Research


Scope and Content Note

This series was used by the Western Division Engineer's Office to record copies of letters sent by division, resident, and assistant engineers. The letters mainly deal with the Western Division of the Erie Canal which ran from Buffalo to the Wayne County line in Clyde, New York. Most of the books are indexed, although there are a few that do not contain one. The pages in these volumes are thin, onion skin copying paper but are generally in good condition. Due to the letter copying process, some of the letters are blurry, faded, or otherwise difficult to read.

The letter books cover many topics ranging from the enlargement of the Erie Canal, repairs and improvements to the canal, estimates of work to be completed, issues with landowners, sketches of projects, contractor and labor issues, maps, civil service rules and regulations, the Good Roads Movement, cement tests, progress reports and histories of projects, and routine office matters.

Letter books from 1895 to 1899 cover the "Nine Million Dollar Improvement" of the Erie Canal, which was authorized by legislation enacted in 1895. The funds appropriated by this act were meant to enlarge, deepen and otherwise improve the condition of the canal. By 1898 funds for the improvements were running low and letter books from this year cover the cessation of all canal work, leaves of absence for employees, and money required to complete unfinished work. On July 30, 1898, a commission was appointed by Governor Frank S. Black to investigate the nine million dollar improvement project. Correspondence regarding the canal investigation commission is included in these letter books.

New civil service requirements are also a topic covered in the correspondence of the engineers of the Western Division office. Civil service reform was enacted on a federal level by President Chester Arthur on January 16, 1883. This federal law was quickly followed by civil service reform in New York State. The act to regulate and improve the civil service of the state of New York, Chapter 354 of the laws of 1883, was passed on May 4, 1883. The letter books from this time period deal with some of the difficulties the office had with the new civil service regulations.

This series also documents the improvement of roads in western New York, inspired in part by the Good Roads Movement which began to take hold throughout the state by the late 1880s. Advocates began to push for better roads in rural areas where many of the roads were unpaved. The State Engineer and Surveyor's office oversaw many of these civil engineering projects. Several letter books in this series include contracts or other correspondence with contractors hired to work on "Good Roads" projects.