USA > New York > A geographical history of the state of New York: embracing its history, government, physical features, climate, geology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, education, internal improvements, &c., with a separate map of each county > Part 15
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For a full exposition of the duties of all the officers of the common school system, reference may be had to the common school law, a copy of which may be found in each district.
Statistics of the Common Schools. From the last annual report of the state superintendent, made to the legislature, in January, 1846, we gather the following statistics :
Whole number of children between the ages of five and sixteen, in the state, Jan., 1845, 690,914
Whole number, of all ages, under instruction the whole or a part of
the year, 1845,
-
-
736,045
Average annual increase of children between the ages of five and sixteen, since 1815, is more than - 18,000
Average annual increase of children of all ages, receiving instruction,
20,549
Average number of months in which schools have been kept during the year 1845, 8
Amount of public money paid for teachers' wages in 1845, $629,856 94
Amount paid on rate bills for the same purpose, 458,127 00
Amount expended for district libraries, Total, $1,087,983 94
$95,159 25
Number of volumes in district libraries, 1st July, 1845, 1,145,250
Average annual increase of volumes, 100,000
Number of pupils in attendance at private and select schools in 1845, 56,058
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
By an act, passed by the legislature of 1844, $9,600 was appropri- ated for that year, and $10,000 annually, for five years thereafter, and until otherwise directed by law, for the establishment and support of a state normal school, for the instruction and practice of teachers
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
of common schools, in the science of education, and in the art of teaching.
This institution is located in the city of Albany, and placed under the direction of the state superintendent of common schools, and the regents of the university. This board appoint an executive commit- tee, of five persons, of whom the state superintendent is one, ex offi- cio, to superintend the general interests of the school, to carry into effect the laws enacted for its regulation, and to report to the board annually.
By the regulations of the executive committee, superintendent, and board of regents, each county of the state is entitled to a number of pupils equal to double its representation in the house of assembly, making in all 256 pupils .; to be selected by the county and town su- perintendents. No charge for instruction or for books is made; and each pupil receives a sum sufficient, on a liberal estimate, to defray his or her traveling expenses, to and from the institution.
The board of instruction consists of a principal, a professor of mathematics, a teacher of vocal music, one of drawing, and six sub- ordinate teachers, in the various branches, deemed requisite to the complete preparation of teachers of common schools.
Connected with the institution are two experimental schools, com- posed of fifty children each, between the ages of five and sixteen, and under the general supervision of a teacher, specially appointed for this purpose. Into these, the more advanced pupils of the normal school pass, in succession, for a period of three or four weeks each, to test their practical abilities, as educators, before their final grad- uation.
No definite term of instruction is prescribed. Each pupil is re- quired to complete a specified course of studies, to the full satisfac- tion of the principal and board of instructors, by whom, and the ex- ecutive committee, diplomas, setting forth that fact, are conferred, semi-annually, in the months of March and September.
The institution is furnished with a large and well selected library, and all the scientific apparatus requisite to a full and thorough course of instruction, in the various branches of a sound, English education. The number of students, of both sexes, in 1846, exceeded two hundred.
CITY SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS.
1. City of New York. In the city of New York, the common schools are divided into three classes, viz: 1st, Public and Primary schools, under the care of the public school society; 2d, Ward schools, under the management of the commissioners, inspectors and trustees of the respective wards; 3d, Corporate schools, conducted by officers, elected under their respective charters.
These are all subject to the general supervision of the county su- perintendent, and to the inspection and management of the board of education, which consists of two commissioners, two inspectors, and five trustees in each ward. These officers are elected by the people ; the commissioners and inspectors hold their offices for two years, and the trustees for five years. They all participate in the public money, and in that raised by the general and special laws, for school purposes.
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PUBLIC EDUCATION.
The Public School Society was incorporated by the legislature, in 1805, and up to the year 1843, had the entire control of all the com- mon schools in the city. They have eighteen public, and fifty-four primary schools, beside two public and four primary schools for col- ored children. In these schools, in 1846, 22,500 children were in - structed, at a cost, for tuition, of a little more than $73,000.
There are three normal schools, also, under the control of this society, intended for the instruction of the monitors, and junior teachers of the schools; these normal schools are held on Saturday of each week, and during a portion of the year, in the evenings of the other days of the week. To each of the primary and public schools, a well selected library is attached.
