r Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/reportofstateeng01newy F 120 .N53 Copy 1 IH KEPORT OF THE g^ 1^^^ --^^l^^-^^^T^ STATE ENGINEER AND SURVEYOR RELATIVE TO MAP OF THE STATE. Transmitted to the Legislature February 28, 1857. ALBANY: C. VAN BENTHUTSEN, PRINTER TO THE LEGISLATURE, No. 407 Broadway. 1857. fr-° N 53 fws o. m ASSEIBLI FEB. 28, 1857. REEMT Of the State Eaffiiieer aad Surveyor relative to map of the Office of the State Engineer and Surveyor, Mbany, February 26, 1857 : To the Hoix. D. W. C. Littlejohn, Speaker of the Assembly: Sir — The State Engineer and Surveyor has received a resolu- tion, passed by the House of Assembly, of which the following is a copy : STATE OF NEW-YORK : Assembly Chamber, ? Mba7iy, February 18, 1857. i Resolved, That the State Engineer and Surveyor be requested to report to the Legislature at his earliest convenience whether the provisions of article 1, title 6 of the Revised Statutes have been complied with in relation to a map of the State to be re- tained in the office of the State Engineer and Surveyor, upon which has been delineated the bounds of all the towns and coun- ties erected or altered by the Legislature; also whether the ma- terials for such a map are now on file in said office, and if not, whether the State Engineer and Surveyor has any, and what knowledge of the existence of such information, and any power under existing laws to obtain and embody the same in an accu- [Assembly, No. 114 | I L^SO S.E.J ' 3 [Assembly rate map of the State, and if any and what legislation is neces- sary in order to enable the State Engineer and Surveyor to pre- pare an accurate atlas, composed of each county in the State, accompanied by such statistical information as may be deemed desirable, together with a revised map of the State as recom- mended to the Legislature in the late annual report of the State Engineer; also an estimate of the cost of the same, together with such other suggestions and information upon the subject as he may think the interests of the State require. By order, WM. EICHARDSON, Clerk. and in reply thereto, has the honor to submit the following EEPORT. The second section of the act referred to in the resolution, re- quires that "the State Engineer and Surveyor shall retain in his office, a map of this State, and shall from time to time delineate thereon the bounds of all the towns or counties erected or alter- ed by the Legislature. There is no map of the above description now in the office of the State Engineer, and the only approximation towards it, is an old State map and atlas, by David H. Burr, compiled of the counties in the State, and published by Stone & Clark in the year 1839. There is no authenticated record or map of the bounds of all the towns or counties erected or altered by the Legislature, on file in this office from which an accurate map can be compiled. And the State Engineer has no knowledge of the existence of such information, except that some enterprising map publishers have recently published maps of several of the counties of the State, and it is believed that materials for the publication of maps of nearly all the counties have been, and are now being prepared by these publishers at an expense of from thirty to forty thousand dollars as a matter of private enterprise and spe- culation. It has occurred to the State Engineer, that the information already obtained by these gentlemen may be made available to No 114.] S the county clerks, and to the State, for a consideration which the State can consistently grant, by securing to these parties the use of the copy right of the atlas and maps of the State for a certain number of years. ^ A correspondence upon this subject is annexed to this report, from which it will 'be seen that the use of the copy rights is re- garded as a very desirable consideration by these parties, and that it will go far towards furnishing the State with the informa- tion designed to be obtained. The State Engineer has no means of judging of the accuracy of the surveys and other information obtained by these parties, but there will be no difficulty in deciding, after a proper inves- tigation, as to whether they are sufficiently accurate for the purposes contemplated. The correspondence hereto annexed between Governor Sew- ard, Professor Bache, and Messrs. Blodget and Lesley, of ascer- taining the latitude and longitude, altitude and true meridian of all the county seats in the State, and also suggestions with re- ference to geological, mineralogical and climatological statistics, will show the great importance attached to this branch of the subject, by these distinguished men. And the State Engineer cannot urge too strongly upon the Legislature the importance of making provisions for the speedy accomplishment of a work so desirable in all respects, and one which will prove to be credita- ble to the great and wealthy State of New -York. A rough and imperfect draft of a bill is submitted herewith for the consideration of the Legislature, as embodying substanti- ally the plan recommended for carrying out the suggestions con- tained in the late annual report of the State Engineer upon this subject. Respectfully submitted, S. SEYMOUR, 4 [Assembly AN ACT to provide for the compilation of an accurate map and. atlas of the State ^ The People of the State of JYew-York represented in Senate and Assembly do enact as follows: Sec. 1 . It shall be the duty of the supervisor of each town or ward in this State to furnish to the clerk of the county in which such town or ward may be located, whenever the same may be required by said clerk, the whole or any portion of an accurate survey of said town or ward, showing the