USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. III pt 2 > Part 38
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
The application of Melancton Smith, for the purchase of a certain tract of land, beginning where the old line of property strikes the Canada creek, and running thence southerly along said line until it meets the most northerly corner of a tract of land, grant to one Perache ; thence along the said Perache's land to most westerly corner thereof, and thence on a direct line northerly along the line of the Oneida cession to the place of beginning, at the rate of three shillings and seven pence per acre, payable the one sixth in six months, and the residue, the
1079
IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK.
one half in one year, and the other half in eighteen months from the date hereof; being read and duly considered,
(ACCEPTED) Acres 2000 £358 6 8
The application of James Clinton Esq. for the purchase of all the islands in the Chenango river, opposite the first tract in the town of Chenango, which was granted to himself and Isaac Melcher, at the rate of four shillings per acre, payable in six months from the 15th of July last, being read and duly considered, (ACCEPTED) Acres 1000 £200 0 0
The application of Jonathan Lawrence, for the purchase of all the unappropriated land within the following boundaries, to wit, beginning at the most easterly corner of Jersey Field, and running thence northwesterly along the northeasterly bounds thereof to Canada Creek, thence northeasterly along Canada Creek to Noble Borough, thence southeasterly along the southwesterly bounds thereof, and along the southwesterly bounds of Arthur Borough, and the same course continued sontheasterly until a line run perpendicular therefrom will strike the most easterly corner of Jersey Field aforesaid, and from thence to the said corner or place of beginning, at the rate of three shillings and three pence per acre ; one sixth part of the purchase money to be paid at the expiration of six months, one half of the residue in twelve months, and the other half in eighteen months from the date hereof; being read and duly considered,
(ACCEPTED) Acres 50,000 £8,125 0 0
The application of John W. Watkins and Royal Flint, for the purchase of the following tract of land, viz. Beginning at the southwest corner of a tract commonly called the Road township, thence running southerly along the township of Fabius, Solon and Cincinnatus, appropriated for the use of the troops of this State, until the said course strikes the northwest corner of the land lately sold to John W. Watkins & Augustus Sackett, thence easterly along their line until it strikes the northwest corner of a line of division of the townships numbers twelve and thirteen, in the twenty townships, thence northerly along the western bounds of the townships No. twelve, seven and six, in the said twenty townships to the southeast corner of the said Road township, thence westerly along the said' Road township to the
·
1080
PRICES OF LANDS
place of beginning, at the rate of three shillings and eight pence per acre; one sixth part of the purchase money to be paid in six months, with interest, and the other in two equal instalments, the one in nine months and the other in eighteen months, being duly considered; (ACCEPTED) Acres 41,000 £7,518 0 0
The application of Mathias B. Miller, in behalf of Philip Smith, for the purchase of the following tract of land, containing about five hundred and ninety acres, situate in the County of Washington, and bounded as follows, to wit, Beginning at the west bounds of the artillery patent at the northeast corner of a tract of one thousand acres of land, granted to Moses Harris junr. and running thence along the north bounds thereof, to the southeast corner of two hundred acres of land, granted to the said Moses Harris junr. thence along the east bounds of the said two hundred acres, and along the east bounds of other two hundred acres granted to the said Moses Harris, junr. to the northeast corner of the last mentioned two hundred acres, then along the north bounds thereof, to the southeast corner of seven hundred and fifty acres granted to the said Moses Harris, junr. thence along the east bounds thereof, to a tract of two hundred acres granted to Platt Smith or Joshua Harris, then along the south bounds thereof to the west bounds of the artillery patent and thence southerly along the said west bounds to the place of beginning, at the rate of one shilling and six pence per acre, but no particular terms of payment mentioned; being duly read and considered, (ACCEPTED) Acres 590 £14 5 0
The application of Matthew Adgate, for the purchase of a tract of land sitnate north of the Mohawk river, and beginning at the northwesterly corner of the tract granted to Henry Onthoudt, and from thence extending casterly along the same, and the northerly bounds of the township of Steuben to the northernmost corner thereof, thence northerly at right angles with the course last mentioned to the southerly bounds of the land lately agreed to be sold to Alexander Macomb, thence westerly along the same to the place of beginning ; containing by estimation about forty-five thousand acres, at the rate of two shillings and six pence per acre, the one sixth part to be paid by the first of Jan- uary next, one half of the remainder by the first of May next.