The ward schools occupy from twenty to twenty-five buildings, comprising upwards of fifty schools, and having more than 25,000 children under instruction. There are, beside, thirteen corporate schools, mostly connected with benevolent institutions, and embra- cing upwards of 2000 scholars.
The aggregate number of children taught in all the public schools, during some portion of the year, exceeds fifty thousand; and it is supposed that about 30,000 more attend the various select schools in the city.
The amount of public money annually expended for common schools, is as follows:
Apportioned by the state $35,000 00
An equal amount raised by tax
35,000 00
One twentieth of one per cent. on the valuation of real and personal property
114,610 63
Raised under special acts
8,360 66
Total $192,971 29
2. City of Rochester. The common schools of this city are under the control of a board of education, consisting of two commissioners for each ward, annually elected by the people of the several wards, and a city superintendent, chosen by them.
The schools are entirely supported by taxation, no charge being made for instruction or text books. There are in the city, sixteen school houses, all substantial buildings, furnished with ample play grounds, and other conveniences. In these edifices there are be- tween forty and fifty schools, under the care of sixteen male, and thirty female teachers, and comprising about 6000 children, nearly all that are of suitable age, residing in the city.
3. City of Buffalo. The mayor and aldermen of the city are, ex officio, commissioners of common schools ; and are required annually to appoint a city superintendent. The schools are free, being, as in Ro- chester, entirely sustained by taxation. The number of districts is fifteen, and the schools are under the care of fifteen male, and thirty- six female instructors, having, in attendance, about 7000 children.
4. City of Hudson. The members of the common council are here, also, ex officio, commissioners of common schools. They ap- point three superintendents, who, together, constitute a board of ed- ucation for the city. An amount, equal to four times the apportion - ment from the state funds, is raised by tax, and the remaining ex-
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
penses are defrayed by rate bills, against those who send to the schools.
5. City of Brooklyn. Here, too, the common council are, from their office, commissioners of common schools; the general manage- ment of which is committed to a board of education, consisting of two members from each district appointed by the common council. They are divided into three classes, one of which annually goes out of office. The schools are free, deriving their support from assess- ments on the taxable property of the city.
6. City of Utica. The board of Commissioners for common schools in this city, consists of six members, two of whom are elect- ed annually. They hold their office for three years. The rate bills may not exceed $2.00 per term. The remaining sums necessary for the support of schools, beyond the state apportionment, are raised by taxes.
7. City of Schenectady. The Schenectady Lancasterian school society has the general control of public education, in this city and receives, and disburses the public money applicable to this purpose.
8. City of Albany. The public schools of this city are under the supervision of a board of commissioners, nine in number, ap- pointed by the Mayor, Recorder, and such of the Regents as may re- side in the city. The members of this board, hold office for three years, one third going out of office each year.
The schools are not entirely free, the sum raised by tax being only twice the amount received from the state ; but the indigent are ex- empted from the payment of rate bills ; and a certain number of indi- gent pupils, who have attended the district schools at least two years, are supported at either of the academies of the city, or at the state normal school. Instruction in vocal music is provided in all the schools. The number of school districts is ten, and children in- structed about 3000.
The city of Troy, and the villages of Poughkeepsie and Williams- burgh, have separate local systems, similar to those above described.
UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, AND ACADEMIES.
Regents of the University. These institutions are, by law, placed under the supervision, and subject to the visitation of a board, organ- ized by the legislature in 1784, under the title of "Regents of the University of the state of New York." This board consists of twen- ty-one persons ; of this board, the Governor and Lieutenant Gover- nor are, ex officio, members, and the others are appointed by the le- gislature, and hold office, during its pleasure.
Its officers are, a Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Secretary, and Treasurer, elected by the board. It is their duty to examine, and re- port to the legislature, the modes of education, discipline, number of students, course of study, funds, debts, &c., of the institutions un- der their charge.
They are also empowered to fill vacancies in the offices of presi- dent or principal of these institutions ; to confer degrees, under cer- tain circumstances, above that of Master of Arts; to apportion the annual income of the literature fund, among the several senate dis- tricts ; and to incorporate academies, on compliance with such terms as they may prescribe.
