New York State Engineer and Surveyor Western Division Engineer's Office Journals for Western Division Accounts

This series is arranged chronologically.

Chapter 79 of the Laws of 1895 proposed enlargement and improvement of the canals. Work was to be done by contract and in accordance with plans, specifications, and estimates prepared and approved by the State Engineer and Surveyor that stated the extent of each piece of work and the materials to be used in doing it. Succeeding legislation in 1896 and 1897 amended that law, regulating the making of contracts for work on the canal, reapportioning unexpended balances, and appropriating funds for carrying on canal improvements. These records document some of the work contracted for during those years under the applicable laws.

This series is comprised of 10 volumes of accounts of the Western Division Engineers Department dating from 1870-1905. These volumes list accounts, payments, mileage, and other expenses for the various contractors and engineers working for the department. The volumes are organized by date. Each account usually lists the project, date, name of contractor/employee, expenses, total expenses, and any notes about the expenses. These volumes are not indexed.

Many of the accounts in this series are related to the nine million dollar canal improvement project that started in 1895. Canal improvements included deepening the canals to no less than nine feet except over and across aqueducts, culverts, and other permanent structures, in which case the water depth would be at least eight feet. The deepening was to be performed by raising the banks whenever practicable, and the law also provided for building vertical stone walls when necessary, as well as lengthening or improving locks. Other projects included fixing or constructing bridges, repairing and paving roads along the canal, dredging, wall construction, basin improvement, culverts, and other projects.

B0687Series B0687, Contract specifications, engineers' estimates, and related documents pertaining to the nine million dollar canal improvement

B0689Series B0689, Ledgers for Western Division Accounts

B0396Series B0396, Sectional canal survey maps of the 1895 improvement of the Erie Canal

B0395B0395, Contract plans relating to improvement of the Erie and Oswego canals

A4425Series A4425, Card file index to Erie Canal construction and improvements

B1210Series B1210, Middle and Western Division survey maps for the proposed 1895 Erie Canal enlargement

B0292Series B0292, Map and plan books of the location and construction of the state's canal system and

B1211Series B1211, Maps and profiles relating to the Western Division of the Erie and Barge canals, all contain related records.

This series was transferred by the Department of Transportation Division of Waterways Maintenance.

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