Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 4

Author: Hewett, Waterman Thomas, 1846-1921; Selkreg, John H
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1194


USA > New York > Tompkins County > Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University > Part 4


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).


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340


84


226


208


229


201


1278


Senators,


Jedediah Prendergrast


308


52


207


228


202


1010


Isaac Wilson


198


94


228


198


228


202


1148


Assemblymen,


John Sutton


671


88


286


88


121


1254


Samuel Crittenden


669


87


283


88


121


1248


Isaac Allen


63


216


373


53


267


109


1081


Caleb Smith


63


221


373


54


267


111


1088


Horace Pierce, Phineas Culver, each one vote for governor; David Woodcock, one vote for lieutenant-governor ; John Wilson, David June, Isaac Wilton, each one vote for senator, all from Hector ; John Sutton, one vote for governer, and Nathaniel King, one vote for lieutenant-governor, both from Covert.


Vote for 1818 (same towns) .- Senator, Gamaliel H. Barstow, 720; David E. Evans, 806; Perry G. Childs, 568; Samuel S. Payne, 371. For Assembly, John Sutton, 1,305 ; Samuel Crittenden, 1,311; Richard Townley, 666; Alex. McG. Comstock, 666. Charles H. Monell and Garrett G. Lansing, each 42 for senator.


1819-(Covert not in county)-For senators, Gideon Granger, 729; Lyman Payne, 717; Philetus Swift, 414; Nathaniel Granow, 425. For Assembly, Joshua Phillips, 1,194; Hermon Camp, 1,143; Richard Townley, 638; Peter Hager 2d, 732.


1820-For governor, De Witt Clinton, 582; Daniel D. Tompkins, 941; lieutenant- governor, John Taylor, 580; Benjamin Moores, 1,034.


1821-For senator, Henry Seymour, 890; James McCall, 891; Samuel M. Hopkins. 484; Stephen Bates, 487. For member of congress, William B. Rochester, 1,452; David Woodcock, 1,198, Jonathan Richmond, 944; Hermon Camp, 724. The vote for a convention to amend the Constitution was 2,402 in favor, and 19 against. This election was held from the 24th to the 26th of April. On the 19th of June an election for delegates was had, Richard Townley and Richard Smith being chosen. Town- ley had 853 votes and Smith 754. The convention assembled on the last Tuesday of August, 1821.


1822-On the 3d Tuesday of January, 1822, a vote on the Constitution was had. It resulted 1,521 in favor and 165 against. The general election under the new Con- stitution was held November 4, 5, and 6, 1822. The vote for governor was: Joseph C. Yates, 1,798; Solomon Southwick, 19, and 29 for all others.


1823-On the 3d, 4th, and 5th of November, at the election, Latham A. Burrows received 1,271 votes for senator ; 36 for all others. For Assembly, Peter Hager 2d, 1,735; Nicoll Halsey, 1,310; Benjamin Jennings, 988; 57 scattering.


1824-Samuel Young received 1,897 votes for governor, and De Witt Clinton 1,667 1825-For senator, Peter Hager 2d, received 1,612 votes; Andrew D. W. Bruyn, 1,470.


30


LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.


In 1825 on the 15th day of November, the county canvassers, as the record shows: "Do set down in writing in words written at full length, the number of votes thus given as aforesaid, that is to say: fifteen hundred and sixty-four votes were given for the election of electors of President and Vice President 'by districts;' nine hun- dred and fifty-five votes were given for 'by general ticket plurality' and two votes were given for 'by general ticket majority.'"


1826-William B. Rochester had 2,130 votes for governor, and De Witt Clinton, 1,588.


1827-For senator, Grattan H. Wheeler had 2,424 votes and 78 scattering.


1828-For governor, Martin Van Buren had 3,062 votes; Smith Thompson, 1,595; Solomon Southwick, 713, and 5 scattering.


1829-For senator, Levi Beardsley had 1,632 votes; Joseph Maynard, 1,373, and 6 scattering.


1830-For governor, Francis Granger had 2,591 votes; Enos T. Throop, 1,882; 17 scattering.


1831-For senator, John G. McDowell had 2,357 votes; Nehemiah Platt, 2,279; 8 scattering.


1832-William L. Marcy had 3,269 votes for governor, and Francis Granger 3,093. The Jackson electors received 3,336 votes, and Clay electors, 3,045.


