A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time, Part 64

Author: Hough, Franklin Benjamin, 1822-1885
Publication date: 1853
Publisher: Albany, N.Y. : Little & Co.
Number of Pages: 750


USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 64
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 64


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84


547


AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.


Wood, 1838 41; David Black, 1841-2; Sanford Halbert, 1842-3; Charles Williams, 1843-4; Franklin Wood, 1844-8; Edward W. Johnson, 1848- 9; Abel Wood, 1849-50; Franklin Wood, from 1850 till the present time.


Ogdensburgh Academy .- An act of April 6, 1833, directed that the money then in the hands of the supervisor and poor masters of the townl. of Oswegatchie, should be delivered up to D. C. Judson, S. Gilbert, G. N. Seymour, M. S. Daniel and H. Thomas, who were appointed com- missioners to receive these moneys, and enough more raised by tax upout the town, to make $2000, (on condition that a like sum were first sub- scribed in the village), and to purchase therewith a lot and buildings, for an academy, one room in the building being reserved for a town hall. The inhabitants of each school district in town, not in the village, were entitled to credit on the tuition of any scholar from their district, to the amount of the interest on the tax of the district. The supervisor and town clerk, and the president and clerk of the village, were made ex- officio trustees of the Academy, who were to audit the accounts of the commissioners and to fill vacancies. On the 24th of April 1834, the trustees were empowered to grant licenses for a ferry across the St. Lawrence, at the village, the rates and rules of which were to be estab- lished by the county court of Common Pleas. The income was to be paid over to the above commissioners, and when their term of office should expire, on the fulfilment of the duties for which they were ap- pointed, to be paid to the treasurer of the academy. The rights thus granted were to continue ten years. On the 20th of April, 1835, the academy was incorporated with the following trustees.


" George Parish, John Fine, David Ford, David C. Judson, Henry Van Renssalaer, Royal Vilas, Bishop Perkins, Geo. N. Seymour, Baron S. Doty, Elijah B. Allen, William Bacon, Smith Stilwell, Sylvester Gillet, Amos Bacon, Thomas J. Davies, Joseph W. Smith, Ransom H. Gilbert, James Averill, 3d., Duncan Turner, George Ranney, Joseph Rosseel, Rodolphus D. Searle, Edmund A. Graham, James G. Hopkins, Silas Wright, Jr., William Hogan, Gouverneur Ogden, George Reding- ton, and Augustus Chapman, together with the supervisor and town clerk, of the town of Oswagatchie, and the president and clerk of the trustees of the village of Ogdensburgh, for the time being. They were clothed with the usual powers of such officers. Those who held by virtue of town or village office, were to have the care of the town hall. Previous to the passage of these acts, an academic school had been es- tablished. On the 22d of May, 1834, the trustees at a meeting held at Canton, fixed the rent of the ferry at $300 per annum, for three years, commencing with the first of June. This rate has since been repeatedly changed, and at present amounts to $250 per annum.


On the 8th of October, 1834, Tayor Lewis, of Waterford, subse- quently a professor of languages in New York University, and at present a professor of Greek and Latin in Union College, was appointed the first principal, with a salary of $600. On the following May, the trustees resolved to have four departments in their schools-two male and two female. This arrangement was never fully carried out. The first presi- dent of the board of trustees, was David C. Judson. He was succeeded by John Fine. In the fall of 1837, Mr. Lewis was succeeded by James H. Coffin, at present vice president and professor in Lafayette College, at Easton, Pa. In February 1838, Mr. Coffin was engaged for one year at $800, and on the 1st of April 1839, a new agreement was made by which he was to receive whatever income might be derived from tuition,


548


HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE


1


ferry, and literature fund, reserving a sufficient sum for repairs. In the spring of 1840, the Rev. J. A. Brayton, was engaged, who continued in charge of the school until September 1843, when he resigned, and Mr. Jolın Bradshaw was employed in November, of the same year. He continued the principal of the institution until the summer of 1849, when Messrs. Hart F. Lawrence, and Roswell G. Pettibone, entered jointly into an agreement with the trustees, in which they assumed the care and government of the institution, receiving whatever might accrue from tuition, literature fund and the ferry, excepting only sufficient to pay insurance and repairs. Under the direction of these gentlemen, the academy still remains, enjoying every facility which the ability and tal- ents, of competent teachers can impart. Students from abroad are re- ceived as boarders at the academy, and are at all times under the care and government of the principal. This academy is free from debt. The Hon. John Fine president of the board of trustees, has filled this office for many years.


