit level, and the water from the Eockville reser¬ voir, will be able fully to supply what may be needed on this three miles of the canal. If, how^ever, a deficiency should ever occur at this point, a feeder can be constructed from the Genesee river, of sufficient capacity to pass all the wmter required, at an expense of $500,000 less than this proposed feeder. Respectfully submitted : JOHN LATIIROP, Dicismi Engmeer. Albaní', January 15, 1855. JOHN LATIIROP, ESQ,, DIVISION ENGINEER. SIR ; According to your instructions, the following estimates have been made "for a navigable feeder for the Genesee Valley Canal, from the Genesee river at a point ¿it Wells ville, to intersect said canal near Belfast." The line surveyed for the feeder intersects the Genesee Valley Canal one mile southwest from the village of Belfast, and extends nineteen miles in a southeasterly direction to the Genesee river above E. J. Farnum's mills at Wellsville. In its entire length it is confined to the valley of the Genesee, following the side-lying No. 146.] 7 grounds forming the southwest side of the valley for four miles ; for the remaining distance, following the flats of the river. In some instances, the feeder will occupy a portion of the bed of the river. A large portion of the line passes over cultivated lands, some of which are well improved. From the intersection with .the canal at Belfast, to the river at Wellsville, there is an ascent of 168 feet, which it is proposed to overcome by nineteen lift-locks. It is also proposed to construct a guard-lock at the head of the feeder. There will be required four aqueducts, of two stretchers of 20 feet each, to pass over Black, White, Van Campen, and Knight's creeks ; seventeen road and street bridges, one railroad bridge, and twenty-flve farm bridges (one of the farm and one of the street bridges will be also used as a change of the towing path) ; and eight small culverts. It is also proposed to construct three wasteweirs. The face of the banks and the sides of the feeder are to be formed of earth, except where it becomes necessary to protect the channel against slides from the hills, or where the banks are ex¬ posed to be washed by the river : in the latter case, the estimates provide for slope walls resting on brush and stone aprons ; and in the former, a protection by slope walls of stone. Lining of loam, to cover over the loose gravel bottom and sides of gravel banks, is provided in the estimate. The estimates are made for locks to be constructed of dressed stone, laid in hydraulic cement ; aqueducts to be composed of wood trunk, with abutments and piers of good rock-dressed ma¬ sonry resting on foundations of timber and plank ; road bridges with abutments of masonry, having superstructures of wood ceiled and painted j for farm bridges, neither ceiled or painted, resting on bents with extensions resting on the embankments, except in locations where abutments are necessary ; for culverts composed of wood trunks with masonry at the ends, and for wasteweirs of wood having abutments of masonry. Suitable stone can be pro¬ cured near the line of the feeder, in sufficient quantity for all the mechanical work. 8 [Assembly Tlie estimates tío not include any damages for lands to be per¬ manently appropriated, nor for damages arising from the diversion of waters. Tlie feeder will convey the waters of the Genesee river into the Genesee Valley Canal three miles southerly from the feeder at Oramel (a feeder from the Genesee river brought into use in 1851 ), and six and a half miles northeasterly from the northeast end of the summit level of the Genesee Valley Canal, and at an elevation of 82 feet above the feeder at Oramel and 170 feet below the summit of the canal. The supply of water from this source, in addition to the flow from the canal above, will undoubtedly fur¬ nish a sufficient quantity for an uninterrupted navigation below its intersection during the season. Tliis feeder will