New York State Highway Commission Topographical and Geological Highway and Canal Planning Maps of New York

Subseries 1 - Topographical Highway Planning Maps:arranged geographically and numerically by quadrangle number;Subseries 2 - Geological Highway Planning Maps:arranged geographically and numerically by quadrangle number. Non-U.S.G.S. maps arranged by region;Subseries 3 - Topographical Canal Planning Maps:arranged by canal branch.

This series consists of rectangular sections (usually about 13" x 18") forming large topographic or geological maps of New York State. There are three subseries: 1. Topographical Highway Planning Maps; 2. Geological Highway Planning Maps; and 3. Topographical Canal Planning Maps.

Subseries 1. Topographical Highway Planning Maps. These are quadrangles of the United States Geological Survey topographical map of the state produced in cooperation with the State Engineer and Surveyor. The state was divided into 260 quadrangles and a map sheet was printed for each with a scale of one inch to one mile; only 49 of the topographical quadrangles are in this series, all from the region west of Cayuga Lake. The printed maps show: counties, cities, towns, and villages; street layout in major cities; location of houses in rural districts; roads, bridges, and tunnels; railroads; lakes and rivers; canals, dams, and locks; and contour lines and figures giving elevation of all land, including land under water, to sea level.

These maps were used for the preliminary location and planning of railroad lines and highway improvement, eliminating the need for preliminary surveys for each project. Annotations on the maps indicate improved roads (solid black lines), roads under contract for improvement (broken black lines), and roads designated for improvement (red lines). At the top right-hand corner of each map is the department-assigned number for that quadrangle. On the back of each is a date and a stamped letter: some maps are dated January 1, 1914 and are stamped with the letter 'C'; others are dated March 1914 or later and are stamped with the letter 'D'.

Subseries 2. Geological Highway Planning Maps. These are quadrangles of the U.S.G.S. geological map of the state; only 29 of the quadrangles, all north and west of Poughkeepsie, are in this series. The maps show the types of rock found in various sections of the state and were used as a reference source by the Highway Commission's Bureau of Tests which tested and analyzed road surface materials. On the back of each map is written the U.S.G.S. quadrangle name and the department-assigned quadrangle number.

Also included are ten other geological maps produced for the State Museum which were used by the Highway Commission. Seven of these form part of a 12-section map of the state; two form a map of the Niagara River region; and one is map of Becraft Mountain in Columbia County.

Subseries 3. Topographical Canal Planning Maps. These are sections of the U.S.G.S. topographical maps cropped to show the routes of the Cayuga and Seneca Canal, the Erie Canal, and the Champlain Canal. The maps were used for planning canal enlargement and are annotated with: lock numbers; elevation of upper and lower pools; contract numbers and names of contractors for various sections of the canals; and residency (subdivision) numbers of various sections of the canals.

Folder list and state map with quadrangle names and numbers are available at the repository.

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