N.Y. Canal Law § 31

§ 31. Patented materials or articles. In the improvement, maintenance,\nor repair of the canal system, no patented material or article or any\nother material or article shall be specified, contracted for, or\npurchased, except under such circumstances that there can be fair and\nreasonable opportunity for competition, the conditions to secure which,\nshall be prescribed by the corporation.\n