intersect the canal at a point eighty miles from Rochester, and twenty-six miles from Glean ; the canal bearing a southwestery course to Glean, and the feeder a southeasterly course as before mentioned. There are extensive forests commencing within a few miles of the route of tlie feeder, which rvill furnish large quantities of pine and other timber for market ¡ and there are now erected mills of capacity sufficient to cut lumber for a heavy trade on the canal. GRVILLE W. STGREY, Ilesïde?it Engineer. ENGINEER'S OFFICE : J Belpàst, Dcoember 1, 1854. S ESTIMATES FOR WELLSVILLE FEEDER. SECTION IVOKK. Locks. Aq^ueducts. Bridges. Culverts. Wastewcirs. Miscellanies. Aggregate. No. 1 1 uiilc. 836,707 $26,800 $1,720^ $510 $65,737 2 1 .. 31,934 820 490- 33,244 o o 1 .. 29,748 ' 1,270 730 31,748 4 1 .. 20,554 1,680 1,590 23,824 5 1 .. 18,622 - 90O $400 $860 550 21,332 G 1 .. 17,917 520 800 730 19,967 7 10,602 $10,200 2,140 400 870 24,302 8 1 .. 11,064 10,200 5,200 1,720 820 29,004 9 1 .. 13,018 21,600 6,320 560 41,493 10 1 .. 16,295 30,600 3,680 2,890 53,465 11 1 .. 13,422 9,600 260 670 23,952 12 1 .. 10,732 10,200 ' 2,230 870 24,032 13- 1 .. 14,500 20,400 1,270 860 440 37,470 14 1 .. U,Ü92 19,200 230 1,500 670 82,692 15 1 .. 13,929 19,200 5,200 2,240 780 41,349 16 1 .. 17,695 > 140 17,835 ' 17 1 .. 14,950 19,200 230 860 70 35,310 18 1 .. 10,637 21,600 2,390 460 35,087 ■ 19 1 .. 12,226 8,000 2,770 800 820 24,616 Total .. 19 miloa. 8325,729 $200,000 $37,200, $32,390 ' $3,900 $2,580 $14,660 $616,459 Total ÁMOvr^r above $016,459 Add for contingent expensea, ß percent, $30,823 Engineering » 5 percent, 30,823 61,646 TOTAL ...» ■ $678,105 U i L- 10 [ASSEMBLV ESTIMATES IN DETAIL FOR SECTIONS ON WELLSVTLLE FEEDER, SECTION NO. 1.= 1 MILE. Frurn Genesee Yalley Canal lo White Creek. ITEMS. Quantities Prices Amounts. Grubbing and clearing Section 1 S600 00 $600.00 Draining . .. .Section 1 20 00 20.00 Earth e.xcavatioii 72, 000 0 15 10,800.00 Embankment .... " 109, 000 0 15 16,350.00 Lining ( Í 5, 500 0 25 1,375.00 Puddling i i 8, 000 0 10 800.00 Slope wall í í 3, 000 2 00 6,000.00 Stone and brush .. . il 400 1 00 400.00 White-pine timber... Mft 3 000 14 .00 42.00 Hemlock ( i 30, 000 10 00 300.00 New road 1 00 20.00 36,707.00 "Aqueduct over Black creek, No. 1 $1 2,000 o o o o o O o Aqueduct over White creek, No. 1 14,800 00 14,800.00 26,800.00 Road-bridge No. Í1 §860 00 $1,720.00 New fence 400 §1 12^ $450.00 Taking up & resetting fence, ' ' 60 0 121 7.50 Temporary occupation . . • . 50 00 50.00 Add 2.50 510.00 Total §65,737.00 . No. 146.] 11 SECÏION NO. 2. = 1 MILE. ITEMS. Quantities. Prices. Amounts. Grubbing aud clearing ... .Section 1 $100.00 $100.00 Draining Section 1 20.00 20.00 Earth excavation Cyds 108,OoO 0.14 15,120.00 Rock excavation '' 100 1.00 100.00 Èinbaukment " 60,000 0.14 8,400.00 Lining.'. ■ " 4,000 0.25 1 ,000.00 Slopewall " 3,000 2.00 6,000.00 Stone and brush '' 100 1.00 100.00 White-pine timber Mftbm 6,000 14.00 84,00 Hemlock timber '' 56,000 10.00 560.00 New road Rods 300 1.50 450.00 31,934.00 Farm-bridges...... No. 2 $110.00 820.00 New fence Rods 50 1.12^ 56.25 Taking up & resetting fence, " 620 0.20 124.00 Moving buildings 200.00 200.00^ Temporary occupation .... ' 100.00 100.00 Add . - 9.75 Total 490.00 $33,244.00 12 [Assembly SECTION NO. 3. = 1 mLE. Along by Stephen Wilson's. ITEMS. Quantitie.?. Prices. Amounts. Grubl)ing aud clearing ... .Section 1 $100.00 $100. ,00 Draining 20.00 20. ,00 Excavation 31 ,000 0.14 4,340, ,00 Embankment " 132 ,000 0.16 21,120. .00 Lining 11 2 ,000 0.25 500, .00 Slope wall c c 1 ,200 2.00, 0 0 .00 Stone and brush .... it 1 ,000 1.00 1,000 ,00 White-pine timber , , , Mft 2 ,000 14.00 28, .00 Hemlock timber 12 ,000 10.00 120, .00 New road 80 150.00 120 .00 29,748, .00 Road bridge , No. 1 $860.00 $860, .00 Farm-bridge No. 1 410.00 410 .00 1,270 .00 Taking up & resetting fence, Rds ' % 160 $0.20 $32 .00 New fence i i 440 1.12^ 495 .00 Moving buildings .... 