1833-For senator, Ebenezer Mack received 2,063 votes; John A. Collier, 2,048; 4 scattering.


1834-For governor, William L. Marcy received 3,511 votes; William H. Seward, 3,077; 5 scattering.


1835-For senator, George Huntington received 1,569 votes; 15 scattering.


1836-Van Buren electors, 2,935; Harrison, 2,786. For governor, W. L. Marcy, 2,997; Jesse Buel, 2,718.


1837-For senator, Laurens Hull, 2,960; Calvin H. Bryan, 2,658.


1838-For governor, William H. Seward, 3,444 votes; Wm. L. Marcy, 3,211.


1839-For senator, Andrew B. Dickinson, 3,409; William Maxwell, 3,275.


1840-Harrison electors, 3,969; Van Buren electors, 3,558. For governor, W. H. Seward, 3,903; William C. Bouck, 3,632.


1841-For senator, James Faulkner, 3,405; Allen Ayrault, 3,381. Assembly, Ber- nardus Swartwout, 3,416; Charles Humphrey, 3,414; Levi Hubbell, 3,368; Alpha H. Shaw, 3,372.


1842-For governor, William C. Bouck, 3,619; Luther Bradish, 3,395.


1843-For senator, Clark Burnham, 3,005; Henry S. Walbridge, 2,432.


1844-Polk electors, 4,013; Clay electors, 3,845. For governor, Silas Wright, 4,051; Millard Fillmore, 3,831.


1845-For senator, Thomas J. Wheeler, 3,022; Lorenzo Dana, 2,891.


1846-For governor, Silas Wright, 3,009; John Young, 3,153.


1847-For lieutenant-governor, Hamilton Fish, 2,957: Nathan Dayton, 2,637. At the special election in May, for county judge, Alfred Wells received 1,837 votes; Ben- jamın G. Ferris, 1,723.


1848-Taylor electors, 3,003; Van Buren, 2,648; Cass, 1,270. For governor, Ham- ilton Fish, 3,006; John A. Dix, 2,635; Reuben H. Walworth, 1,312.


1849-Secretary of state, Christopher Morgan, 2,932; Henry S. Randall, 3,132.


1850-For governor, Horatio Seymour, 3,475; Washington Hunt, 3,344.


-


31


POLITICAL NOTES.


1851-At the special election on the 27th of May, for senator, Henry B. Stanton, 2,970; Josiah B. Williams, 2,984. At the November election, Henry S. Randall for secretary of state, 3,180; James C. Forsyth, 3,100.


1852-Pierce electors, 3,472; Scott electors, 3,410.


1853-Secretary of state, James H. Ver Planck, 1,487; George W. Clinton, 1,300. 1854-For governor, Myron H. Clark, 2,347; Horatio Seymour, 1,482; Danicl Ull- man, 1,406. At a special election on the 3d Wednesday of February, 1,852 votes were cast for the proposed convention in regard to canals, and 1,583 against.


1855-For secretary of state, J. T. Headley, 3,163; Preston King, 1,956; Aaron Ward, 173; Israel T. Hatch, 474.


1856-Fremont electors, 4,019; Buchanan, 1,430; Fillmore, 1,470. For governor, John A. King, 3,900; Amasa J. Parker, 1,511; Erastus Brooks, 1,470.


1857-Secretary of state, Almon M. Clapp, 2,865; Gideon J. Tucker, 1,510; James O. Putnam, 867.


1858-For governor, Edwin D. Morgan, 3,450; A. J. Parker, 1,954; Lorenzo Bur- rows, 745.


1859-For secretary of state, Elias W. Leavenworth, 3,280; D. R. Floyd Jones, 2,514.


1860-Lincoln electors, 4,348; Douglass, 3,026. For governor, Edwin D. Morgan, 4,293; William Kelly, 3,067.


1861-Secretary of state, Horatio Ballard, 3,383; D. R. Floyd Jones, 1,845.


1862-For governor, James S. Wadsworth, 4,005; Horatio Seymour, 2,627.


1863-Secretary of state, Chauncey M. Depew, 4,277; Daniel B. St. John, 2,708.


1864-Lincoln electors, 4,518; McClellan electors, 2,996. For governor, Reuben E. Fenton, 4,509; Horatio Seymour, 3,006.


