Research


Administrative History

The passage of Chapter 274 of the Laws of 1835 on May 11, 1835 authorized the canal commissioners to enlarge the Erie canal and to construct a double set of lift-locks, as soon as the canal board believed that public interest required such improvement. By the terms of Chapter 169, Laws of 1862, the first enlargement of the canals of the state was officially declared completed. Despite the enlargement process being declared finished, there was still enlargement work to be completed in the western division of the canal. Earlier volumes in this series have correspondence that is relevant to this enlargement project as well as projects related to the enlargement.

Chapter 79 of the Laws of 1895 proposed enlargement and improvement of the canals. Work was to be done by contract and in accordance with plans, specifications, and estimates prepared and approved by the State Engineer and Surveyor that stated the extent of each piece of work and the materials to be used in doing it. Succeeding legislation in 1896 and 1897 amended that law, regulating the making of contracts for work on the canal, reapportioning unexpended balances, and appropriating funds for carrying on canal improvements. The volumes in this series from 1895 to 1898 mainly deal with the improvements done under this law.

Chapter 15 of the Laws of 1898, as amended by chapter 327 of the Laws of 1898 stated that a commission be appointed by the governor in order to investigate the nine million dollar improvement project. This commission investigated the work done on the canal enlargement, whether contracts were properly made, how much money was expended for enlargement, the proportion of the enlargement included in contracts, and whether any extra money would be required to complete the enlargement. Correspondence related to the commission to investigate the nine million dollar improvements is included in the later volumes of this series.

The act to provide for the improvement of the public highways, Chapter 115 of the laws of 1898, states that the board of supervisors in any county must pass a resolution that public interest demands the improvement of any public highway or section within the county as long as the road is not in the boundaries of any city or incorporated village. The State Engineer then reviews the resolution and make recommendations as to what sort of road would be best suited to the climate, soil, materials and nature of traffic likely to be on the road. Later volumes in this series contain correspondence related to the construction of roads.