New York State Department of State Whiteprint Copies of Maps of Lands Permanently Appropriated by the State for Canal Purposes
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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:
This series, known as the "blue line maps," depicts lands acquired for canal purposes up to and including the construction
of the Barge Canal. The maps show inner angles of the towpaths on the old canal; state owned property prior to Barge Canal
construction; property appropriated for Barge Canal projects; various structures, roads, streets, and other landmarks; and
the names of owners of private property adjacent to the canal.
Creator:
Title:
Whiteprint copies of maps of lands permanently appropriated by the state for canal purposes
Quantity:
62 cubic feet
69 portfolios; 805 maps
Inclusive Dates:
1917-1948
Series Number:
B0252
Arrangement
Geographical by portfolio and therein numerical by map number.
Scope and Content Note
The series consists of a set of whiteprint copies of original survey maps, commonly referred to as "blue line" maps, of lands
appropriated by the state for canal purposes. The maps depict in minute detail lands acquired for canal purposes up to and
including the time of construction of the Barge Canal.
The term "blue line" originated from the use of blue ink by early cartographers of the state's first canal system to show
the boundaries of lands acquired by the state for canal purposes. Through the years the term became (and still is) synonymous
with state owned canal land boundary lines.
The original maps were produced by the office of the State Engineer and Surveyor. When this office was abolished in 1925,
the Department of Public Works' Division of Engineering continued the work. Until 1925 the original maps were submitted to
the Canal Board for approval and then filed in the State Engineer and Surveyor's office. In addition, whiteprint copies were
filed with the Comptroller, Secretary of State, and the Superintendent of Public Works. After 1925, whiteprints were filed
with the former two officials, while the latter retained the originals. The set in this series was previously filed in the
Secretary of State's office.
The original blue line maps were executed as a result of State Engineer and Surveyor Frank P. Williams' insistence that new
surveys were needed to document state land claims. Arguing in 1909 that since the state owned valuable property within the
old canal blue lines and that the description of much adjoining property depended on them, Williams pointed out that it would
be almost impossible to retrace the former blue lines after old canal banks and structures were eradicated during the construction
of the proposed Barge Canal. The resulting confusion in land ownership rights would necessitate lengthy and expensive legal
contests.
To avert this potential problem the legislature passed Chapter 199 of the Laws of 1910, which authorized the production of
the blue line maps. It directed the State Engineer and Surveyor to make necessary surveys, field notes, and manuscript maps
of canal lands "not within the lines of the improved Erie, Oswego and Champlain canals" and of all adjacent lands belonging
to the state, together with the names of adjoining property owners. It also designated that a transcript from the original
map or of a copy certified as correct by the Comptroller or by the State Engineer and Surveyor was presumptive evidence in
all legal or judicial proceedings. This act was later amended by Chapter 51 of the Laws of 1917, which specified the filing
of "white print copies...in the office of the comptroller, the secretary of state, and superintendent of public works" and
that each certified copy would be "regarded as an original map." It also provided that a blue or whiteprint copy of portions
of maps relating to any particular county of the state be filed with the county clerks as notice of the state's title to and
ownership of the lands.
The maps usually depict: the inner angles of the tow paths on the old canal; property owned by the state prior to Barge Canal
construction; property appropriated by the state for the Barge Canal project; the former limits of state property; locations
of the old canal lines; the location of the proposed Barge Canal; and various structures, roads, streets, and other landmarks
and the names of owners of private property adjacent to the canal.
The whiteprints have blue colored lines on a white background. Maps have full titles, including reference to authorizing legislation
and signed and dated attestations of examination and approval by officials of the office of the State Engineer and Surveyor
and the Canal Board. Maps measure 55 x 84 cm within neat lines. Portfolios have a cover sheet that includes a description
of methods used in locating and drawing lines for state owned lands, and various blocks (signed and dated by respective officials)
attesting to submitting, certifying, and filing the maps. Portfolio size is 59 x 93 cm.
The maps are arranged by portfolio or "sheet" letter. Each portfolio covers a general geographical area of the Barge Canal
and individual maps, each assigned a number and depicting a smaller limited area, are filed numerically within each portfolio.
The series may contain some gaps. Researchers may consult portfolios of series A0867, Blue Line Maps of the Canal Lands Owned
by the State, which is the set that was previously filed with the Comptroller's office.
Related Material
A0867 Blue Line Maps of Canal Lands Owned by the State, contains the whiteprint copies that were originally filed with the Comptroller's
office
B1761 Maps of portions of canals lands belonging to the State of New York, contains the original linen maps for the copies in this
series.
Other Finding Aids
Available at Repository
A portfolio list gives inclusive map numbers and brief description of canal and geographic area.
