Finding Aid Search

Title

Account of monies paid to contractors and others for construction, repair, and enlargement of the Black River, Chenango, and Genesee canals

Series Number

B1881

Summary

This series consists of an account of monies paid for construction, repair, and enlargement of the Black River, Chenango, and Genesee canals. Each account contains name of contractor; contract number; general location of work; general description of work; date and payment amount.

Creator

• New York (State). Office of the Auditor of the Canal Department

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Inventory of canal "blue line" maps

Series Number

B2543

Summary

This series contains an inventory of the approximately 1,900 "blue line" maps produced by the State Engineer and Surveyor pursuant to Chapter 199, Laws of 1910 and Chapter 51, Laws of 1917. The maps inventoried depict all state owned lands and property prior to improvements effected for the Barge Canal System; the location of state property appropriated for the Barge Canal; and the location of the old canals and related state property in relation to the Barge Canal.

Creator

• New York (State). Division of Canals and Waterways

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Accounts of Canal Commissioners for expenditures on branch canals

Series Number

A1087

Summary

Included are accounts for the following canals: Oswego, Genesee Valley, Black River, Chenango, Cayuga and Seneca, Chemung and Crooked Lake, as well as the Oneida River Improvement. Each entry provides name of payee; after date; location or type of work performed; and amount due.

Creator

• New York (State). Comptroller's Office

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Index to Region 2 field books

Series Number

B2075

Summary

This series indexes field books held in the Canal Corporation Region 2 Office in Syracuse, New York. Field books referenced in the index document the construction and maintenance of the Chenango Canal, Black River Canal, the Northern and Southern Reservoirs and Oneida Lake portions of the Barge Canal.

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Card file index to Region 2 maps

Series Number

B2074

Summary

This series indexes maps once maintained by the Region 2 Waterways Maintenance Office of the Department of Public Works. Maps and plans indexed included the first Erie Canal enlargement, the 1895 Improvement and the Erie Barge Canal, the Black River Canal, the Chenango Canal, the Northern and Southern Reservoirs, Oneida Lake, and the Old and New Oneida Lake Canals. Also included indexed is work on the Utica State Hospital and Marcy State Hospital.

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Maps of portions of canal lands belonging to the State of New York

Series Number

B1761

Summary

This series consists of approximately 1900 original linen maps produced by the State Engineer and Surveyor. The maps are popularly known as "Blue Line," "Laws of 1910 Maps," and "Abandonment Maps." The maps depict all state owned lands and property prior to improvements completed for the Barge Canal System; the location of state property appropriated for the Barge Canal; and the location of the old canals and related state property in relation to the Barge Canal.

Creator

• New York (State). Division of Canals and Waterways

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Canal Fund account book

Series Number

A1085

Summary

This volume is a ledger accounts of Commissioners of the Canal Fund for Erie and Champlain Canal Fund and stock, and for stock of the Cayuga and Seneca, Crooked Lake, Chenango, Oswego, and Black River canals. There are also accounts with the Canal Commissioners, Superintendents of Repairs, and banks in New York City, Albany, and elsewhere in which tolls and canal loans premiums were deposited.

Creator

• New York (State). Comptroller's Office

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Account book for cash paid out for Black River, Genesee Valley, and other branch canals

Series Number

A1092

Summary

This account book documents cash payments for construction or repairs of the Black River, Genesee Valley, Crooked Lake, Chemung, and other branch canals, and for the Oneida River improvement. Each entry provides date, voucher number, amount paid, and occasionally a brief note on the type of work done.

Creator

• New York (State). Comptroller's Office

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Accounts of property first cleared and left at Boonville on the Black River Canal

Series Number

B0249

Summary

These volumes contain detailed statistical data on agricultural and manufactured goods that passed through the toll collector's office at Boonville on the Black River Canal. These accounts record types of materials and their weight and or measurements. Entries are recorded daily and totaled at weekly, monthly, and yearly intervals.

Creator

• New York (State). State Engineer and Surveyor

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Whiteprint copies of maps of portions of canal lands belonging to the State of New York

Series Number

A0867

Summary

The whiteprint copies of original "blue line" maps are arranged geographically by portfolio then numerically by map number. The maps show boundaries of state-owned lands along the Erie, Champlain, Black River, Cayuga, and Seneca Canals and depict old and new canal lines; structures, streets and adjacent roads; and state and privately owned land. Each portfolio includes full titles. The maps depict in minute detail lands acquired for canal purposes.