1865-Secretary of state, Francis C. Barlow, 4,621; Henry W. Sloeum, 2,437.


1866-For governor, Reuben E. Fenton, 4,456; John T. Hoffman, 2,952.


1867-Secretary of state, James B. Mckean, 3,635; Homer A. Nelson, 2,926.


1868-Grant electors, 4,646; Seymour, 3,100.


1869-Republican secretary of state, 3,539; Democrat, 2,456.


1870-Republican governer, 3,965; Demoerat, 2,893.


1871-Republican secretary of state, 3,562; Democrat, 2,278.


1872-Grant electors, 4,318; Greeley, 3,369.


1873-Republican secretary of state, 3,118; Democrat, 2,809.


1874-Republican, 3,370; Democrat, 3,340. 1875-Republican, 3,704; Demoerat, 3,531.


1876-Republican, 5,032; Democrat, 4,028.


1877-Republican, 3,293; Democrat, 3,158.


1878-Republican, 3,549; Democrat, 2,586. 1879-Republican, 4,382; Democrat, 3,587. 1880-Republican, 4,896; Democrat, 3,956. 1881-Republiean, 3,592; Democrat, 2,652. 1882-Republican, 2,690; Democrat, 3,619. 1883-Republican, 3,050; Democrat, 3,206. 1884-Republican, 4,420; Democrat, 3,992. 1885-Republiean, 4,362; Demoerat, 3,681. 1886-Republican, 4,161; Democrat, 3,369.


32


LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.


1887-Republican, 3,939; Democrat, 2,896.


1888-Republican, 5,073; Democrat, 3,909.


1889-Republican, 3,762; Democrat, 2,930. 1890-Republican, 3,720; Democrat, 3,075. 1891-Republican, 4,330; Democrat, 3,450.


1892-Republican, 4,717; Democrat, 3,404. 1893-Republican, 3,666; Democrat, 2,751.


For delegates at large to the Convention of 1894, Republican average, 3,654; Dem- ocrat, 2,743. For district delegates to same, Frank E. Tibbetts, Republican, 3,705; Murray E. Poole, Democrat, 2,718.


CHAPTER VII.


The First Roads-How the Pioneers First Reached their Settlements-The Early Stages-Early Stage Drivers-The Cayuga Steamboat Company-Its Various Boats- Busy Scenes on the Lake-The Celebrated "Smoke Boat"-Modern Steamers and Yachts-The Sodus Canal-Other Canal Projects-The First Railroad-Some of its Peculiarities-Other Railroads.


THE first settlers of Tompkins county, notably those who came in by way of Owego, were compelled to cut their way through the forest, and along the path thus created, teams were driven and transporta- tion of goods and merchandise commenced in 1788-89. The story of making the first paths through a trackless wilderness by the adventur- ous pioneer is always an interesting one, if the reader can imagine the condition of the face of the country at that time. Where now the vis- ion of the observer sweeps over a cultivated landscape, showing all the familiar evidences of occupancy by closely associated and busy people, the cleared fields presenting an area far greater than that of the wood- land, the pioneer might at any given point in his toilsome journey try in vain to sce more than a few rods from his position, unless it were heavenward. Hemmed in on every side by the monarchs of the wood, he would, without having learned the mysteries of woodcraft or with- ont a guide in man or compass, be as much lost as if in mid ocean. Yet by the exercise of patient industry and unflinching perseverance, the pioneer found his way through the wilderness and while his heart was light and his spirits exalted he laid the foundations of his home.


33


ROADS AND STAGE ROUTES.


One of the very early and prominent roads terminating at Ithaca was that which was cut through from Oxford, Chenango county, by Joseph Chaplin in 1791-93, under contract. This road came into Tompkins county from the east via Dryden village, Etna and Varna. Many of the early settlers passed over this highway in the latter part of the last and the early years of the present century.


In 1804 a charter was granted for the construction of the Bath and Jericho Turnpike, by a company bearing this name. This highway was laid out through the present towns of Caroline, Dryden, Ithaca, Enfield, Hector, and thence on westward by the head of Seneca Lake to Bath. Its eastern terminus was at Richford, Tioga county.


