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New York State Engineer and Surveyor Middle Division Letter Books


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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 is comprised of 13 volumes of letter books that contain carbon copies of correspondence written by resident and division engineers engaged in work on the Middle Division of the Erie Canal. The correspondence in these letter books is administrative in nature, addressing various aspects of work on the Middle Division, which included the counties of Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga.
Creator:
Title:
Middle Division letter books
Quantity:

1.5 cubic feet

13 volumes

Inclusive Dates:
1850-1890
Series Number:
B0702

Arrangement

This series is arranged in rough chronological order.

Administrative History

The passage of Chapter 274 on May 11, 1835 authorized the canal commissioners to enlarge the Erie Canal. By 1836 the majority of proposed work was put under contract and contractors began the project of enlarging the canal. Throughout the 26-year project, several more acts would be passed in order to fund the enlargement of the canal. Chapter 169 of the Laws of 1862 declared that the enlargement project was complete.

Scope and Content Note

This series is comprised of 13 volumes of letter books that contain carbon copies of correspondence written by resident and division engineers engaged in work on the Middle Division of the Erie Canal. The correspondence in these letter books is administrative in nature, addressing various aspects of work on the Middle Division, which included the counties of Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga. Much of the correspondence deals with the enlargement of the Erie Canal which began in 1836. Topics of the correspondence include land transactions; contracts and issues with contractors; construction of locks and other structures; estimates and accounts; issues with labor; and canal conditions. Some copies are severely faded, rendering them difficult to read and in certain cases illegible.

Access Restrictions

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

Access Terms

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Detailed Description

Dates Contents Box Volume

Accretion: B0702-85
1852 February 4 - 1852 February 19 Letter Book of John T. Clark and O.C. Hartwell, Resident Engineers, Syracuse 1 1
1854 March 10 - 1857 December 27 Copies of Letters received by Charles G. Voorhees, Ensign Bennett and William H.H. Gere, Resident Engineers, Lyons 1 2
1861 June 11 - 1861 August 23 Letter Book of William H.H. Gere, Resident Engineer, Syracuse 1 3
1861 July 27 - 1868 February 28 Letter Book of William H.H. Gere, Resident Engineer, Syracuse 1 4
1867 August 27 - 1868 February 28 Letter Book of William H.H. Gere, Resident Engineer, Syracuse 2 5
1868 January 13 - 1874 February 7 Letter book of M.S. Kimball and Howard Soule, Division Engineers, Syracuse (to Canal Commissioners) 2 6
1870 January 24 - 1874 March 30 Correspondence, Estimates, and Bills of Timber of D.E. Whitford and Henry Beach, Assistant Engineers, Havana, Regarding the Chemung, Crooked Lake, and Cayuga and Seneca Canals 2 7
1874 February 14 - 1876 November 11 "Official Communication Book No. 1" C.A. Sweet, Division Engineer, Syracuse 2 8
1876 November 21 - 1878 June 8 "Official Communication Book No. 2" C.A. Sweet and Marvin Porter, Division Engineers, Syracuse 2 9
1878 April 19 1886 - December 1 "Official Communication Book No. 3" Division Richmond, Marvin Porter, and David E. Whitford, Division Engineers, Syracuse 2 10
1878 April 19 - 1886 December 1 Letter Book of Division Richmond, Division Engineer and H.T. Beach, Resident Engineer, Syracuse 2 11
1888 June 12 - 1889 May 6 Letter Book of H.T. Beach, Division Engineer, Syracuse 2 12
1889 May 6 - 1890 April 28 Letter Book of H.T. Beach, Division Engineer, Syracuse 2 13