New York State Engineer and Surveyor Survey Descriptions and Appraisals of Onondaga Salt Springs Lands to be Sold

Reverse chronological order by year in which surveys and appraisals were carried out.

The State Engineer and Surveyor supervised the sale and settlement of state lands. He accomplished this in part by directing the surveying and mapping of land and by maintaining records of surveys, maps, and land sales.

Legislation of 1849 and 1851 authorized the Commissioners of the Land Office to have surveyed and mapped certain state-owned salt lands in the City of Syracuse. Three appraisers appointed by the governor were to appraise the lands, the salt production and storage buildings, and other improvements. The Commissioners were then to have the buildings and lands sold at the appraised value. The maps and appraisals were to be filed with the State Engineer and Surveyor.

Legislation of 1874 and 1878 authorized the Commissioners of the Land Office to require appraisal of and to sell salt lands in the Town of Geddes. Current lessees of the land were given the first option to purchase it.

These are records of the surveys and appraisals of state-owned salt lands carried out preparatory to the sale of those lands.

Salt lands and improvements south of the Erie Canal in the City of Syracuse were appraised in 1851; lands in the Town of Geddes were appraised in 1879 and reappraised (at the same values) in 1881.

For each tract or lot to be sold, the series includes: survey description providing metes and bounds and total acreage; appraisal providing value of land and value of buildings, fences, and other improvements; and for the 1851 appraisals, brief evaluative statements concerning the land, including an appraisal value, by each of the prospective purchasers.

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