1091
IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK.
and the other half by the first of November following ; being read and duly considered, (ACCEPTED) Acres 45,000 £5,666 13 4
The application of James Caldwell, for the purchase of town- ships No. Gand 7, two of the twenty townships formerly set apart for the military, each ten miles square, and containing each sixty four thousand acres, at the rate of one shilling and eight pence per acre, one sixth part of the purchase money to be paid in six months, two sixth parts in twelve months, and the remaining three sixth parts in eighteen months from the date hereof; being read and duly considered, (ACCEPTED) Acres 128,000 £10,066 0 0
The application of Matthew Adgate, Esquire, for the purchase of the following tract of land, sitnate on the north side of Mo hawk river, beginning at the northermost corner of Noble. borough, and from thence running southwesterly along the same to the tract of Klock Remsen and others, from thence along the northernmost bounds thereof to the township of Steuben, thence northerly along the east bounds thereof and the same course continued, until it meets the southerly bounds of the lands sold to Alexander Macomb, thence northerly along the same until a line drawn on the same course with the northeastermost bounds of Nobleborough aforesaid shall strike the most northerly corner thereof, being the place of beginning, including a tract of land out of the description aforesaid, granted to Thomas Machin and others, containing, as is supposed, forty thousand acres, at the rate of two shillings and six pence per acre, one sixth part of the purchase money to be paid in six months one half the re- mainder in one year and the residne in eighteen months from the date hereof ; being read and duly considered,
(ACCEPTED) Acres 10,000 £5,000 0 0
The application of Mathew Adgate, Esq. for the purchase of two traets of land sitnate in the county of Clinton, the first tract beginning one hundred and twenty chains due north from the northeast corner of a tract granted to Asa Douglass, junior ; from there to run west eighty chains ; from there southerly to the northwest corner of the traet of land aforesaid ; then east on the line of the said tract to the said northeast corner of said Asa Douglass, jun. then south on the east line of said tract to a tract of land granted to the said Mathew Adgate : then east on the
1082
PRICES OF LAND
north line of the last mentioned tract twenty-five chains ; then north ninety seven chains ; and from thence continuing north- wardly to the place of beginning, supposed to contain one thousand three hundred acres ; The second tract beginning at a hemlock or black spruce tree, on the south side of a small brook on the west side of the bay Perue in lake Champlain, marked with the letters M. A. and figures 1791 ; and running from thence south eighty-five degrees west twenty-five chains ; then northerly on a parallel line with the main course of the said bay forty chains, from thence north eighty-five degrees cast to the bay aforesaid ; then on the shore of said bay to the place of beginning, supposed to contain one hundred acres; at the rate of one shilling and eight pence per acre ; the one sixth part to be paid or secured to be paid this day, the one half of the remainder to be paid in one year, and the residue in six months thereafter ; being read and duly considered, (ACCEPTED) Acres 1100 £116 13 4
The application of John Bay, for the purchase of the following tract of land, situate in the town of Katts Kill, in the county of Albany, beginning at a point in a course north seven degrees east, distant seventy chains from a white oak tree marked A. K. W. standing on a point of land on the north side of a brook or run of water, called by the Indians Kiskatamenakook, on the west side of a high round hill, called Wawantapekook, and near to a small gullet leading into the said brook ; which said white oak tree is marked for the place of beginning of a certain tract of land formerly granted by letters patent unto Martin G. Van Bergen, late of the county of Albany, deceased, and runs from the said point of beginning north two degrees and thirty minutes, west forty-five chains ; thence north thirty-three degrees and thirty minutes west sixteen chains ; thence north forty-nine degrees, west seventy chains and fifty links ; thence south eighty- three degrees, west forty five chains, and so continuing on said last mentioned course until it intersects the casterly bounds of a certain tract or tracts of land lately belonging to Sir Henry Moore ; thence northerly casterly and southerly along the said tract or tracts of land lately belonging to the said Sir Henry Moore, to the southwesterly corner thereof ; and from thence to the afore- said place of beginning, containing about six hundred acres, at the
1083
IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK.