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PUBLIC EDUCATION.
The Literature Fund, appropriated to the support of this class of institutions, amounts to $268,990 57, consisting of state, bank, and insurance stocks, and money in the treasury, besides 9625 acres of land, valued at $4300. It yields an annual revenue of about $75,000.
Of this amount, $40,000 is divided among the academies of the state ; $9000 to the university of the city of New York; $7000 to Geneva college, including its medical department; $3000 to Ham- ilton college ; $1000 to the Albany medical college; $2300 to Gen- esee Wesleyan Seminary ; $16,000 to the state normal school, and the balance to the purchase of books and apparatus for the various academies, in pursuance of the provisions of an act passed in 1834.
Universities and Colleges. There are at present, in this state, four incorporated universities, viz : the University of the city of New York, organized in 1832; the Madison University, at Hamilton, Madison county ; the Rochester University, and the Buffalo Univer- sity ; the three latter incorporated in 1846.
There are also four colleges; Columbia College, in the city of New York ; Union College, at Schenectady ; Hamilton College, at Clinton, Oneida county, and Geneva college, at Geneva, in Ontario county.
In addition to these, there are five medical schools, viz; the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city; the Medical Department of the University of the city of New York; the Albany Medical College; the Medical Department of Geneva College, and the Medical Department of the Buffalo University, organized in 1846.
Academies. There are 179 incorporated academies in the state, comprising upwards of 25,000 pupils of both sexes. The aggregate value of the land and buildings belonging to these institu- tions, exceeds $1,000,000; the value of the libraries belonging to them, $60,000, and of their apparatus, $56,600. The aggregate amount paid for tuition, during the year 1845, was over $200,000; the number of teachers employed, over 600; and the number of stu- dents gratuitously instructed, over 200.
The branches of study taught, embrace, in addition to those ordi- narily pursued in common schools, the higher departments of mathe- matics and natural Philosophy, with their various applications to practical uses ; the languages, ancient and modern ; the physical sci - ences ; moral and intellectual philosophy ; history in its widest and most comprehensive range; natural theology; political economy; vocal, and occasionally, instrumental, music ; drawing, and other ac- complishments.
There are several female academies and seminaries ; among which, the Albany Female Academy, and Female Seminary, the Troy, Rut- gers, in the city of New York, Poughkeepsie, Amsterdam, Schenec tady, Clinton, Utica, Auburn, Ontario at Canandaigua, Batavia, Le Roy, Seward, and Rochester Female Seminaries, are the most prominent.
Theological Seminaries. Of these there are nine, viz: the Ham- ilton Theological Institution, now forming a department of the Mad- ison University, in Hamilton, Madison county, under the patronage of the Baptist denomination, but open, without distinction, to students of every religious denomination, designing to prepare themselves for the gospel ministry ; the Oneida Conference Seminary, founded by the Methodists, and located in the village of Cazenovia, Madison
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
county ; the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, Livingston county ; Auburn Theological Seminary, (Presbyterian ;) the Hartwick Theological Seminary, (Lutheran ;) the Theological Seminary of the Associate Reformed Church of New York, at Newburgh, Orange county ; the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Epis- copal Church in the United States, located in New York city ; the Union Theological Seminary, in the same city ; and the Roman Cath- olic Ecclesiastical Seminary, at Rose Hill, in Westchester county. Collegiate Schools. There are seven of these institutions, located in different sections of the state. St. John's College, a Roman Cath- olic institution, pleasantly situated at Rose Hill, Westchester Co., about twelve miles from New York city, numbers 115 pupils ; St. Paul's College, St. Thomas' Hall, and St. Ann's Hall, at Flushing, Long Island, are under the patronage of the Protestant Episcopal de- nomination ; the latter is specially designed for the education of young ladies ; the Poughkeepsie Collegiate School, is located in the flourishing village of Poughkeepsie, and has a high reputation ; the Black River Literary and Religious Institute, is a well ordered and flourishing seminary, situated at Watertown, Jefferson county, and averages about 200 pupils ; and the New Brighton Collegiate School, situated on the heights, overlooking the village of New Brighton, on Staten Island, six miles from New York.
GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
OF THE
COUNTIES.
LAND PURCHASES REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK.