Creator

• New York (State). Comptroller's Office

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Water supply computations for survey of the Black River

Series Number

B0695

Summary

This series consists of two volumes that contain water supply computations for the Black River. These computations were gathered in order to improve the Black River for navigation.

Creator

• New York (State). State Engineer and Surveyor

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Black River Canal survey maps

Series Number

B1356

Creator

• New York (State). Superintendent of Public Works

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Whiteprint copies of maps of lands permanently appropriated by the state for canal purposes

Series Number

B0252

Summary

This series, known as the "blue line maps," depicts lands acquired for canal purposes up to and including the construction of the Barge Canal. The maps show inner angles of the towpaths on the old canal; state owned property prior to Barge Canal construction; property appropriated for Barge Canal projects; various structures, roads, streets, and other landmarks; and the names of owners of private property adjacent to the canal.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of State

Access Restrictions

Restricted: Some portfolios unusable because of physical condition. Use under supervision or with assistance of archivist due to poor condition.

Title

Estimates of work done and material delivered on Erie, Champlain, and Black River canals

Series Number

A1098

Summary

These booklets contain estimates submitted to the Canal Commissioners by the resident engineers for various improvements on Erie, Champlain, and Black River canal sections, locks, dams, docks and piers. Entries include location of improvement; quantity and value of material used; name of contractor; and labor performed.

Creator

• New York (State). Canal Commissioners

Access Restrictions

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

Title

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

Series Number

B0292

Summary

These volumes address the enlargement of the Erie and Champlain canals; building of the Oswego, Cayuga and Seneca, Chenango, Black River, and Genesee Valley canals; and appropriation of lands for canal use. They contain drawings, maps, diagrams, tracings, and profiles of much of the State's canal system and its related structures and provide detailed information concerning the location, dimensions, specification, and construction of related canal structures.

Creator

• New York (State). State Engineer and Surveyor

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Canal administrative detail file

Series Number

11834

Summary

This series consists of correspondence to and from State Engineer and Surveyor Roy G. Finch, and/or Surveyor Dwight B. LaDu. Subjects include sale of state land, transfer of canal land to state parks, land appraisal, sand and gravel permits, state contracts, canal terminal development and location, and development and extension of the Barge Canal and other canals. Interfiled are also some receipts, blue print maps, terminal facility descriptions, property descriptions, and a copy of Barge Canal Contract 65.

Creator

• New York (State). State Engineer and Surveyor

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Canal damage awards by Canal Appraisers, Board of Claims, and Court of Claims

Series Number

B0602

Summary

This series consists of certified copies of awards by the Canal Appraisers (through 1883) and by the Board of Claims (1883-1897), and of judgments by the Court of Claims (1897-1953). These awards were made for damages to lands adjacent to state canals. Many such damages were sustained by private persons when their lands were appropriated temporarily or permanently for repairs or enlargement of the Erie Canal, for the so-called $9,000,000 improvement at the turn of the century, and for construction of the Barge Canal system.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Audit and Control

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Bid proposals for construction work on Black River Canal reservoirs

Series Number

A4028

Summary

The Contracting Board let contracts on behalf of the state for canal work. This series consists of transcriptions of proposals to complete Black River Canal reservoirs. Information includes contractor's name, town and county; schedule of projected costs for various tasks and materials; amount of bond given by contractor for payment of laborers' wages; names of persons signing bond; city and date of signing of proposal; and notarization.

Creator

• New York (State). Contracting Board

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Original and preliminary cross sections for 1895 survey of Erie Canal improvement

Series Number

B0650

Summary

This series consists of hand-drawn cross sections from an 1895 survey done for proposed canal improvements. Various colored lines represents the existing canal bed; proposed improvements; and water level of the canal. Measurements give changes in elevation for use in determining the amount of excavation or fill needed for the improvements. Represented are parts of the middle and western division of the Erie and Oswego canals, along with several prominent feeders.

Creator

• New York (State). State Engineer and Surveyor

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Department of Transportation Division of Waterways Maintenance ledger of cargo cleared at Boonville on the Black River Canal

Series Number

B1730

Summary

This series consists of ledgers maintained by the toll collector at Boonville on the Black River Canal. The ledgers contain date; number of clearances for the year; name of boat; place of hailing; where loaded; destination; master's name; cargo description; quantity; miles traveled; and monthly and yearly totals of the number of miles by boats cleared through Boonville.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Transportation. Division of Waterways Maintenance

Access Restrictions

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