Research: Topics: Transportation: Guide to Canal Records
Guide to Canal Records
State Engineer and Surveyor
General Canal Administration
B0702. Middle division letter books, 1850-1890. 1.5 cu. ft. (13 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0690. Western division letter books, 1854-1899. 4 cu. ft. (32 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0731. Western division resident engineer's letter book, 1911-1912. 0.3 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Chronological.
B0325. Letters of instruction to western division engineers, 1903-1919. 0.5 cu. ft. (2 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0740. Western division office report and letter book, 1875. 0.3 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Chronological.
A4022. Copy of annual report on the canals, 1851. 0.2 cu. ft. (1 volume)
This volume contains a manuscript copy of part of the State Engineer and Surveyor's 1851 annual report on canals, the original having been sent to the Speaker of the Assembly. The report is actually a compilation of several reports written by the State Engineer and Surveyor and by division engineers. The first report is an overview by the State Engineer concerning construction completed, costs, estimated costs of needed work, and use of the canals. Similar reports by division engineers concern the sections of the canal system of which each was in charge. These reports include detailed tabular statements of costs and cost estimates for work on the canals.
The complete report was published as Assembly Document No. 70, 1852, and includes a number of canal diagrams and several hundred tabular statements not included in the manuscript copy. The copy does include all of the narrative sections of the report, with a few minor transcription errors.
B0696. Report and estimates concerning the construction of gun boat locks on the eastern division of the Erie Canal, 1864. 0.4 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0708. Reports, cost estimates, and certificates pertaining to the middle division of the canal system, 1862-1865. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0670. Western division engineers' annual reports, estimates of expenses, and other reports regarding canals, 1856-1901. 0.6 cu. ft (9 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0671. Western division resident engineer's annual report to division engineer, 1859-1860. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0668. Reports, statements, and estimates of expenses of western division engineer's office, 1850-1851. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0679. Engineers' progress reports regarding repairs and construction in western division of the Erie Canal, 1889-1890. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0725. Engineers' diaries, 1905-1939. 20 cu. ft.
B0231. Weekly reports of engineers regarding the Barge Canal, 1921. 0.5 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Geographical by canal division (eastern, middle, western), then chronological.
These reports were submitted to the State Engineer and Surveyor by division and senior assistant engineers who supervised the Barge Canal and terminal contract construction projects. The reports document weekly progress on construction projects already in progress or just started in 1921. The reports vary in form and content but usually provide detailed information concerning work done in offices and bureaus; surveying, mapping, and planning; canal maintenance and repairs; unusual events such as accidents or sinkings; excavation of dirt or stone; canal claims; and the disposition of applications for grants of land under water.
B0681. Histories of various canal projects on western division of the Erie Canal, ca. 1880-1919. 0.4 cu. ft. (8 volumes)
Arrangement: None.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0712. Journal of proceedings in engineer's office at Whitehall, 1856. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Chronological.
B0688. Journals for western division accounts, 1870-1905. 2.5 cu. ft. (10 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0372. Journals pertaining to canals, 1891-1916. 1 cu. ft. (3 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0352. Ledger, cash books, journal, and trial balance books, 1916-1920. 0.6 cu. ft. (4 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0378. ournal and voucher register for Barge Canal contracts, 1905-1924. 0.5 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0719. Resident engineer's ledger of expenses for the enlargement of the eastern division of the Erie Canal, 1854-1855. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0354. Index to eastern division employees ledger, 1899- 1902. 0.3 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0715. Employees ledger regarding Champlain Canal improvement expenses, 1890-1902. 2 cu. ft. (4 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0689. Ledgers for western division accounts, 1876-1904. 2 cu. ft. (5 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0351. Ledger books pertaining to canals, 1891-1921. 1.3 cu. ft. (6 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological by date of account.
Finding aids: Volume list
B0686. Ledger for canal construction projects and repairs, 1887-1907. 0.2 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0377. Final estimates and accounts, ca. 1835-1905. 100 cu. ft. (215 volumes)
Arrangement: By division, then by subject.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0347. Certified final accounts for canal construction projects, 1841-1896. 3 cu. ft. (18 volumes)
Arrangement: By division, then chronological by date of final account.
Indexes: Each volume contains an index to contracts within that volume.
B0654. Final accounts and estimates for Genesee Valley Canal and Ischua Feeder, 1854. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0359. Barge Canal final accounts, ca. 1906-1913. 0.8 cu. ft. (2 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological by date of final account.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0364. Barge Canal terminal final accounts, 1912. 0.4 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Numerical by terminal contract number.
B0698. Index to western division final accounts, ca. 1867, 1890. 0.3 cu. ft. (2 volumes)
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0717. Cash accounts regarding the eastern division of the Erie Canal and the Champlain Canal, 1884-1889. 0.1 cu. ft. (2 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0652. Account books for the Genesee Valley Canal, ca. 1843, 1863. 2 cu. ft. (10 volumes)
Arrangement: Numerical by section number.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0398. Cost account volumes for the western division of the Erie Canal and Genesee Valley Canal, 1856-1878. 2 cu. ft. (33 volumes)
Arrangement: By subject, then chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0736. Account books of payments made to companies and employees for work on the western division of the Barge Canal, 1905-1908. 0.5 cu. ft. (2 volumes)
B0741. Account books listing expenditures and monthly balance statements of the western division, 1911-1912. 0.2 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0733. Accounts of costs and payrolls pertaining to Barge Canal contract 59, ca. 1918-1923. 0.3 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0677. Division engineer's account book, 1872-1874. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0669. Western division resident engineer's day book, 1852- 1858. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0371. Cash book for the Barge Canal, 1913-1916. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Chronological by month.