100.00 100 .00 Temporary occupation • • • • 100.00 100 .00 Add 3 .00 730.00 TOTAL,.,. $31,748.00 No. 14G.] 13 SECTION NO. 4.= 1 MILE. Along hy Transit Bridge. ITEMS. Quantities. Prices. Amounts. Grubbing and clearing .Section 1 $200.00 $200.00 Draining Section I 20.00 20.00 Earth excavation Cyds 34,000 0.14 4,760.00 Embankment " 74,000 ,0.15 11,100.00 Lining " 10,000 0.25 2,500.00 Slope wall '' 500 1.50 750.00 Stone and" brush " 600 1.00 600.00 White pine Mft 6,000' 14.00 84.00 Hemlock.. '' 6,000 10.00 60.00 New road Rods 320 1.50 480.00 20,554.00 Rokd-bridge No. 1 $860.00 $360.00 Farm-bridge... No. 2 ■ 410.00 820.00 1,680.00 New fence Rods 60 $1,121 $67.50 Taking up & resetting fence, 600 0.20 120.00 Moving building 1,200.00 1 ,200.00 Temporary occupation .... 200.00 200.00 Add 2.50 1,590.00 Totai. .... $23,824.00 / rï:„-7'ssncr'.., 14 [Assembly SECTION NO. 5. = 1 MILE. ITEMS. Quantities. Prices. Amounta. Grnbbiug and clearing .... Section 1 , $200.00 §200.00 Draining Section 1 50.00 50.00 Earth excavation........ Cyds 40,000 0.13 5,200.00 Embankment " 78,000 0.13 10,140,00 Lining " 6,500 0.25 1,025.00 Puddling " 660 0.10 00.00 Slope wall " 4Ó0 1.50 . 600.00 Stone and brush '' 500 1.00 500.00 White-pine timber Mft 3,000 14.00 42.00 Hemlock timber ......... " 3,000 10.00 30.00 New road Kods 140 1.25 I /5.00 ' . 18,622.00 Farm-bridge No. 1 $260.00 , |2CD.OO Farm-bridge No- 1 640.00 640.00 900.00 Culvert '. No. 1 $400.00 $100.00 Wasteweir No. 1 $860.00 §800.00 New fence '.. Rod.s 360 . $1.12^ $405.00 Taking up & resetting fence, " - 280 0.20 56.00 Moving-buildings 30.00 30.00 Temporary occupation .... 50.00 50.00 Add 9.00 550.00 TOTAL .... $21,332.00 No. 146.] 15 I SECTION NO. 6.= 1 MILE. ITEMS. Quantities. Prices. Amounts. Grubhing and clearing ... .Section 1 $150.00 $150.00 Draining Section 1 50.00 50.00, Earth excavation. Cyds 39,000 0.12| 4,875.00 Embankment " 76,000 0.124 9,500.00 Lining " 7,000 0.20 1,400.00 Puddling....- " 1,200 0.10 , 120.00 Slope wall '<• 700 1.50 1,050.00 Stone and brush ■. 700 1.00 700.00 White-pine Mit 3,000 14.00 42.00 Hemlock " 3,000 10.00^ 30.00 17,917.00 Farm-bridges No. 2' $260.00 $520.00 Culverts.... No. 2 $400.00 $800.00 New fence Rods 600 $1.12^ ■ $675.00 Temporary occupation .... 50.00 50.00 730.00 ■ Total $19,967.00 16 [Asseüibly SECTION NO. 7. = 1 MILE. To a Point opposite Judge Chiirch's Residence. ITEMS. Quantities* PriecB. Amounts. Grubbing and clearing ., .. Section 1 $150 .00 $150.00 Draining 1 100 .00 100.00 Earth excavation ,. Cyds 38,000 0 .12^ 4,750.00 Eaibankmcnt ( ( 24,000 0 .12^ 3,000.00 Lining.... ; ( ( 11,000 0 .20 2,200.00 Puddling ( i 600 0 .10 60.00 Slope wall '... ( c 100 1, .50 150.00 Stone and brush Í ( 100 1, ,00 100.00 White-pine timber .. Mft 3,000 14 .00 42.00 Hemlock timber Í Í 14,000 10. ,00 140.00 10,692.00 Lock No. 1 : 9 feet lift.., ,. No. 1 $10,200 .00 $10,200.00 Road-bridge .. No. 1 $860. ,00 $860.00 Farm-bridges , No. 2 640. .00' 1,280.00 2,140.00 Culvert . No. 1 $100. 00 $400.00 New leiice 640 $1. .124 $720.00 Temporary occupation .. • 150. 00 150.00 870.00 Total .... $24,302.00 No. 146 j 17 SECTION NO. 8. = 1 MILE. Opposite Bdvidere Station N. Y. E. R. R. ITEMS. Quantities. Prioes. AmounU. Grubbing and clearing ... . Section 1 $300.00 $300.00 Draining 1 100.00 100.00 Earth excavation ....... . Cyds 45,000 0.12^ 5,625.00 Embankment ; ( ( 17,U00 P-12è 2,125.00 Lining ÍI 11,000 0.20 2,200.00 Puddling i ( 1,500 0.10 150.00 Slope wall Í ( 200 1.50 300.00 Stone and brush C I 100 1.00 100.00 White oak Mft 1,000 20.00 20.00 White-pine 1 ( 1,000 14.00 14,00 Hemlock. ( ( 13,000 10.00 130.00 11,064.00 Lock No. 2 ; 9 feet lift... . No. 1 $10,200.00 $10,200.00 Aqueduct over Van Campcn's creek, $5,200.00 $5,200.00 Road-bridge No. 1 $860.00 $860.00 Farm and towing patli change bridge, 860.00 860.00 1,720.00 New fence 640 $1.121 $720.00 Temporary occupation ... . 100.00 100.00 820.00 . Total $29,004.00 [Assembly No, 146r] 3 18 [ABSCMBIÍT SECTION NO. 9.= 1 MILE. From N. Y.