The Academic building, was erected by a company for a hotel in 1819, and opened in January 1820, as the Saint Lawrence House. Upon the organization of the academy it was purchased by the com- missioners; the village of Ogdensburgh contributing $1000 to its pur- chase, with the privilege of the chapel for the use of elections and town meetings. This is the town hall of Oswegatchie. The academy is pleasantly located on the corner of State and Knox streets, directly op- posite the old court house, and commands a beautiful prospect of the rivers and surrounding country. It embraces apartments for a family chapel, study and recitation rooms, a well selected library, and philo- sophical apparatus and every facility needed to impart a good thorough and practical education. The only assistance which this Academy has received from the regents for the purchase of apparatus, was $250, on the 28th of February, 1845. In the summer of 1851, a teachers' depart- ment was organized by the regents of the university.


Franklin Academy .- A building was erected for academic purposes in 1806, and at a special town meeting in 1810, the clerk was directed to solicit from Richard Harrison, a deed of the lot on which it stood, to be conveyed to the county judges until trustees were elected. A deed of four acres, exclusive of highways, was executed Oct. 12, 1810. A high school was maintained by private enterprise many years, under the name of the Harrison Academy. In May 1823, an unsuccessful subscription was attempted, and in September 1827, renewed and prosecuted until an incorporation was obtained from the regents April, 28, 1831. The first charter limited its duration to 20 years, and named Benj. Clark, Asa Hascall, Jacob Wead, Hiram Horton, Horatio Powell, John Stearns, Richard G. Foote, Samuel Peck, Samuel Hyde, Samuel Green, Oliver Westcott, Martin L. Parlin and Francis Burnap, of Malone, James Duane, of Duane, Joseph Plumb, of Bangor, first trustees. On the 25th of February 1833, an act was passed, granting $2000 from the state treasury for rebuilding the academy, which was to be charged as a debt against the town of Malone, and to be considered a part of the common school fund. To repay this, with 6 per cent interest, the supervisors. were to levy a tax in 1837-8-9. The trustees had during the year 1836, erected the present stone edifice, which is three stories high, and 36 by 64 feet. It was finished in the following year. On the 15th of Dec. 1835, the old building had been injured by a fire.


The principals employedl have been Simeon Bicknell, Nathan S. Boynton, Lorenzo Coburn, Worden Reynolds, Elos L. Winslow, George


L.J. WOOLWORTH, DEL.


. LOSSING . BARRITT.


Franklin Academy. Malone, Franklin Co., N. Y.


-


551


AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.


H: Wood, Daniel B. Gorham. The first charter having expired by lim- itation, application was made April 27, 1851, for its renewal, which was granted, on the condition that its endowment should never be dimin- ished below $2500, that it should never be used for other than acade- mical purposes, and that before the 27th of April, 1854 it should be re- ported free from debt. The first trustees under the new charter were Asa Hascall, Hiram Horton, R. G. Foote, M. L. Parlin, Wmn. King, Win. Plumb, Samuel Fisk, Samuel Field, Thomas R. Powell, S. C. Wead, and S. S. Clark. In 1851, $200 being the balance of the proceeds of the, sale of a certain piece of land, formerly given by Cone Andrus for the use of the town of Malone, but recently sold by the commissary general, under the act of 1850, directing the sale of Arsenal lots was given, and in 1852, the premises were graded, and when en- closed and planted with trees will be highly ornamental.


