New York State Department of Highways State Highway Planning and Maintenance Map Books

Arranged geographically by quadrangle area.

The series consists of annotated U.S. Geological Survey maps bound into two volumes. The printed topographic sheets are annotated with black and red lines representing some aspect of highway planning or maintenance.

Although the Highway Department was responsible for the construction, maintenance, and repair of state roads, there is no indication of what the color coding on the maps represents.

The printed maps are backed on linen and bound into volumes by a metal casing. The arrangement is apparently by geographic quadrangle area, with successive maps depicting adjacent areas ranging from west to east across the state. Volume 1 shows counties in western and central New York; volume 2 shows counties in eastern and southern New York. A stamped sequential number appears in the upper right corner of each map; other stamped numbers that appear on the sides correspond to this main number for maps of adjacent areas.

The printed base maps were prepared by the U.S.G.S. based on surveys done in cooperation with New York State. Maps are drawn to a scale of one inch to 62,500 miles and a contour interval of 20 feet. Elevation datum is mean sea level. Each maps also gives: title; quadrangle area; the director of the U.S.G.S.; degrees of latitude and longitude; approximate mean magnetic deviance; dates of map edition and/or reprint; and engraving date.

In addition the following information is selectively given: names of geographer and topographer in charge; dates of surveys; and credit for triangulation and shore line data.

The printed base maps use standard topographic map symbols to show features. These include: cities, towns, and villages; county, state, and national boundaries; contour lines and figures of land elevation; bodies of water, marsh and swamp lands; bridges, roads, mines, and railroad lines; and schools and dwellings.

A few maps in the volumes are whiteprint copies from another unknown source. They do not contain the topographic features of the U.S.G.S. base maps, but are hand annotated in red and black in the same way.

Volume list.

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