Research

Jamaica Bay - Peconic Bay Canal Board Administrative Files


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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
The Jamaica Bay - Peconic Bay Canal Board determined costs for bridges and rights of way for a proposed canal on the south side of Long Island. Consisting primarily of correspondence and exhibit files, records also include survey progress reports, town resolutions, minutes of meetings and public hearings, expense accounts, blueprints, maps, and photographs. Topics covered include property values, possible routes, construction estimates, possible obstacles to canal navigation, and opinions on proposed routes.
Creator:
Title:
Jamaica Bay - Peconic Bay Canal Board administrative files
Quantity:

1 cubic foot

Inclusive Dates:
1917-1921
Series Number:
B0238

Arrangement

Arranged by subseries and therein numerically by file number.

Administrative History

Chapter 317 of the Laws of 1917 created the board, which consisted of the State Engineer and Surveyor, the Superintendent of Public Works, and one other member appointed by the governor. The board, of which the State Engineer and Surveyor was the chairman, was mandated to investigate and determine the costs for the necessary bridges and rights of way for a proposed canal that was to be constructed by the federal government on the South Side of Long Island from Jamaica Bay to Peconic Bay.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence files and exhibit files directed to or generated by the Jamaica Bay-Peconic Bay Canal Board. The correspondence files contain, in addition to the letters, photostats of reports, memorandums, statements of account, progress reports on surveys undertaken, town resolutions, minutes of meetings, summaries of highways and railroad crossings, expense accounts, blueprints and sketches. These files deal with such topics as property values, surveys of possible routes for the canal, construction estimates, structures that would not be built, possible obstacles to canal navigation, and opinions on proposed routes.

These files are arranged by the type of correspondence (incoming or outgoing) and therein numerically by a number handwritten in the upper right hand corner or top of each piece of correspondence. The exhibit files contain copies of reports issued by the board, blueprints, memoranda, estimates, photographs, minutes of public hearings, and negatives of maps. These files deal with essentially the same topics as the correspondence files. The exhibit files are arranged according to an assigned letter.

Related Material

B0239 Card Index to Jamaica Bay - Peconic Bay Canal Board Administrative Files, indexes this series.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

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Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

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