Fort Covington Academy was incorporated April 21, 1831. William Hogan, John A. Savage, Samuel Hoard, and their associates, were to constitute a body politic for the promotion of literature, science, and the arts, and for improvement in education. - Capital limited to $2,000, in shares of $25 each. The corporation was to be managed by nineteen trustees, and William Hogan, John A. Savage, Samuel Hoard, Hiram Safford, Jonathan Wallace, Allen Lincoln, George A. Cheeney, Roswell Bates, Jabez Parkhurst, George B. R. Gove, Luther Danforth, David 1 .. Seymour, Aretus M. Hitchcock, Benjamin Raymond, James P. Wills, Ora F. Paddock, Daniel Noble, Daniel Phelps, and John More, were named the first. It was made subject to the visitation of the regents, and entitled to a share of the literature fund. The trustees met and organ- ized in May, and to raise the required capital, proposed to take notes of those who wished to hold stock, leaving the principal in the hands of those who give them, and receiving the interest only. In default of pay- ment the whole became due. By this means $2,985 was raised by 45 notes, and by a resolution of Sept. 2d of that year, the upper room in the town house was fitted up for academic purposes. In October, the Rev. John A. Savage was appointed principal. His successors have been Alex. W. Buel, Daniel Branch, Milton Bradley, H. Dodge, E. H. Squier, Millar, John Bradshaw, James C. Spencer, C. S. Sanford, Luther Humphrey, and Geo. A. Attwood. In 1831, a quantity of apparatus was purchased by the academy and village lyceum for their common use, and in the summer of 1832, the present stone edifice was built by permission granted by the legislature (April 13, 1832), on a public lot between the two rivers in the village. It is of stone, 33 by 44, two stories high, and if the common in front of the premises were enclosed and adorned with shade trees, would be an ornament to the place. This school has not been sustained in a liberal manner, and does not flourish.


Full returns are required to be made by the several academies to the regents, which are published annually, and show in a very satisfactory manner the comparative condition of the various institutions from year to year. From this source the following tables are derived, only a small portion of the returns being embraced.


/


-


552


HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE 4


STATISTICS OF THE SEVERAL ACADEMIES, FROM THEIR OFFICIAL REPORTS TO THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY.


Column No. 1 denotes the year ; 2 the number of students ; 3 the amount re- ceived from literature fund ; 4 debts ; 5 tuition ; 6 total income.


ST. LAWRENCE.


1


2


3


4


5


6


1


2


3.


4


5


6+


1817


42


331


1835


140*


433 07


1563


1279


1810 07


1818


90 80


1836


82*


374 29


1490


1776


2294 29


1819


35


250


1837


93*


347 75


3880


1747


2232 75


1820 114


416


1838 144*


652 67


4300


1209


1685 00


18211


97


1822|


89


1823 173


1841


115*


433 93


4670


1461 2304 00


1824 172


170 37


210


500


661 00


1842 115*


506 17


3564


1452 1956 00


1825 139


171 00


3300


600


760 00


1843 163*


410 31


4506


1733 2424 00


1826 227


255 32


800


1245 32


1844


282


464 32


4732


1944|2567 00


1827!


89*


314 51


1006


763|1300 00


1845


255


422 98


5141


1795 2483 00


1828 110*


349 03


1275


900


1424 03


1846


228


431 49 51251


1647 2246 00


1829


117*


359 21


1100


1735,2231 55


1848 193


284 52 3840


1250 1725 00


1831 110*


434


1400


1532


2126 49


1849 175


290 66 2107


1183 1564 00


1832


95* 231 45|1800


1476


1842 79


1850 220


279 14 1967


1455 1822 00


1833


90* 286 50


229


1302


1783 51


1851 |237


253 68 1549


1513 1884 00


1834


98*|291 05 2248 1044 1452 05


1852 258


670 1552 2150 00


GOUVERNEUR.


1830|


39*


89


400 00


1842|


65*|269 30|2497|1615|1666 00


1831|


35*


105


375 00


1843|120*


448 41 3402


1500 1874 00


1832


37* 350 00


89


350


336 63


1844 209


322 66 3702


969


1488 00


1833


66* 500 00


35


500


450 00


1845


191


310 51 3961 1021


1379 00


1834


57*500 00


206


500


651 00


1846 185


331 47


4238


930


1254 00


1845


46*


500 00


148


500


548 00


1847 185


371 33


4535


1249:1601 00


1836


30*


335 00


39


335


1848 285


364 29


475811486 1858 00


1837


15*


29


1495


1849 299


452 95 5091 1666


2030 00


1838


67*


194 73


2540


1536 1665 00


1850 277


276 98 6000


1487


1940 00


1839


91


188


,4801


889


3 00


1851 226


180 03|5000 1211 1488 00


18411


91* 294 68|2781|1714|2139 00


OGDENSBURGH.