Ix the description of the several counties, references are made to the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, the Livingston Manor, the Kayaderosseras Patent, the Har- denburgh Patent, Phelps' and Gorhamn's Purchase, the Holland Land Company's Purchase. the Pulteney estate, the Military tract, Bingham's Purchase, Morris' estate, &c.
The first three of these, are fully described in the general historical sketch, and in the description of the counties of Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia and Saratoga.
The Hardenburgh Patent was granted at an early date to a Dutch citizen of wealth, and comprised the larger part of Delaware and Sullivan counties.
Phelps' and Gorham's Purchase included the Holland Land Company's purchase, the Pulteney estate, and the Morris estate.
The history of this purchase is as follows :
The second charter of Massachusetts, granted by William and Mary in 1691, bounded the territory of that colony westwardly, by the Pacific Ocean: thus dividing the present state of New York into two parts, separated from each other, by a section of the width of the state of Massachusetts.
The colony of New York, under the grants made to the Duke of York and Albany in 1664, claimed the whole extent of territory, at present included under her jurisdiction. These conflicting cîaims gave rise to long and harassing dis- putes, and protracted legal proceedings, but on the 16th of December, 1786, the controversy was settled, by a convention between the two states, concluded at Hartford, Conn.
By this convention, Massachusetts ceded to New York, all claim to the gov- ernment, sovereignty, and jurisdiction, of the lands in controversy ; and New York granted to Massachusetts, the right of pre-emption, (or first purchase,) from the Indians, and when so purchased, the fee simple of the soil, of all that part of the state, lying west of a meridian drawn through Seneca lake, except a tract one mile wide, along the shores of Lake Erie, and the Niagara river ; a territory now comprising thirteen entire counties, and the larger part of Wayne county, and containing nearly 600,000 inhabitants.
On the first of April, 1788, the state of Massachusetts contracted to sell to Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham, the right of pre-emption, to the whole of this vast tract, for the sum of one million dollars, to be paid in three equal instal- ments.
On the 8th of July, of the same year, Messrs. Phelps and Gorham made a treaty with the Indians in the neighborhood of Canandaigua, by which the Indian title was extinguished to the tract lying east of the Genesee river, and a tract extend- ing twelve miles west of that river, from York, in Genesee county, northward to the lake. This tract was confirmed to the contractors, by the Massachusetts legis- lature, in November, 1788.
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
In February, 1790, Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, having paid $666,666, on the purchase money, and being unable to pay the third instalment, at the time agreed, proposed to the state of Massachusetts, to surrender to the state the remaining portion, to which the Indian title was not extinguished, and should the amount already purchased of the Indians, prove more than one-third of the whole tract, to pay for the excess, at the average price of the whole. This proposition was accepted.
On the 18th of November, 1790, Messrs. Phelps and Gorham sold to Robert Morris, all of their tract east of the Genesee river, except the portion already sold to settlers, and two townships reserved to themselves. The tract thus sold, con- tained 1,264,000 acres, and Mr. Morris paid about $200,000 for it.
The lands surrendered to the state of Massachusetts were sold to Samuel Og- den, and by him to Robert Morris, who extinguished the Indian title for the sum of $100,000. Mr. Morris, by this purchase, became possessed of the greater part of the tract, originally purchased by Messrs. Phelps and Gorham.
Mr. Morris, soon after, sold to a company formed in Holland, a portion of the land thus purchased, comprising 3,200,000 acres, and including the present coun- ties of Erie, Niagara, Chautauque, and Cattaraugus. This company was known as the Holland Land Company, and their tract as the Holland Purchase. They established a land office at Batavia, and sold the land to actual settlers. Those lands which remained unsold, were, after a time, transferred to other associa- tions, but by far the larger part, are now owned by the inhabitants.
The tract purchased of Phelps and Gorham, by Mr. Morris, was sold by him, to Sir William Pulteney, and hence called the Pulteney estate. It comprised nearly all of Steuben, Yates, and Ontario counties, the east range of townships in Alle- gany, and the principal part of Livingston, Monroe, and Wayne counties. About one-third of the whole tract had been sold to companies and individuals, previous to Sir William's purchase. Mr. Williamson was appointed his agent, and opened land offices at Geneva and Bath. To his energy, public spirit, and liberality, the peo- ple of those counties are much indebted.
