Research

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of oversized volumes containing statistical data on property first cleared and left at the collector's office in Boonville on the Black River Canal. The accounts consist of two sets per year, the first set (Account No. 1) deals with all the property on which tolls were paid at the Boonville office and on which tolls were not paid at any other office. The second set (Account No. 2) pertains to property left at the Boonville office; property passing Boonville either way, and to be left short of the next office; and property shipped and to be left between the offices on either side of Boonville, and on which tolls were paid, until 1882, at Boonville. It should be noted that there are gaps in this series.

Data within both sets of accounts are arranged by month and were entered daily by the collector. The types of property are arranged under seven broad categories entitled "The Forest," Product of Animals," "Agriculture, " "All Other Agricultural Products," "Manufacturers," "Merchandize" (sic) and "Other Articles." The quantities provided for each type of property listed under the broad category are either weight (in pounds) feet, cords, barrels, bushels or gallons. At the end of each account appears an "Annual Account of Property" that provides not only yearly summary data on each of the properties listed above but biweekly and monthly summaries as well. Obviously the summaries do not pertain to each month of the year but only for the months the Black River Canal was open for use.