Various records filed with the Office of the State Engineer and Surveyor B0246

Various records filed with the Office of the State Engineer and Surveyor

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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 consists of records filed with the Office of State Engineer and Surveyor's Office including property assessments; contractors' bids; inventories of records lent to state commissions; a bridge company annual report; a list of companies navigating state lakes and rivers; one bill; bridge company schedules; agreements; correspondence; newspaper clippings and notices of public sales of forfeited lands.

Creator:

New York (State). State Engineer and Surveyor

Title:

Various records filed with the Office of the State Engineer and Surveyor

Quantity:

0.5 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:

1888-1922

Series Number:

B0246

Arrangement

Chronological.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains property assessments; contractors' bids; inventories of records lent to state commissions by the State Engineer and Surveyor's office; one bridge company annual report; a list of companies navigating state lakes and rivers; one bill; bridge company schedules; agreements and correspondence; and newspaper clippings regarding the printing of notices of public sale of forfeited lands. These records were created for a variety of reasons and pursuant to numerous legislative acts, but for unknown reasons were not filed separately.

The property assessments pertain to lands within Township 6 of the Totten-Crossfield patent taken and appropriated by the Forest Preserve Board pursuant to Chapter 220, Laws of 1897. There are two property assessments both of which are dated 1897 only, and they apply to lands owned by Henry Bradley.

The contractors' bids pertain to the improvement of the Honeoye Outlet (Chapter 563, Laws of 1893) and repairs to the Madison Brook and Lebanon Feeders and the summit level of the abandoned Chenango Canal (Chapter 570, Laws of 1894). The bids provide a description of the project; legal citation; estimate of quantities; description of items; unit price; total amount for each item; total amount of bid; name of contractor; address (city and county) and date of bid. The nine bids are arranged by project and therein chronologically by date of bid.

The record inventories consist of lists prepared by Office of State Engineer and Surveyor personnel itemizing maps and records lent to the Railroad Commissions and the Committee on Canals. The inventories provide descriptions of maps or records borrowed, including any identifying numbers.

The bridge company annual report was filed with the State Engineer and Surveyor by the Poughkeepsie Bridge Company pursuant to Chapter 897, Laws of 1871. The report covers the fiscal year ending August 31, 1891, and provides figures for total earnings and expenditures only.

The correspondence and reports consist of eight items dealing with state ownership of land under water on the west shore of Lake Champlain, harbor lines on the upper portion of the Hudson River, obstructions on the Seneca River, and floods at Ithaca. The items are arranged by subject and therein chronologically by date.

The list of companies navigating state lakes and rivers was compiled by the Secretary of State's office in 1889. It provides the name of each company, location (city only), and date of filing. These companies were formed pursuant to Chapter 232 of the Laws of 1854.

The bridge company schedules are a list of companies not having filed an annual report with the State Engineer and Surveyor's office for the years 1888 through 1890. The schedules provide the name of company, township, county, and date of organization. The schedules are arranged in chronological order.

The bill is actually a statement of money due William Fuller of Rochester, N.Y., for supervisory work performed between February and August of 1889. The statement is dated December 28, 1889.

The agreements are typed copies and originals made between the Director of the United States Geological Survey and the State Engineer and Surveyor. The agreements detail the procedures to be followed regarding the "combination of the cooperative topographic survey" of the state. The agreements are arranged in chronological order by date of signing.

The correspondence and newspaper clippings regarding the printing of notices of public sale of forfeited lands are filed in envelopes that are ordered by property location or name. In addition to the correspondence and clippings, the envelopes contain bills submitted by newspapers for the printing of notices. The files contain no legal records and document the State Engineer and Surveyor's efforts to print the notices. The eleven envelopes are arranged by subject and therein chronologically by year.