No. 121. IN ASSEMBLY, January 29, 1836. REPORT Of the Canal Commissioners on the petition of contractors and others, on the Chenango canal. The acting Canal Commissioners, to whom was referred by the Assembly, the petition of Joseph Saxton and others, contractors on the Chenango canal; and also the petition of several inhabitants of the county of Madison, respectfully submit the following REPORT: First. In regard to the petition of the contractors. These petitioners allege that they entered into contracts in the fall of 1833, and in the summer and fall of 1834, when provisions of all kinds were at low prices, and when laborers were plenty, and the wages low; that the estimates of the expense of construction by the engineers, were made in reference to this state of things, and that the contract prices were below these estimates. It is further represented that at the time they entered into contracts, they expected the work would be constructed in the usual manner for work of like character; but that they have been required by the engineer to execute the work in the most perfect manner, both as it regards beauty and durability. It is stated that, owing to causes which have been mentioned, the expense of the work has been increased at least twenty-five per cent; that several contractors have already become bankrupt, that the failure of others, and the abandonment of other contracts must follow, unless relief is grantcd; and that the work thus abandoned, must be re-let at greatly enhanced prices. The petitioners ask the Legislature to authorize the Canal Commissioners to allow and pay to the several contractors, whose contracts are now in force, twenty-five per cent on their contract prices, or grant such other relief as may be deemed proper. The petition, signed by several inhabitants of the county of Madison, corroborates in general the statements of the contractors; and the petitioners pray that the relief asked for, may be granted. The work on the line of the Chenango canal from Utica to Sherburne, was put under contract late in the fall of 1833; from the latter place to the village of Greene, in July, 1834, and from Greene to Binghamton, late in the fall of that year. The contract prices for the mechanical work, at the first letting, were not materially different from the estimate of the engineer; and for the other work, they were probably about ten per cent less. The prices at the second letting were, as compared to the estimate, at lower rates. The prices at the last letting were comparatively, somewhat lower, than at either the first or second letting. The estimates of the engineer for the work, at the first letting, were made before any part of the work was commenced; those for the work at the second letting, after the work first let had been in progress about one month; and those for the third letting, after the work first put under contract, had been in progress six months. At the time when the estimates for the first letting were made, it was not ascertained whether laborers would be plenty or scarce. And it is supposed that the engineer had in view the ordinary wages of canal labor, and the then existing prices for provisions. The engineers were probably governed by similar views, in reference to the wages of laborers and the price of provisions, in making their estimates at the second and last letting. The work on this canal commenced in the spring of 1834; and during the whole of that season laborers were uncommonly plenty, and the wages at quite as low rates as had been experienced on any former occasion. During this season also, the prices for provi sions did not advance. Early in the spring of 1835, coarse grain, hay, and provisions of every kind took a rapid advance, and continued through the year at prices much above the ordinary rates, for several previous years. No existing circumstansces, at the time the contracts were executed, could have led to the anticipation of such prices. A portion of the laborers, who resorted to this canal early in the season of 1834, left in the fall for Indiana and other States. The Utica and Schenectady rail-road was let to contractors in the fall of 1834; and the work was put in active operation early in the spring of 1835, and continued until late in the fall. Last June, when the progress of the work on the entire line of the Chenango canal was pressed forward, a want of laborers was sensibly felt, and in the course of the season wages advanced to 13, 14, and in some instances to 15 dollars per month, which is higher than the ordinary price of canal labor. This state of things continued until late in the fall. The work is continued this winter at about eleven dollars per month for common laborers. The present prices of all the agricultural productions of the country, indicate with some certainty that provisions will not be obtained for less the coming, than they were the past season. An effort has been made to retain the laborers on this canal through the winter, and the contractors are now pretty well supplied; but it is probable that the large amount of work remaining to be done, taken in connection with the circumstance, that in the season when a public work is about to be finished, there is a strong inclination with the laborers to seek employment on other public works in a less forward state, will raise the wages next spring to as high rates as were paid last season. The arrangements which were made on the Chenango canal, for superintending the execution of the contracts, were designed to effect as perfect an execution of the work as the nature of the case would admit; and there has probably been a more effective inspection than has been customary on works of this kind. Great pains were taken in arranging the detail of the contracts and specifications, in order that the manner in which the work was to be done could be understood, and that prices might be offered Blank pro for every kind of work, susceptible of measurement. positions containing a column of prices for every kind of work comprised in the contract to which it was adapted were furnished, and the contract (in blank for the prices) with the specifications, plans and profiles, were exhibited for inspection at the time when proposals were received. It has not been intended to require more of the contractors in the execution of the work, than was designed by the contracts, specifications and plans. But it is more than probable that the contractors did not properly estimate the expense of earefully assorting the materials of which the banks are made, so that the parts most impervious to water should form the inner face, nor the expense of procuring suitable materials for the mechanical work, and the necessary expense of the different structures, to give them the requisite stability. While on this branch of the inquiry, it is proper to remark, that it seldom, and perhaps never occurs, that a public work is as well executed, in all its parts, as the plans require, notwithstanding the utmost care and fidelity of the contractor, and the most careful inspection, the work is sometimes unfaithfully executed in the absence of the contractor and engineer: But it is believed that on the Chenango canal, the work conforms quite as near to the plans, as is customary; and perhaps, as near as it is practicable to make it. The Commissioners, in their arrangements for the construction of the Chenango canal, endeavored to have the specifications for the different kinds of work so full and explicit, that contracts might be entered into understandingly, as well on the part of the contractors as of the State. Whether they have succeeded in this or not, they cannot say. They, however, do not understand that any complaint has been made by the contractors, that they have in this respect been misled. The contracts having been entered into, the Commissioners believe it to be their duty, as the agents of the State, to see that the work is executed according to the terms thereof; unless they are otherwise directed by the Legislature. The contractors have, unquestionably, from the change of prices of labor and provisions, been subjected to greater expenses in the prosecution of the work, than they could reasonably have anticipated; and probably they have been required to do the work in a better manner, than some work of this kind has heretofore been done in this State: But not in a better manner, as the Commissioners believe, than was to have been anticipated from the terms of the contracts and specifications. Whether they are to be relieved or not is, as the Commissioners believe, a question entirely with the Legislature. January 29th, 1836. WM. C. BOUCK, JONAS EARLL, JUNIOR. |