In 1807 a charter was granted to the Ithaca and Owego Turnpike Company, and under it, in 1811, the road authorized by its provisions was opened. This was one of the more important of the early high- ways. In the same year the Ithaca and Geneva Turnpike Company opened a road between these two villages. From that date to the year 1820, all general travel was confined to these turnpikes.


. In the early years of the county public passenger traffic was carried on wholly by stages. Edmund H. Watkins was the pioneer stage man- ager in this locality, and came to Ithaca January 1, 1825. He was connected with stage lines as owner or agent down to 1857. The first stage drivers who regularly mounted the box and sounded their horns were John Bartley and John McQueen, both vividly recollected by old- er inhabitants. Jesse Grant & Son owned stage lines to Newburg, Ge- neva and Auburn in 1827, and competition was so spirited at one period that the fare from Ithaca to New York by way of Catskill, was only $1.50.


In 1834 Chauncey L. Grant & Co. were proprietors of stage routes to Catskill, 160 miles, Newburg 175 miles, Jersey City 206 miles, Auburn forty miles, Geneva forty-five miles, Bath fifty-two miles, Elmira forty- eight miles. Joshua Cummings controlled the routes to Albany and Utica. The three principal hotels in Ithaca were stage offices.


Full lines of four horse thorough-brace coaches ran from Jersey City, Newburg and Catskill to Ithaca. The former came over the Owego turnpike and the latter by the Bath and Jericho route, all going west to Geneva and Buffalo. Full lines of stages ran from Ithaca to Auburn and also to Utica.


A few of the older inhabitants are still left who delight to talk of the coaching days, and the pleasure of bowling along over the turnpike be-


5


34


LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.


hind spirited horses, guided by a skillful driver, the sharp crack of whose whip echoed in the forest by the roadside. But time had not acquired the value in those days that is ascribed to it in these times.


The author well recollects his own experience in "rapid transit " by stage, as late as March, 1841. He left Poughkeepsie on Tuesday morning for Fishkill Landing. The ice was moving in the Hudson, and passage across that river occupied the entire day. Leaving New- burg at four o'clock Wednesday morning, all that day and night and Thursday until Friday morning at 2 o'clock were passed in reaching Pleasant Mount in Pennsylvania. Leaving there at eight o'clock next morning, Owego was reached at 11 o'clock that night. Leaving Owe- go at noon on Saturday, Ithaca was reached at cight P. M .- five full days.


The mail from New York canie over the Jersey City stage route. In January, 1842, a season of extreme bad roads, no mail was received from the city for an entire week. The stage on Saturday night brought up all arrears, and accumulated mail for the six days was contained in a single leather bag, with handles on either end, and the barn-door opening on the side, secured by a chain and padlock. Letters and pa- pers for the week only equaled three bushels in bulk.


On the 15th of December, 1819, two years after the organization of Tompkins county, the Cayuga Steamboat Company was formed, having as officers David Woodcock, president, and Oliver Phelps, James Pum- pelly, Joseph Benjamin and Lewis Tooker, directors for the ensuing year. The company thus formed resolved: "That a steamboat should be built to run from one end of Cayuga Lake to the other." It may be worth recording that this was only twelve years after Robert Fulton launched his first steamboat, of which he has been falsely credited with the invention, on the Hudson River. At a subsequent meeting of the directors of the before mentioned company, additional officers were chosen as follows: Charles W. Connor, treasurer; Charles Humphrey, secretary ; Oliver Phelps, agent for the building of the boat. The keel of the " Enterprise " was laid March 18, 1820, and the hull was launched on the 4th of the following May. The machinery was manufactured in Jersey City and brought to Ithaca by teams. On the first day of June a trial trip was made, with about 150 women and men on board. Eight hours were consumed in reaching Cayuga. 1 The landing at Ith-


1 In connection with this first steamboat, W. T. Eddy, son of Otis Eddy, has written :


"In the year 1819 the first steamboat for Cayuga Lake was built on the west bank


35


1233558


STEAMBOATS.


aca was at the southeast corner of the lake, then known as Port Renwick. Stages ran from there to the village of Ithaca for transportation of passengers. About the year 1827 the steamboat landing was changed from Port Renwick1 to Green's Landing, the present terminus. The boat was eighty feet long, with thirty feet beam and 120 tons capacity. The Journal of June 7, 1820, made the following announcement :


The " Enterprise " is connected with the line of stages from Newburg to Buffalo, and thus furnishes to travelers from New York, and others going west, one of the most expeditious and pleasant routes in the State. The stage runs from Newburg to this village in two days. Thus travelers may leave New York at 5 o'clock P. M. in the steamboat on the Hudson; the second day arrive at Ithaca; go on board the steamboat " Enterprise" the same night ; receive good accommodations, and rest in comfortable berths during the passage, resume the stage next morning at Cayuga Bridge, and the same night arrive at Buffalo; making the whole route in three days -one day sooner than is performed by way of Albany.


