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New York State Engineer and Surveyor Opinions and Abstracts of Attorney General's Decisions


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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:
A few of these opinions and decisions of the Attorney General deal with canal-related matters such as the validity of canal contracts and claims against the state arising from canal construction; others concern grants of land under water, city and village elections, the corrupt practices act, and the filing of marriage certificates. Each opinion or decision provides a brief discussion of the matter in doubt, citation and interpretations of acceptable laws, and the Attorney General's Final Statement.
Creator:
Title:
Opinions and abstracts of Attorney General's decisions
Quantity:

0.5 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:
1881-1902
Series Number:
B0245

Scope and Content Note

This series contains printed and typescript opinions the New York State Attorney General, as well as one printed abstract of Attorney General's decisions. The opinions address a variety of issues of relevance to the Office of the State Engineer and Surveyor including sale of unappropriated state lands; legal possession of instruments, field notes, maps, and other records created by Verplanck Colvin during his survey of the Adirondack Wilderness; the state's title to lands under water in Lake Champlain; right of the state to tax private property standing on state lands; legal validity of canal contracts; jurisdiction of the State Board of Claims (predecessor of the State Court of Claims) to hear and determine claims against the state; and property description requirements in published applications for grants of lands under water.

Custodial History

This series was transferred to the New York State Department of Public Works in 1925 when the Office of the State Engineer and Surveyor was abolished. The records came into the custody of the State Department of Transportation when the Department of Public Works was abolished in 1967.

Access Restrictions

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

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