1839


34* 100 58


599


751|1202 00


1846|234 |251 46


1840


92*


114 57


51 1 669 1119 00


1847 187


1327 19


50


1200 1889 00


1841


83* 220 21


547


1451 2023 00


1848|149


268 56 ...


800


11540 00


1842


54* 171 97


376


1008 1739 00


1849 173


109 00


. ..


937 1618 00


1843|


115*


123 09


20 1050 1508 00


1850 211


243 42


. ..


1200 1559 00


1844


...


236 10


84 1300


1848 00


1851 235


270 051 ...


1504 1997 00


1845|263


220 05


1300 2049 00


156*


515 50


4696


2120 2964 00


1840


150*


611


00


4547


2227 2975 00


600


720 00


1715 65


1847


190


,369


4453


1305 1920 00


1830


125*


336 53 1413


1840


77* 281 21 3350


1400


1736 00


1852 217


500 1145 1332 10


1312|2095 00


314 50 576


357


1839


553


AND FRANLKIN COUNTIES.


CANTON.


1


2


3


4


5


6


1


2


3


4


5


6


1839


99*


92 20 1038


753


921 00


1846


182


185 74


375


825 1091. 00


1840


94*


142 35 1254 1006 1301 00


1847 |164


226 51


328


725 1089 00


1841


59* 142 49 1354


90 85


1091


758 1103 00


1849


109


133 23!


358


899 00


1843


36*


108 44


864


610


915 00


1850 135


156 32


690 1001 00


1844


98


110 18|


866


791


1124 00


1851 123


124 80


590: 924 00


1845 126


88 02! 6001


625


913 00


FRANKLIN.


1832


80* 109 651


249


818


1843| 75*|187 57/1118


1833


82* 145 16


260


840


1844 175


254 46 1078


837 1401 00


1834


45* 147 77


126


739


1845|235


383 86.1146


1070 1641 00


1835


58* 160 48


259


497


1097 48


1846 220


362 91 1276


933 1612 00


1836


37*


81 00


900


400


767 00


1847|160


327 1


847


768 1405 00


1837


45*


124 79


310


571


971 79


1848|153


|239 3


.120


655 1242 00


1838


58*


241 75


874


647


1028 00


1849 169


297 9


908


732 1349 00


1839


37*184 40


780


677


1169 00


1850 155


272 4


794


805.1414 00


1840


40*


145 82


816


762


1722 00


1851


221


192 30


765 1004;1265 00


1842


81*


162 24


981


813 1245 00


1843|


45*


1102 58|


225


800|1000 00


1837


50*


31 86


130


450


570 86


·1844 243


398 74


...


..


. .


1838


25*


116 04


90


340


476 04


1846


60*


71 45


57


611


674 00


1839


68* 100 58


75


353


591 00


1847 102


47 54


100


241


375 00


I840


25*


45 33


150


500


720 00


1849 113


48 45


58


364


430 00


1841


73*


51 82


700


400


569 00


1850,104


35 73


25


2891


388 00


1842


75*|100 58|


6071


800


956 00


* Number at the date of the report. When this asterisk is omitted, it denotes the number during the year.


-


The comparative condition of the several Academies, as shown by late reports, is as follows.


ST. L. 1852


Gouv. 1852


CAN. 1852


OG. 1852


FR. 1852


IFr. C. 1851


Number of departments.


4


2


2


3


2


2


teachers .


...


5


5


2


3


2


1


academic terms


2


3


3


31


3


3


week's vacation.


8


8


8


8


10


7


Value of lot and buildings


$8,700 $6,600| $3,150


$8,000


$,6000


$2,700


1


library.


530


400


260


393


241


200


66


apparatus.


631


350


300


392


203


160


Other academic property.


950


420


2,550


1,906


800


Total value of property .


10,801


7,770


6,260


8,785


8,350


3,860


Interest on academic property. . . Total revenue.


1,884


1,488


924


1,997


1,265


388


Salaries for year previous.


1,603


1,183


800


1,668


896


307


-


FORT COVINGTON.