Access Restrictions
Restricted: Some portfolios unusable because of physical condition. Use under supervision or with assistance of archivist
due to poor condition.
Access Terms
Personal Name(s):
Corporate Name(s):
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Subject(s):
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Detailed Description
Contents |
Folder |
Accretion: B0252-79 |
Erie Portfolio A-A: Maps 1-11A |
1 |
Erie Portfolio A: Maps 12-86 |
2 |
Champlain Portfolio B-1: Map 1 |
3 |
Champlain Portfolio B-2: Maps 2-7 |
4 |
Champlain Portfolio B-3: Maps 1-4 |
5 |
Champlain Portfolio B: Maps 8-50 |
6 |
Erie Portfolio C: Maps 151-155 |
7 |
Erie Portfolio CC: Map 153A |
8 |
Erie Portfolio C-1: Maps 156-167 |
9 |
Erie Portfolio C-2: Maps 168-175 |
10 |
Champlain Portfolio D: Maps 107-116 |
11 |
Erie Portfolio E: Maps 115-123 |
12 |
Erie Portfolio F: Maps 95-107; 112-114; 124-134 |
13 |
Erie Portfolio F-F: Maps 107A; 108-111; 135-147 |
14 |
Champlain Portfolio G: Maps 1-11 |
15 |
Champlain Portfolio G: Maps 51-100 |
16 |
Erie Portfolio H: Maps 87-94 |
17 |
Oswego Portfolio J: Maps 1-5 |
18 |
Oswego Portfolio J: Maps 4.1-4.3 |
19 |
Oswego Portfolio J-1: Maps 5 1/2-12 |
20 |
Oswego Portfolio J-2: Maps 13-26 |
21 |
Seneca River Towing Path Portfolio J-3: Maps 1-7 |
22 |
Erie Portfolio L: Maps 501-522 |
23 |
Erie Portfolio L: Maps 523-558 |
24 |
Erie Portfolio M: Maps 433-450 |
25 |
Erie Portfolio M-1: Map 435.1 |
26 |
Erie Portfolio N: Maps 301-308 |
27 |
Oswego Portfolio O: Maps 29-30 |
28 |
Oswego Portfolio O-1: Maps 31-38E |
29 |
Oswego Portfolio O-2: Maps 39-44 |
30 |
Oswego Portfolio O-2: Maps 39-44 (Duplicate Set) |
31 |
Oswego Portfolio O-3: Maps 45-54 |
32 |
Erie Portfolio P-1: Maps 565-585 |
33 |
Erie Portfolio P: Maps 586-592 |
34 |
Erie Portfolio Q: Maps 593-615 |
35 |
Erie Portfolio Q-1: Map 593A |
36 |
Erie Portfolio R: Maps 616-622 |
37 |
Erie Portfolio R-1: Maps 623-648 |
38 |
Erie Portfolio R-2: Maps 616.1, 616.2 |
39 |
Erie Portfolio R-3: Maps 649-692 |
40 |
Erie Portfolio R-4: Map 653.1 |
41 |
Erie Portfolio K: Maps 389-409, 391A |
42 |
Camillus Feeder Portfolio K-1: Maps 405.1-405.6 |
43 |
Erie Portfolio K-2: Map 388 |
44 |
Cayuga and Seneca Portfolio S: Maps 1-4 |
45 |
Cayuga and Seneca Portfolio S-2: Maps 12-13 |
46 |
Cayuga and Seneca Portfolio S-4: Maps 25-35; 27.1-27.3 |
47 |
Cayuga and Seneca Portfolio S-5: Map 27.4 |
48 |
Erie Portfolio T: Maps 756-762 |
49 |
Erie Portfolio T-1: Map 751 |
50 |
Erie Portfolio T-2: Maps 715-745 |
51 |
Erie Portfolio T-3: Maps 693-714 |
52 |
Erie Portfolio T-T: Maps 746.1-746.5; 752.1-752.3 |
53 |
Erie Portfolio U: Maps 309-328 |
54 |
Erie Portfolio U-1: Maps 316.1-316.3 |
55 |
Erie Portfolio V: Maps 328A; 329-331; 331A |
56 |
Black River Portfolio V-1: Maps 1-3 |
57 |
Erie Portfolio V-2: Map 328A.1 |
58 |
Erie Portfolio W: Maps 332-341 |
59 |
Erie Portfolio W-1: Maps 342-350 |
60 |
Erie Portfolio W-4: Maps 365-380 |
61 |
Erie Portfolio W-5: Maps 381-399 |
62 |
Butternut Creek Feeder Portfolio W-7: Maps 394.1-394.4 |
63 |
Erie Portfolio X: Maps 410-432 |
64 |
Erie Portfolio X-1: Map 421.1 |
65 |
Erie Portfolio Y: Maps 763-773 |
66 |