boundary lines of the same with courses and distances, together with the true position and delineation of all creeks, rivers, lakes, coasts, islands, roads, streets, railroads, canals and boundary lines of all cities and villages, together with all lines of original grants, lots and re- servations, together with such other information as may be re- quired by the clerk of the county in which said township or ward may be situated, and in the manner and form prescribed by the clerk of said county. § 2. It shall be the duty of the clerk of each county in this State to compile or cause to be compiled, from said township or ward maps, a true and authentic map of said county, which said county map shall be made in all respects to conform with direc- tions furnished to the said county clerk by the State Engineer and Surveyor. Upon the completion of said county map, the original shall be placed on file in the office of the county clerk of said county, and a true copy thereof, to which shall be affixed the certificate and seal of said county clerk, attesting its authen- ticity, shall be forwarded by said county clerk to the office of the State Engineer and Surveyor in the city of Albany. § 3. All cases of dispute between adjoining towns as to the lines dividing the same, may be compromised and settled by the supervisors of such towns, and a correct survey of such lines as determined shall be madej but no such line shall affect the right or title to any property of any individual or corporation in ei- ther town ; and in case said disputes are not compromised and settled as above authorized, within three months after the pas- sage of this act, all such disputes shall then immediately be No. 114.J 5 brought to the notice of the State Engineer and Surveyor, to- gether with all the proofs and allegations connected therewith, in order that he may hear and determine the same in accordance with the provisions of part 1, chap, 8, title 6, sec. 5 of the Ke- vised Statutes. ^ 4. In case of the refusal or neglect of any supervisor or county clerk to perform the duties enjoined on him by the pro- visions of this act, it shall be the duty of the State Engineer and Surveyor to employ competent surveyors and draftsmen, and to cause to be prepared such accurate township, county and city maps, as are described in sections 1, 2 and 7, of this act. § 5. It shall be the duty of the State Engineer and Surveyor, on the receipt of the maps ot the several counties and cities of this State as provided for in this act, to compile or cause to be compiled from the same, an accurate map of this State on a scale of miles to the inch, which said map shall be kept in some convenient and accessible place in the oflB.ce of the State Engi- neer and Surveyor, and shall at all times be accessible to and subject to the inspection of the public oflS.cers and citizens of this State at all reasonable hours; but shall at no time be removed from, the office of said State Engineer and Surveyor. The ca- nals, railroads, and principal highways of the State, together with the streams, lakes, sounds, coasts, and islands, shall be correctly delineated upon said map in such manner as may be prescribed by the State Engineer and Surveyor. § 6. It shall be the duty of the supervisor of each town or ward that may hereafter be erected or altered, to transmit to the county clerk a correct delineation of the town so altered or con- structed; and it shall be the duty of the clerk of each county that may be erected or altered, or that may contain any town that may have been altered or erected, or in which any canal, railroad or other public improvement may have been completed subsequent to the transmission of the county map as provided for in section 2, of this act, to transmit to the State Engineer and Surveyor an authenticated copy of the county so altered or erected, or containing towns which may have been so altered or erected, or containing said canals, railroads or other public im- 6 [Assembly provements which may have been constructed, and to place the original of said corrected county map on file in th© clerk's oflQ.ce of said county; and it shall be the duty of the State Engineer and Surveyor to cause to be delineated upon said map of the State, the bounds of all towns or counties so altered or erected by the Legislature, together with all such canals, railroads, or other public improvements, as may hereafter be constructed in this State. The expenses incurred by the respective supervisors and county clerks, or by the State Engineer and Surveyor, upon the neglect or refusal of said supervisors and county clerks in car- rying out the provisions and requirements of this act, shall be assessed and levied, by the board of supervisors, upon the re- spective cities and towns, in and for which said expenses shall be incurred. ^ 7. The State Engineer and Surveyor is authorised to adopt the means necessary for ascertaining the latitude and longitude, altitude and true meridian, of some permanent point or mon- ument, at or near each county seat in this State, for the purpose of fixing said points with the greatest accuracy upon the afore- said map of the State, provided the expenses attending the same do not exceed the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars. § 8. The State Engineer and Surveyor is authorized to secure, for the benefit and in the name of the people, the copy right of the State, county and township maps, and contract in behalf of the State for the engraving and publication in atlas form of the said county maps, which said atlas shall also contain such sta- tistical or other information in relation to the population, wealth, resources, geology and climatology