rate of four shillings per acre ; the whole of the purchase money to be paid in three months from the purchase ; being read and duly considered, (ACCEPTED) Acres 600 £120 0 1)
The application of Coll McGregor, for the purchase of township No. 8, one of the townships formerly set apart for the military, containing sixty four thousand acres, at the rate of one shilling and eight pence per acre ; one sixth part of the purchase money to be paid in six months, two sixth parts in twelve months, and the remaining three sixth parts in eighteen months from the date hereof, being read and duly considered,
(ACCEPTED) Acres 64,000 £5,333 0 0
The application of William Henderson, for the purchase of township No. 5, one of the townships formerly set apart for the military, containing sixty four thousand acres, at the rate of one shilling and eight pence per acre; one sixth part of the purchase money to be paid in six months, two sixth parts in twelve months, and the remaining three sixth parts in eighteen months from the date hereof, being read and duly considered,
(ACCEPTED) Acres 61,000 £5,333 0 0
The application of Hugh McCauly, for the purchase of a tract of land in the mountains west of lake Champlain, beginning sixteen roods south thirty-five degrees west of lands granted to John Watts and others, now belonging to Heyman Levy and others; from thence running north thirty-five degrees, east 260 roods along the line of said lands ; thence south one hundred and sixty roods; thence south thirty-five degrees, west one hun- dred roods ; then north sixty roods ; then south thirty-five degrees, west one hundred and sixty roods; and then north one hundred roods to the place of beginning, containing nearly two hundred acres, at the rate of one shilling per acre, the whole to be paid on the issuing of the patent, being read and duly con- sidered, (ACCEPTED) Acres 200 £10 00 Acres 5,512,170 £412,173 16 8
1
THE
REPORT OF A
COMMITTEE
APPOINTED TO EXPLORE THE WESTERN WATERS
IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK
FOR THE PURPOSE
OF
PROSECUTING
THE
INLAND LOCK NAVIGATION.
ALBANY; PRINTED BY BARBER AND SOUTHWICK : M, DCC, XCII.
REPORT.
THE Committee appointed on the 14th of August by the Directors of the WESTERN INLAND LOCK NAVIGATION COMPANY, in the State of New York, to examine the State of the Mohawk River, from the Town of Schenectady to Fort Schuyler, BEG LEAVE TO REPORT :
THAT on Monday, the 20th ult. they repaired to Schenectady, where they were joined, on the 21st, by Mr. Moses De Witt, as Surveyor, with whom, together with Mr Nesbit, and Mr. Lightall, a Carpenter, they proceeded in a batteau to fulfill, as far as they were capable, the object of their appointment. The result of their observations is contained in the following detail of a survey of the Mohawk River, taken when the water therein was less than has been known within the memory of the eldest person now living ; and consequently. the impediments, to the navigation thereof, as great as they will probably be at any future period, without artificial aid.
FROM Albany to Schenectady FROM Schenectady to
Miles. 16
Nº 1 In good water, one and a half mile, there a rapid, over which the water runs one and a half feet deep, the bottom small stones and gravel ; deep water above the rapid :
2 On in good water, one and a half mile, to Daniel Tolls, there a rapid, on which one and a half feet water ; bottom loose stones, deep above it, an island near the South shore :
1 1-2
3 On in good water, one quarter of a mile, to a sharp rapid, on which not more than one foot of water, bottom loose stones, the water above, deep :
1 1-2
4 On to Anthony Van Slykes, in good water, one mile, there a rapid, water deep above it :. . . . .
1-4
1
1088
INLAND LOCK-NAVIGATION.
Nº 5 On in good water, one and a half mile, then a sharp rapid, one and a half feet water, bottom loose stones and gravel, water shallow above it, current on the rapid very strong :
o On one quarter of a mile to Jacobus Swarts, in shallow water, there a small rapid, bottom, loose stones, water deep above it :
1-4
7 On one half a mile, to John Mabey's water good, here lay the night of the 21st of August. ....
8 On one and a half mile in good water, then a rapid at Sias Swarts : This rapid is one quarter of a mile long, great velocity of water, depth one and a half feet, bottom, stones and gravel, water, above the rapid, deep :
9 On two miles, current gentle, bottom level, shallow all the way, not more than from one to one and a half feet water :
2 10 On two and a half miles to Lewis Groots, pass- ing two small rapids with sufficient water ....
11 On one and a quarter of a mile to the Willow Rapid : this rapid extends half a mile, has a sufficient depth of water ; the velocity of the water so great as to render the ascent for large batteaux very difficult :
1 3-4 12 On one half a mile to the late Sir William John- son's first settlement on the South side of the river, small rapids, but shallow, the greater part of the distance not more than one foot of water :
13 On one half mile to the creek on which Veeder's grist-mill is erected, shallow and small rapids, not more than one foot of water :
1.1 On one half mile to the lime-kiln the same as 12 and 13
15 On one quarter mile good water, then a rapid, sharp and very shallow bottom, loose stones, little water above it, the rapid one quarter of a mile long :
1 1-2
1-2
1 3-4
2 1-2
1-2
1-2
1-2
1-2
1089
INLAND LOCK-NAVIGATION.