1836|


40*


69 83


50


1841


50* 113 35


931


680


833 00


1852|209


910 1078.2368 00


820|1193 00


1848;116


135 61


617:1021 00


1842


51*


92:


178


250


120


56


1


650:1148 00


1


554


HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE


1


CHAPTER VII.


INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS, STATISTICS, &c.


ROM an early period attempts were made to improve the na- vigation of the St. Lawrence, and in an act of April 1, 1808, J. Wadington, D. A. and T. L. Ogden, were authorized to build a canal and ONTARIO locks at Hamilton, and to collect toll at the rate of 25 cents per ton, on all boats First steam boat on the great lakes, 1816. passing. Locks to be 50 feet long, 10 feet wide, and deep enough to receive boats having two feet draught. On page 343, is related what was done under this act. The north shore has always been chosen by voyageurs, and the difficulty of crossing over to these locks would have rendered their use limited. On the 5th of April, 1809, means were provided for carrying into effect a concurrent resolu- tion of March 27th, directing the surveyor general to authorize some competent person to survey the St. Lawrence, and report. By an act of - April 9, 1811, Russell Attwater and Roswell Hopkins, were appointed to expend $600, on the American shore from St. Regis to the Indian vil- lage in Lisbon. It is believed that a towing path was made along the shore in places, at an early day, and probably with this appropriation. In 1833, the subject of cutting a canal from the head of Long Saut to. Grass river, was pressed upon the legislature, and a subscription raised to procure a survey. Grass river was considered navigable to within three miles of Massena village, and there intervened a ravine and low land, which it was found required a canal of six miles, one of which was through gravel and clay a depth of thirty-five feet. The fall from the head of the saut to Lake St. Francis, was found to be fifty feet. Es- timated cost, $200,000. It was stated that in 1833, $48,000 was paid for cartage and towage past the Long saut, and the cost for towing one boat amounted to $500 per annum. This subject was also urged upon con- gress by a convention at Canton, Dec. 18, 1833. and D. C. Judson, Wm. Ogden, N. F. Hyer, H. Allen, and M. Whitcomb, were appointed to cir- cula 'e petitions. Nothing was effected or afterwards attempted, as the Canadian government soon after undertook this labor.


1


555


AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.


The Oswegatchie Navigation Company, was incorporated April 25. 1831, for the purpose of improving, by means of locks, canals and damns, its navigation to Black lake, and to the town of Gouverneur; and from the Oswegatchie river, along the natural canal to Grass river, and up to Can- ton village. Capital to be $5,000, and Silvester Gilbert, Jacob A. Vanden Heuvel, Smith Stillwell, and Louis Hasbrouck, were appointed a board of commissioners to receive subscriptions. A certain portion of the work was to be accomplished within five years, and the duration of the corporation was limited to thirty years.


The previous act was renewed April 25, 1836, and continued in force thirty years. Baron S. Doty, Silvester Gilbert, Jacob A. Van Heuvel, Smith Stillwell, Henry Van Rensselaer, and E. N. Fairchild, were named commissioners to receive stock. Unless they met within three months, the act was to be void. In 1835, the capital stock was increased to $100,000. R. Harrison, D. C. Judson, S. Gilbert, H. Van Rensselaer, E. Dodge, A. Sprague, and S. D. Moody, were named commissioners to re- ceive subscriptions. No actual improvements were ever undertaken under these acts. In the petition which procured the passage of the above act, it was stated, that at Heuvel locks had been commenced, and might be completed at small expense, that the expense of dams and locks to improve the natural channel of the Oswegatchie would not cost to exceed $12,000, and that, a steam boat might be built for $5,000, suf- ficient to meet the business of the proposed company. The fall at Can- ton falls, is stated to be nine feet, and at Cooper's fall in, De Kalb, as eight feet, which being overcome by locks would render the river navi- gable as far as the Ox Bow, in Jefferson county. A dam across Grass river, and a short canal near the eastern end of the natural canal, would bring Canton in navigable communication with the St. Lawrence at Og- densburgh.


The plan of extending the Black river canal to Ogdensburgh, was brought forward in 1839, and a survey executed by Edward H. Brodhead, which is published in the legislative documents of 1840, embraced the several improvements above proposed.