of the State as may be compiled from the latest census, or from other reliable sources in a convenient form for publication; and he is also authorized to contract for the publication of the said map of the State, upon such scale and in such convenient form as he may determine, and guarantee to the parties with whom he shall make such contracts, the exclusive enjoyment of the copy rights of the said atlas and map for the term of their duration. No. 114.1 7 § 9. If any parties proposing to enter into contract for the publication of said atlas and map, shall have made the necessary surveys for the townships and county maps with such accuracy as to meet the requirements of this act, and shall furnish the results of such surveys to the supervisors and county clerks throughout the State ; the State Engineer and Surveyor may contract with such parties for the said publication- and the en- joyment of the said copy rights, on such equitable terms as will give said parties a fair compensation for their surveys, and se- cure to the State a sufficient number of copies of the said atlas and map for use in all public offices and for general distribution and exchange; and in contracting for such publication with parties who shall have made and shall furnish as aforesaid any portion of such surveys, the State Engineer and Surveyor is au; thorised to allow an equitable consideration for such surveys; but no sale or disposition of the said copy rights shall be made, which does not produce to the State a sum equivalent to the cost to the State of all the said surveys and other information togeth- er provided for by this act. § 10. All laws or parts of laws which conjBlict, or in any man- ner interfere with the provisions of this act, are hereby repealed. § 11. This act shall take eifect immediately. CORRESPONDENCE. The undersigned asks leave to call the attention of the Chief Engineer, to the materials which he has prepared for the map and atlas of New-York, recommended to the Legislature in the annual report as being much needed. I have actual and accurate surveys of nearly all the counties composing the State, and can in a few weeks complete the whole number. They have been made at a cost of about thirty-five thousand dollars, and embrace an amount of topographical in- formation that is invaluable to the citizens. I now propose to reduce these county maps to an uniform scale, and make a more complete map and atlas of New- York than is possessed by any State in America, 8 [Assembly To do this as thoroughly as should be done for New- York, accurate observations of latitude and longitude, and topography- are needed, on a scale of expense far beyond the means of a private enterprise. Could the Engineer's department be autho- rized to have these executed by competent parties, the work would be of practical and permanent benefit, and the State would possess, at a cost of 120,000, afar more valuable and com- plete map than was obtained by the much smaller State of Massachusetts at a cost of between one and two hundred thousand dollars. The time throughout the State could then be accurately and easily adjusted weekly or oftener from the Dudley Observatory. The air line distance from distant or near points could be readily told to within a few yards, and accurate knowledge would be substituted for the loose and inaccurate estimates of distances now used. Permanent land marks, valuable in all time to come, will be settled ; and the variations of the compass that now perplex sur- veyors and throw doubt on land boundaries, will be easily cor- "rected. The general surface of the country would be delineated accu- rately for any proposed roads, canals or railroads, or lor future geological research. A valuable contribution to geological science would be made, and an example set to other States of what should be done by all, to secure definite notions of American geography. I ask leave to call attention to the accompanying letters from Governor Seward; the superintendent of the coast survey, A. Dallas Bache; and J. P. Lesley, one of the first engineers of the country. They contain plans and estimates for the work alluded to, and it will be seen that Professor Bache has generously offer- ed to superintend the work without compensation. I subscribe myself, very respectfully, ROBERT PEARSALL SMITH. S, Seymour, State Engineer ^x., Albany^ JY. Y. No. 114.] 9 ( COPY. ) Washington, March 25, 1856. My Dear Sir, — The plan of a large topographical map of the State of New- York has been submitted to me, from which I infer that the work when completed will be an eminently useful one. It has occurred to me, that it would be a valuable addition to the map, if the latitude and longitude of various points in the State, exactly ascertained, could be noticed on it. Can you sug- gest any mode by which this could be done through the aid of the observers engaged in your bureau 1 I am, with respect, &c.. Your obedient servant, WM. H. SEWARD. Prof. A. D. Bache, &c. &c. ( COPY. ) Coast Survey Office, ■ Washington, March 27, 1857. My Dear Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of March 25th, in regard to the map of the State of New- York, by Mr. Robert P. Smith. The suggestion that the latitude and longitude of various points in the State could now be determined with a view to greater completeness to the map strikes me as a very useful one. The longitude of the most im- portant county seats upon or near the railroads can be deter- mined by telegraph and be referred to the Dudley Observatory at Albany, the arrangements for opening which are complete, and which is now for the first time available for this purpose. The importance of the regulation of the time