Early boating on Cayuga Lake was a success. Success in almost any direction is always followed by competition. In 1825 Phelps & Good- win built the "Telemachus," which, although larger and swifter, was not a perfect specimen of water craft. The "Enterprise " then be- came a towing boat. In 1827 Elijah H. Goodwin, Richard Varick De Witt and S. De Witt Bloodgood purchased the interests of all other parties in the company. In 1829 the "De Witt Clinton " was built. She ran as a passenger boat and the " Telemachus " was used for freight.


Capt. T. D. Wilcox had been connected with steamboat navigation on the Hudson since 1818, having been employed on the " Paragon," the third of Fulton's boats. After remaining there four years he was employed on Long Island Sound, where he was captain of the " Ful- ton " in 1831-32. He came to Ithaca in 1840 and purchased the steam-


of the inlet and it was launched May 4, 1820, amid much rejoicing. There was some difficulty in sliding it down into the water, as one end started first, and it was intend- ed that it should go sideways, but the delay was only short and the launching was a success. After the boat was finished there was a crowd of ladies and gentlemen that had a pleasant time on the trip. It was all going well when David Woodcock, who was president of the company, came to my father and said the engineer was drunk and wanted him to take charge of the engine. He did it, although it was his first effort in that capacity, and was engineer for three weeks, until they could send to Albany for another engineer."


1 On the 16th of April, 1834, a charter was granted by the Legislature for the Ithaca and Port Renwick Railroad. On the 8th of May, 1835, this company was authorized to construct a canal from Fall Creek to the lake, and collect tolls thereon. In 1836 the time for building the railroad was extended two years.


36


LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.


boats building, the "Simeon De Witt" and the "Forest City." In 1855 the Cayuga and Susquehanna Railroad Company purchased the entire steamboat interest. The "Simeon De Witt " was rebuilt and named the " William E. Dodge," and was commanded by William H. Leonard. Captain Wilcox repurchased the boats from the railroad company, and was sole or partial proprietor until May, 1862, when Alonzo B. Cornell purchased Wilcox's interest and sold out to Edward Himrod, of Aurora, in 1863. Himrod sold to Charles M. Titus, of Ith- aca. Wilcox then repurchased of these parties, and was sole owner until his death, April 20, 1884. His heirs sold to the Cayuga Lake Transportation Company, consisting of Warren Hunt, H. L. Hinckley, Horace M. Hibbard, and Linn Van Order. In 1892 Hunt purchased the whole, and has since run the boats. Captain Wilcox built the "Kate Morgan " in 1855, the "Sheldrake" in 1857, the "Aurora " in 1859, the "T. D. Wilcox" in 1861, the "Ino" in 1864, and the "Fron- tenac" in 1866. The "Sheldrake" is now the "Cayuga" and is used as a freight-towing steamer. The "Frontenac" is a regular passenger boat, and the "Wilcox " is used for excursions.


In 1863 A. P. Osborn, of Trumansburgh, built the "Cayuga," which was run as a freight boat between Ithaca and Syracuse. She was tak- en to Saginaw and plied on the Saginaw River.


In 1864 Howland & Robinson, of Union Springs, built the "How- land," placing her on the Ithaca and Syracuse route, but after a short time she was withdrawn and used as a freight boat wherever opportu- nity offered.


Capt. Abram Van Order had a steam freight boat in 1856. In 1862 H. C. Tracy, of Kidder's Ferry, built a steam ferry boat. The "Ith- aca," built at Union Springs for a ferry; the "Beardsley," a small sidewheel steamer, and the "Emily McAllister," a propeller, were purchased by the steamboat company and used for a short time. Capt. Abram Schuyler now runs the "Elfin " as a freight steamer.


