Research: Topics: Transportation: Guide to Canal Records
Guide to Canal Records
State Engineer and Surveyor
- Office of Special Deputy State Engineer
- Western Division Engineer's Office
- Canal Board
- Canal Commissioners
- Canal Contracting Board
Office of Special Deputy State Engineer
B0227. Correspondence files, 1904-1907. 7 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Chronological.
This series documents the Special Deputy State Engineer's active and vital role in the early construction of the Barge Canal. The files consist mostly of incoming and outgoing correspondence but also contain magazine and journal articles; diagrams, sketches, drawings, and blueprints; duplicate estimates of costs for proposed construction projects; duplicate notices to vacate lands appropriated by the State; and "shop bills" regarding construction materials supplied to the State by private firms. Specific topics include construction methods and materials used for building the Barge Canal; results of various structural tests; progress of construction work; damage claims filed against the State; disposition of surplus water and excavation waste; extra work orders on contracts issued by the State Engineer and Surveyor; construction of bridges; contract bidding and letting; water elevations; costs of electrical power; proposed locations of the Barge Canal; contract violations; construction and dimensions of barges; location of railroad tracks along various parts of the Barge Canal; and the revision of contract plans and specifications.
Finding aids: Container list.
Western Division Engineer's Office
B0383. Correspondence and subject files, 1849-1908, bulk 1878-1897. 8.5 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Chronological by date of correspondence.
Finding aids: Container list.
B0331. Assistant Engineer's letter book, 1908-1909. 0.3 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Chronological by date of correspondence.
Canal Board
B0212. Printed proceedings of the Canal Board and the Canal Contracting Board, 1857-1871. 0.6 cu. ft. (2 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
This volume contains newspaper clippings mainly of Canal Board proceedings, with Canal Contracting Board proceedings interspersed. Most of the proceedings deal with the awarding of contracts and progress of work. Other subjects include appointments of various canal officials and employees, improvements and alterations made to the canal system, and resolutions adopted.
B0209. Record of canal contracts, 1898-1907. 0.5 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Numerical by contract number.
This volume contains summary information on canal contracts awarded between 1899 and 1907 for improvements on the State's canal system as authorized by the Canal Board. Data provided on canal contracts includes name and serial number of contract; authorizing legislation; description of work to be performed; location; date of Canal Board's approval; date advertised; date bids were opened; number of formal bids; date contract was awarded and executed; name and residence of contractor; construction period allowed by contract; delays; date of completion; date when final estimate was paid; name and address of inspection; appropriation; engineer's estimate; contractor's bid; actual cost of construction (final estimate, engineering, advertising, and inspection costs); and remarks.
Indexes: Alphabetical subject index in the volume.
B0348. Registers of contract proposals regarding the enlargement of the Erie Canal, 1851. 0.6 cu. ft. (7 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological by date of proposal.
Finding aids: Volume list.
A0853. State Engineer and Surveyor's maps and plans for the Hudson and Champlain Improvement survey, 1866. 1 volume
Colored plans and maps depict proposed improvements along the Hudson and Champlain Canal. The maps and plans were made in 1866 and have been bound together in one volume. The plans depict bridges; arch culverts; waste weirs; locks; and dams. The volume also contains a plan giving river profiles of the Hudson River from Troy to Fort Edward and of the Champlain Canal from Troy to Whitehall. The five map sheets depict lot sites, dams, locks, property owners, and streets of towns and cities bordering the canal. A law of 1866 (Chapter 33) appropriated $7,000 for the State Engineer and Surveyor to do the surveys and to report to the Canal Board by 1867 (January 1st).
B0206. Record of petitions for Barge Canal terminals, 1911-1913. 0.2 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Arrangement: Chronological by date of petition.
This series tracks petitions for construction of Barge Canal terminals throughout the State. Information recorded includes location of terminal; file number; by whom the petition was presented; date received; date returned for correction, if necessary; date approved; date investigation commenced, if necessary; result of investigation; date petition was filed with the Canal Board; tenor of report; date petitioners were notified of proposed modification or rejection; date modification accepted; date of hearing before Canal Board; date of Canal Board's final action; date when State Engineer and Surveyor was authorized to prepare plans and specifications; date of approval of plans; date work was advertised; date bids were opened; to whom contract was awarded; amount of engineer's estimate; contract price; and date of completion.
Indexes: A geographical name index allows access by site by proposed terminal.
Canal Commissioners
B0716. Expenditures made for improvement and repair of the middle division, 1840-1846. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
B0704. Proposals and lists of proposals received for work done on the middle division, 1873-1894. 0.1 cu. ft. (1 volume)
Canal Contracting Board
B0207. Rough minutes, 1854-1861. 0.5 cu. ft. (2 volumes)
Arrangement: Chronological.
The Canal Contracting Board let contracts on behalf of the State for work on canals. The minutes concern contracts awarded or refused, structures to be built, and resolutions adopted by the board. There are no minutes from 1862 through 1870, when the board was abolished.
A4028. Bid proposals for construction work on Black River Canal reservoirs, 1859. 0.2 cu. ft. (1 volume)
This is a volume of forms onto which were transcribed nine proposals submitted to the Contracting Board by contractors seeking to complete construction of the South Branch Reservoir, the Woodhull Reservoir, or both. The reservoirs were designed to restore to the Black River the quantity of water diverted to the Black River Canal and the enlarged Erie Canal. Proposals provide name of contractor; contractor's town and county of residence in New York State; schedule of projected costs for various tasks and materials needed to complete the work; amount of bond given by contractor for payment of laborers' wages; names of persons who signed bond; city and date of signing of proposal; and notarization.