along the line of these roads is obvious, and the trustees of the Dudley Observatory have already called the attention of the directors of the Central and of the Erie roads to it, and have at least in one case, met a favorable response. They have also laid the subject before the mayor of the city of New- York, by whom it has been presented in terms of approbation to the councils. The air line distances of the principal cities and towns of the State from each other [Assembly, No. 114.] % 10 [Assembly would be given by observations of latitude and longitude. Where the telegraph does not afford facilities for determining the lon- gitude, the transportation of chronometers would give an ap- proximate result. The placing of suitable marks on the true meridian, the posi- tion of which at each place, would be determined by observa- tion, would enable surveyors to determine at any time the vari- , ation of the compass and its changes, and thus avoid much of the diflaculty in identifying the lines of former surveys, and in running new lines. The latitude and longitude of say ten principal county seats, on or near the Central and Erie railroads, could be accurately determined for about twenty-five hundred dollars, exclusive of the pay of the observer. The latitude of all the county towns of the State, and the approximate longitude, could be determin- ed for about fifteen thousand dollars, and this would fix accu- rately geographically, so many (59) points in the State map to serve as points of standard reference for the rest of the map. If the Secretary of the Treasury assented, I could organize the system of observation for the State, and would do so cheer- fully, and of course, without remuneration. With the same approval, suitable instruments could from time to time be lent from the coast survey and observers could be trained at the Dudley Observatory, and in our parties without expense. It is even possible that occasional volunteers might be found who, at a season of relief from coast survey field work, might make their regular computations at these points, and direct or even do part of the observing. The regular work of the coast survey assistants is too ex- hausting and continuous however, to make this other than a vol- unteer matter to be undertaken occasionally. Yours respectfully, A. D. BACHE, Superintendent. Hon. Wm. H. Seward, U. S, Senate. No. 114. J 11 Philadelphia, Dec. Zlst, 1856. Bear Sirj — In acknowledging the receipt of your favor where- in you do me the honor to request my opinion of what should be done to represent upon the State map of New-York, the geology of the State, I reply that the geology of the palaeozoic regions like that of southern or central New-York, is adequately expressed only by the topography or relief structure. By this alone when it is justly rendered to the eye, the geologist can read the strata, and their relationship. But it is essential that the details of the surface be put in — not conjecturally as is always to a great ex* tent done, but precisely as they exist ; in which case also structural laws exist, which no other method suffices to discover. To do this for New- York, peculiar facilities are now afforded by Mr. E. Pearsall Smith's county maps and surveys, in which the whole preliminary work is done, at a great expense; and now, the topographer with one or two assistants, in a single season, can lay down upon these, and afterwards upon a reduced scale upon the State map, accurately all the features of the surface — at the same time the out crops of the formations will go in according to the directions given to them by the contour lines of the surface. The expense would not exceed I think five thousand dollars. The Adirondac region is very much a terra incognita still, and should be studied, for it contains not only great wealth, but the solution of certain curious and important geological problems. Prof. James Hall would no doubt explain the peculiar interest geologists are forced to take in the determining by some careful survey, based upon accurate topography, the structure of this anomalous portion of the State, belonging as it in fact does to the Labradorian region. There are a sufficient number of main lines of canal and rail road leveled across the State to serve as a basis for a well arranged system of aeroid observations, of which the contour lines can be every where drawn with an approximation to truth sufficiently near for every practical and scientific purpose; and if the desired astronomical determination of a number of county seats were made, the most elaborate ordinance survey, costing , 12 [Assembly say a million of dollars, would attain results of little additional value; in fact, nothing would be left to be done in the way of a clear, true and useful picture of the State. I beg leave to subscribe myself, dear sir, Very respectfully, yours, J. P. LESLEY, Topographical Engineer. Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1857 Col. S. Seymour, State Engineer: Dear Sir, — In the prosecution of scientific researches in regard to climate, I have recently given much attention to those in the sense of Geography, and at a very recent address before the Geological society of New- York, several eminent gentlemen sug- gested the application of this geography of climates to the area of the State of New- York, in greater detail and with greater pre- cision than could be done in the large maps I then employed, which were for the whole United States. Such an illustration may readily be added to State and county maps, and as I learned at Albany that extensive maps are being prepared under the auspices of your office, I write to urge upon you to permit the addition to them of such an illustration as I propose. The State has, as you are aware, given attention for more than thirty years to the collection of climatological statistics at the colleges and academies, and this mass is now amply sufficient to define the climate of every part of the State clearly. The mode of doing this by isothermal, and rain or hyetal charts, has recently been perfected under the auspices of the Surgeon Gene- ral's office of the War department at Washington, and not only the scientific public and the State, but the whole country, would be greatly interested in seeing this system applied to the State of New-York, giving a geography of the climates as well as of surface. If such an opportunity -as I suggest is offered by gen- eral maps, the very large expense of engraving which would attend an independent efibrt to so represent its climates will be saved, and a sum of two thousand five hundred dollars would No. 114.] IS furnish all the drawings of this matter in the most complete form, with the proper statistics and text in explanation. Should the State undertake the representation of physical features of any sort, I trust the climate may not be passed over, when at so small an expense, so thoroiigh and valuable a representation can be made, and this to accompany every map of the State. Very respectfully, your ob't serv't, LORIN BLODGET. P. S. The general maps I understand to be in progress or at least in design under your auspices, are of great interest to those who desire accurate work, and whatever scientific departments may be added to them, I trust they may in no contingency fail to be authorised by the Legislature. Office of the State Engineer and Surveyor, Mhany, February 23c?, 1857. Messrs. Robert Pears all Smith & J. H. French. Gentlemen, — I understand that you have in your possession accurate surveys of fifty-seven counties in this State, and that the surveys of the remaining three counties are now in course of preparation; and also that you have it in contemplation to publish a State map and atlas which shall be based upon these surveys. The Legislature have recently passed a resolution of enquiry, a copy of which I enclose herewith, with reference to supplying the deficiency which now exists in the office of the State Engi- neer and Surveyor with authentic maps of the difierent counties and of the State. And with a view to answering this resolution, I feel authorised to ask you to make a proposition, stating the terms upon which you will furnish to the clerk of each county and city in this State, such information as will enable him to furnish to the office of the State Engineer and Surveyor an au- thenticated map of his respective city or county, upon which shall be correctly delineated, upon such scale as may be pre- scribed by the State Engineer and Surveyor, all creeks, rivers, lakes, coasts, islands, roads, railroads, canals and other improve- ments, together with all town lines, and original grant, lot and 14 [Assembly reservation lines, with the general topography of the county, and such other information as may be required by the clerk, in order to enable him to furnish to the State Engineer such a map of the county or city as may be required by law. In naming the terms above referred to, it will be proper for you to specify, as a consideration for the same, that you shall have the exclusive right to publish said county and State maps, as the same may be authenticated by the State Engineer under the authority of the Legislature, for a limited number of years, and that you will furnish to the State a specified number of the same for use, exchange and distribution. Tours respectfully, S. SEYMOUR, State Engineer and Surveyor. New- York, February^ 24, 1857. To. Col. S. Seymour, State Engineer and Surveyor: We are in the receipt of favor of the 23d inst., and in reply would state, that we will furnish to each county clerk through- out New-York State, the materials necessary to enable him to make correct maps of the towns composing his county accord- ing to the requisitions of the law, free of charge, wherever our materials embrace all the lot and reservation lines in existence, which is in, say twenty-six counties. Where our surveys do not include the lot and reservation lines, we will furnish topograph- ical surveys free of charge, and will, when desired, insert the lot and reservation lines for twenty-five dollars per town. Or, we will furnish to the several county clerks, maps of ev- ery town in their respective counties, ready draughted as provi- ded by law, for twenty-five dollars per town, and will then on publication deliver, free of charge, a copy of the atlas of the State to each of the State ofSces at Albany, and one to each county clerk's oflBce throughout the State, with fifty copies to the State for exchange. As a consideration for this information furnished to the State free of charge, we shall expect to have the exclusive right to No. 114.J 15 publish said county and State maps as the same may be authen- ticated by the State Engineer under authority of the Legislature, for the full term of the copy right of the said map and atlas. Also, we are to have for the map and atlas the results of the astronomical observations ' proposed to be made for the State of New- York, by the superintendent of the United States coast sur- vey. Also any geological and meteorological statistics in pos- session of the State previous to the issue of the atlas and map in its several editions. Should the State accept this proposition, we are prepared to proceed energetically and promptly with the work and to bring it to an early completion. Very respectfully, &c., ROBERT PEARSALL SMITH, J. H. FRENCH. ^ ^