Charles Kellogg, the wealthy bridge builder of Athens, Pa., has built several fine steam yachts. First, the "Kellogg," then the "Hor- ton," and last the "Clara." He transferred the "Kellogg " and the "Horton " to Henry Stevens, and sold the "Clara" to parties on the Hudson River. He then built a still finer boat, and named her the "Clara." The "Bradford Almy " and the "Undine" are owned by Capt. John Vant, and there are many other yachts in commission at the present time.


37


THE SODUS CANAL.


Robert L. Darragh, of New York, with a summer residence at Shel- drake, has had two fine passenger steamers constructed which are to ply on Cayuga Lake, commencing early in the season of 1894.


In this connection it will be interesting to speak of Phineas Bennett and his great invention, the "smoke boat." Mr. Bennett was con- nected with boating here between 1835 and 1840, and conceived the idea of producing power almost wholly by the combustion of smoke. He patented his invention and an engine was built at B. C. Vail's ma- chine shop, which stood on ground now owned by John Furey, on the northwest corner of Cayuga and Green streets, and was burned in 1840. One who saw this engine and witnessed its operation, speaks of it as having a wooden balance wheel which was increased in weight by iron plates bolted upon it. This bolting was somewhat insccure and the motion of the wheel, detaching the weights, threw the pieces of iron fully a hundred feet to the imminent danger of passers by.


Bennett impressed some persons in New York with the practicability of his invention, and a large steamer was built and Bennett's engine placed therein. On a trial trip, as related by one of the passengers, the boat started down towards Staten Island with the tide. Attempting to stem the tide on the return trip, the engine failed entirely and the boat was towed back to the city and dismantled.


Belief that navigation was to be revolutionized by Bennett's idea was prevalent in Ithaca. There were 320 shares issued by the company, and these were for a long time quoted at $10,000 each.


THE SODUS CANAL .- From 1828 to 1838 the whole of this section was deeply interested in the construction of the Sodus Canal, which was to form a great waterway between Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario, and Ca- yuga Lake. Locks were to be constructed from the Erie Canal at Clyde to the bay, in a canal to be built. Vessels were to be brought east on the Erie Canal and locked down into the Canandaigua Outlet and thence sail up Cayuga Lake. It was an attractive scheme. Meet- ings were held, the Legislature appealcd to for aid, and some work was done in clearing out a channel at the head of the bay. In 1836 Henry Walton, an artist of some note, painted views of Ithaca, from South, West and East Hills. That from South Hill showed Cayuga Lake cov- ered with large, square-rigged vessels, supposed to have reached this locality through the Sodus Canal. The charter for this ship canal was first granted March 19, 1829. The capital stock was $200,000 and the work was to be finished in ten years. In 1861 the charter, after re-


38


LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.


peated amendments and extensions, expired by limitation. In 1862 a new act for the construction of the canal was passed, and it was provid- ed that if the general government should furnish money to complete the work, perpetual right of transit for government vessels free of tolls or charges should be granted. This canal appears on Stone & Clark's maps, published in 1840-42.


OTHER CANAL PROJECTS .- A canal was built by private enterprise from Six Mile Creek to Beebe's flouring mill on the west side of the Spencer road, just south of the Cayuga street bridge. Boats were to be locked up the creek and thus floated to the mills. The mill building burned in 1840 and the proposed canal was never used.


A company proposed to build a canal from the steamboat landing to the Cayuga street bridge over Cascadilla Creek. The lot occupied by the brick store on the southwest corner of Cayuga and Farm streets, then occupied by a rope walk, carried on by Aaron Curtis, was to be excavated and used as a canal basin. Happily for the projectors, but little money was spent on the project.


In connection with this subject it may be noticed that much work has been done on the Inlet for the improvement of water communication, and for the establishment of ferries across Cayuga Lake. As early as April, 1829, J. McLallen was authorized by act of the Legislature to establish a ferry from Frog Point (in Covert) to "lot number 68 in Lansing, at or near Woodard's, or Countryman's landing," and was given its monopoly for fifteen years. He was empowered to charge a ferriage of $1 for a four-wheeled coach or pleasure carriage with two horses; and 25 cents for an additional horse or mule; for a sulky or chaise with one horse, 62 1-2 cents; four-wheeled lumber wagon, 75 cents; one-horse wagon 50 cents, and for footmen, 25 cents.




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