The tract lying between this estate, and the Holland purchase, was retained by Mr. Morris, and sold by him to actual settlers. It embraced portions of Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, and Allegany counties, and contained 500,000 acres.
The Military tract, or rather tracts, for there were two to which this name was applied, were bounty lands, granted by New York, to her soldiers, who had served during the revolutionary war ; an appropriation of 600 acres was made to every private soldier, and larger quantities to the officers.
The act, granting these lands, was passed in 1786, and the grant was made, with the proviso, that the Indian title should first be extinguished. The lands thus granted, comprised the present counties of Onondaga, Cortland, Tompkins, Cayuga, Seneca, and part of Oswego, and Wayne. It contained 1,680 000 acres. As, however, the Indian title was not immediately extinguished, the legislature, the same year, appropriated twelve northern townships in the present counties of Clinton, Franklin, and Essex, containing 768,000 acres, to the location of revolutionary patents. This was called the Old Military tract. The Indian title to the other traot, however, being extinguished in 1789, the greater part of the bounty lands were located in Onondaga, and the adjacent counties.
Bingham's Purchase was a tract some twenty miles square, lying partly in Broome county, and partly in the state of Pennsylvania. It was purchased by Messrs. Bingham, Wilson, and Cox, of Philadelphia, in 1785. Immediately north of this, was another purchase, made the succeeding year, by a company from Massachusetts, and containing 230,000 acres. There were sixty proprietors in this company.
Large tracts of land are also held in the counties of Jefferson and St. Law- rence, by the Messrs. Van Rensselaer, and Governeur Morris; and in different sections of the state, by Gerrit Smith, Esq., of Peterboro, Chenango county, and the heirs of the Messrs. Wadsworth, of Livingston county.
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COUNTIES.
1. ALBANY COUNTY.
Square Miles, 515. Organized, 1683.
Population, 77,268. Valuation, 1845, $15,603,161.
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TOWNS.
1. Albany, 1686.
2. Watervliet, 1788.
3. Rensselaerville. 1790.
4. Coeymans, 1791.
6. Berne, 1795.
7. Guilderland, 1803.
8. Westerlo, 1815.
9. Knox, 1822.
5. Bethlehem, 1793. 10. New Scotland, 1832.
Mountains. g. Helderberg Hills.
Rivers, &c. C. Hudson. F. Mohawk. h. Norman's kill. c. Co- eymans creek. d. Haivnakraus kill. e. Provost creek. f. Foxes creek.
Falls. b. Cohoes falls.
Cities and Villages. Albany, West Troy, Coeymans, Rensselaer- ville, Cohoes.
BOUNDARIES. North by Schenectady and Saratoga counties ; East by the Hudson; South by Greene ; and West by Scho- harie county.
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
SURFACE. The surface is much varied. Along the Hudson, extends an alluvial valley, from a fourth of a mile to a mile in width. From this valley the land rises abruptly, 140 feet, and thence a table land gradually ascends, to the base of the Hel- derberg hills. Along the Mohawk, the surface is rugged and broken.
The Helderberg hills extend through the western part of the county, uniting, on the south, with the Catskill range.
They are from 400 to 500 feet in height, and very precipitous. Their eleva- tion is quite uniform, displaying no isolated peaks.
RIVERS AND STREAMS. The county is well watered. Besides the Hudson and Mohawk rivers, which partially bound it, the Norman's kill, Coeymans creek, Haivnakraus kill, Provost creek, Foxes' creek, Boza kill, Vlamans kill, and the Pa- troon's creek, are the principal streams.
Most of these, as well as several smaller streams, have valuable waterfalls, af- fording great facilities for manufacturing.
The Cohoes, or Great Falls of the Mohawk, at the village of Cohoes, lie partly in this, and partly in Saratoga county.
The river here descends, at a single leap, 70 feet, and then pursues its way, over the rocks, in the channel, which its waters have cut through the solid rock, to the depth of more than 100 feet, to the Hudson. Few cataracts possess. more picturesque beauty.
RAILROADS. The Troy and Schenectady, and the Mohawk and Hudson railroads, cross the northeastern section of the county, and the Catskill and Canajoharie, the southeastern.
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