. Several acts have been passed for preventing the obstruction of the channels of our rivers by declaring them public highways. Raquette river from its mouth to Norfolk, and St. Regis from the province line to the east line of Stockholm, were so declared April 15, 1810. April 16, 1816, the Oswegatchie was made a highway to Streeter's Mills, in Rossie, and its obstruction forbidden under a penalty of $100. By a recent act this limit has been extened to Cranberry lake.


An act of 1849, for improving the sources of the Hudson for lumbering purposes, led in 1850, to petitions for grants to be expended on Raquette and Moose rivers. These were referred to a select committee, who through their chairman, Mr. Henry J. Raymond, made a very elaborate report, setting forth the advantages of the improvements, and describing the wonderful natural water communication of the primitive wilderness of Northern New York. This elevated plateau, averaging 1,500 to 1,870 feet above tide, gives origin to rivers, flowing in different directions. The Raqaette, after a crooked and sluggish course through several large ponds, and receiving tributaries navigable for logs from many lakes in the interior, on arriving within 50 miles of the St. Lawrence, becomes rapid, and descends to near the level of that river before reaching Mas- sena. In a multitude of places it affords fine cascades for hydraulic pur- poses, especially in the villages of Colton, East Pierrepont, Potsdam, Raquetteville, Norfolk and Raymondville, with many intervening places.


1


1


556


HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE


There is a peculiarity of this river that deserves special notice, which is its little liability to be affected by drouth and flood, in consequence of its being fed from lakes. The highest water commonly occurs several days later in this than the neighboring rivers, and a prudent policy should lead to the erection of sluices and flood gates at the outlet of the lakes to retain the excess of the spring flood against any want that might occur in the drouth of summer. Such a want has not hitherto been felt, but might if the interior country were cleared and cultivated. An act was passed April 10, 1850, declaring the Raquette a highway from its moutlı to the foot of Racket lake, in Hamilton county, and on the 9th of April, an appropriation of $10,000 was made, to be expended by H. Hewitt, A. T. Hopkins and C. Russell, in removing obstructions, and improving the channel. These consisted in shutting up lost channels and straits around islands, in the erection of piers, dams, booms, &c.


The accession of capital and employment of labor from this improve- ment is remarkable. But one gang niill existed on the river at the time of the passage of the law, while at present there are either in operation or in course of erection, eight, and still more that are contemplated. The logs sawed at these are brought from the country adjoining Tupper's lake, Long lake in Hamilton county, many of the lakes and streams of Franklin county, and from the western borders of Essex county.


Much credit is due to Dr. H. Hewitt, of Potsdam, for exertions in pro- curing this improvement, and to Messrs. Wm. A. Dart, of the senate, and Noble S. Elderkin, of the assembly, for the zeal and ability with which they sustained the measure.


The first attempt to open a cheap and direct communication between the navigable waters of the St. Lawrence and the sea board, began in 1823, and arose from the wants which had been so severely felt during the war. A year or two after the peace, plans for uniting lake Champlain with the Connecticut, were discussed and attempted. Judge Raymond and Benjamin Wright, while surveying the country before its settlement, had formed projects for improving the natural channels of the rivers, and to them belongs the merit of the idea. The former was afterwards the ardent advocate of a canal. A meeting of the citizens of Clinton, Franklin and St. Lawrence counties, convened at Ogdensburgh, August 28, 1823, to concert measures for a canal, who appointed B. Raymond, of Norfolk, S. Partridge, of Potsdam, J. A. Vanden Heuvel, of Ogdensburgh, Win. Hogan, of Fort Covington, 'Thomas Smith, of Chateaugay and Asa Hascall, of Malone, who prepared and published a lengthy report for dis- tribution in the sections most to be benefited by the work. It was ac- companied by a report from Judge Raymond, who had been employed to make a preliminary survey. This improvement proposed to use the Oswegatchie, Natural canal and Grass river, to Canton. The petitions and the friendly influences towards these works, led to an act for a sur- vey under the direction of the canal commissioners, and Holmes Hutch- inson, of Utica, was employed. The expense was limited to $1,500. The summit was found to be 811 feet above the St. Lawrence, at Og- denshurgh, and 966 above the lake. This work was cominended to the legislature by Dewitt Clinton, in his annual message of 1825, but the work was found impracticable, and the idea abandoned.




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