The Text

The Legislature shall not sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the Erie canal, the Oswego canal, the Champlain canal, the Cayuga and Seneca canal, or the Black River canal: but they shall remain the property of the State and under its management forever. The prohibition of lease, sale, or other disposition herein contained shall not apply to the canal known as the Main and Hamburg street canal, situated in the city of Buffalo, and which extends easterly from the westerly line of Main street to the westerly line of Hamburg street. All funds that may be derived from any lease, sale, or other disposition of any canal shall be applied to the improvement, superintendence, or repair of the remaining portion of the canals.