B0723. Record of payments on various contracts pertaining to the eastern division, 1850-1862. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0705. Miscellaneous payments made for work done on the western division of the Erie Canal and the Genesee Valley Canal, 1848-1868. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0706. Expenditures paid by engineers for work done on the western division of the Erie Canal and the Genesee Valley Canal, 1848-1858. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0657. Division and assistant engineers' expense books regarding the western division, 1895-1899. 0.2 cu. ft. (2 volumes)
B0703. Abstracts of accounts of labor and materials supplied for work done on the Erie and Genesee Valley canals, ca. 1840-1860. 0.3 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0718. Summaries of expenditures made for repair and improvement of the Champlain Canal, 1889-1895. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0219. Abstracts of expenditures of Erie Canal contracts, 1900-1904. 2 cu. ft.
Arrangement: None.
This series consists of printed forms submitted monthly by division engineers to the State Engineer and Surveyor. The abstracts deal mainly with administrative costs incurred during the project and provide name of division engineer; division (eastern, middle, western); period covered by abstract; voucher number; date; to whom paid; position (e.g. engineers, assistants, leveler, draftsman, etc.); salary; amounts paid (e.g. for printing, fuel and light, etc.); to whom paid; total amount paid to each work force member; column totals; division engineer's sworn attestation of the abstract's accuracy; signature of the State Engineer and Surveyor; date; category to which the abstract applies (ordinary repairs, extraordinary repairs, general funds, bridges, surveys for the Court of Claims, hydrography, repairs, and regular canal surveys); and authorizing legislation.
B0363. Monthly summaries of payment for improvement of the Erie, Champlain, and Oswego canals, 1903. 0.4 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Chronological by date of summary.
B0350. Abstracts of expenditures for construction of Barge Canal and terminals, 1903-1914. 2 cu. ft. (11 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological by date of abstract within subseries.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0362. Summary of engineering expenditures for constructing the Barge Canal, 1904-1911. 0.4 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: By canal, then chronological by date of expenditure.
B0349. Certified abstracts of expenditures, 1910-1914. 1 cu. ft. (4 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological by date of abstract.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0743. Western division engineers' abstracts of expenditures pertaining to employees, 1920-1926. 0.3 cu. ft.
B0370. Trial balance book for the Barge Canal, 1913-1916. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Chronological by month.
B0353. Index to final estimates of contracts for the eastern division of the Erie Canal, ca. 1880-1900. 0.3 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0393. Barge Canal contract final estimate folios, ca. 1915-1920. 10 cu. ft. (17 volumes)
Arrangement: Numerical by contract number.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0397. Monthly estimates for improvement, repair, and enlargement of the State's canal system, 1835-1907. 29 cu. ft. (115 volumes)
Arrangement: By division, then chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0655. Estimates for the Genesee Valley Canal, 1851-1855. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0374. Engineer's estimates of cost for canal contracts, ca. 1895-1915. 1 cu. ft. (3 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological by date of estimate.
Finding aids: Volume list.
Indexes: Each volume contains an alphabetical index to projects.
B0366. Monthly estimates for construction of Barge Canal, 1905. 0.3 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Numerical by estimate number.
B0365. Preliminary estimates for construction of Barge Canal, 1904-1916. 0.4 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Chronological by date of estimate.
Indexes: Numerical index by contract number.
B0732. Preliminary estimates of quantities and costs for Barge Canal contracts, 1907-1909. 0.3 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0367. Preliminary estimates for construction of Barge Canal terminals, 1912-1918. 0.4 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Numerical by terminal contract number.
B0685. Summary of estimates for extraordinary canal repairs on the western division, 1895-1904. 0.2 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0699. Bills of materials used in canal construction and repair projects, ca. 1854-1904. 1.2 cu. ft. (9 volumes)
Arrangement: By division, then chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0720. Check register, 1920-1922. 0.4 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0672. Work force account, contract, and estimates of expenses regarding Erie Basin and slips in Buffalo, 1858-1862. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0680. Weekly employee reports, 1885-1895. 0.2 cu. ft. (2 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
Finding aids: Volume list.
B0742. Salaries paid to personnel temporarily employed on the middle division of the Erie Canal, 1893-1906. 0.2 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0684. Work force book for Section 13, 1898. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0683. Personal and employment histories of western division employees, 1899-1907. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0384. Eastern, middle, and western division canal records, ca. 1848-1900. 12.5 cu. ft.
These records consist of fragments from many series relating to canals. The records include calculations, specifications, monthly estimates, instructions, damage claims, contracts, Canal Board resolutions, surveys, preliminary estimates, advertisements, lettings, proposals, maps, plans, and final accounts.
B0326. Requisitions for supplies for construction of the Barge Canal, 1908. 0.3 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Chronological by date of requisition.
