As of 1865, all repair sections of the canal were in charge of Robert C. Dorn as superintendent, and he was replaced in that role on January 24, 1855, when George Heath was appointed superintendent for sections four and five, with Dorn remaining in charge of one, two, and three.
He oversaw a number of financially significant improvement investments on the canal, including $27,166 for "extraordinary repairs".
In 1867 at the state Constitutional Convention, Erastus Brooks alleged canal contracts of being awarded to the highest bidder.
[2] Assembled to ascertain whether Dorn had, in 1886 and 1867, awarded construction contracts in a corrupt fashion while ignoring a prior law to select the cheapest bid,[7] a resolution impeaching him of high crimes and misdemeanors passed the assembly with a unanimous vote.
[13] During the first meeting, there was a motion from the defense to quash the Fourth Article accusations of Dorn awarding contracts without advertising them first.
[14] On May 27, 1868, the Court of Appeals and the Senate again met jointly as a Court of Impeachment, with counsel for the defendant arguing that senator Sandford, as Chairman of the Canal Investigating Committee, had prejudged the case on several points.
[12] On June 12, 1886, Dorn was acquitted with a vote of 8 for conviction, among them Martin Grover, Theodore Miller, and 19 against,[15] among them Ward Hunt, Lewis B. Woodruff, Charles Mason and William J.