Nº 16 On one quarter of a mile to the house late Guy Johnson's, rapid and shallow, .
1-4
17 On about 3 1-2 miles to the beginning of deep water above or opposite the mouth of Schohara Creek; in all this distance continued rapids, so shallow that an empty batteau must be drawn up; the river wide, with several islands, the bottom generally loose stone, gravel and sand, 18 On five miles to John Fonda's, very good water, deep and gentle; here lay the night of the 22d: 19 On one half mile to the Caughnawaga rift, deep, incommoded with large rocks:
3 1-2
5
1-2
20 On nine miles, in perfectly good water, current . gentle, then the rapid commonly called Kettar's Rapid, great velocity of water, sufficiently deep, obstructed by large rocks, the rapid extends about one quarter of a mile:
9 1-4
21 On in good water two miles to a small rapid at Bankers; water deep :.
2 22 On one half a mile to Colonel John Fry's many sand banks in the river, easily removed to deepen the channel:
23 On in good water one mile, there a small rapid, deep water:
1
3
3
2 1-2
1
VOL. III.
69
1-2
24 On three miles in good water, to a small rapid, sufficient depth of water:
25 On three miles to Mr. Nellis's, the river shallow, bottom loose stones and gravel, some large de- tached rocks; here lay the night of the 23d ... 26 On two and a half miles to the ford, the rapid sharp, but smooth, and water sufficient: . . . 27 On one and a half miles to Fort Hendrick, small rapids and shallow, the bottom loose stones and gravel:
1 1-2 28 On one mile in good water to John Van Dru- sen's, there two small rapids, water shallow, bottom, loose stones and gravel, water deep above the rapids:
1
1090
INLAND LOCK-NAVIGATION.
Nº 29 On three and a half miles to the Falls, the water deep all the way, current gentle, except at the place called the Haycocks, where the navigation is sometimes dangerous, occasioned by about one hundred rocks:
3 1-2
69
From Schenectady to the Fails 53 miles.
30 From the landing at the foot, to the landing at the head of the Falls, is about three quarters of a mile, the height thirty-nine feet two inches, the ground stony, rocky and rough, proceeded the 27th :
3-4 31 On four miles in very good water, then a pretty strong rapid, extending one quarter of a mile, sufficiently deep, gravel bottom:
4 1-4 32 On one half mile, good water, to a strong sharp rapid, formerly called Orendorff's rift, falls a foot in about eighty yards two feet water, a fine gravel bottom:
1-2
33 On one mile in good water, then arrived at the Wolf Rift, extending about one half mile, bottom fine gravel, shallow, and the channel crooked, occasioned by banks of gravel in the river: ....
1 1-2 31 On to Fort Herkimer three quarters of a mile, good water, here lay the night of the 27th. . 3-1 35 On to Fort Schuyler as the river runs about forty-five miles, in all this extent a few rapids and most of these of little consequence, those that impede the navigation in very dry season easily deepened, as the water above them is in- variably deep, the greatest obstruction is from timber in the bottom, and on the sides of the river, arrived on the 29th 45
121 3-4 36 On across the portage to Wood Creek, eighty- one chains through level grounds and swamps, the Mohawk about two feet higher than Wood Creek.
1
1091
INLAND LOCK-NAVIGATION.
Mr. SCHUYLER descended Wood Creek in a batteau. He found the obstructions occasioned by timber, or rapids from the land- ing at the place where Fort Newport formerly stood, to that where Fort Bull was erected, quite trifling; but the Creek so shallow that the batteau could not have passed without the aid of water previously collected in Mr. Lynch's dam. From Fort Bull to where Canada Creek enters Wood Creek, the rapids are many and sharp, with little water, the obstructions from timber trifling. From Canada Creek he walked about half a mile down and found a sufficiency of water ; From thence to the Oneida Lake he was informed, the navigation was greatly impeded by timber in the creek, as well as by many short turns.
HAVING given this detail of the state of the river, and the ob- stacles to a competent navigation thereof, the Committee proceed to give their opinion of the works which will be necessary to im- prove the navigation so as to fulfil the views of the Legislature, who incorporated the company-the places where these works ought to be erected ; and to estimate the probable expence. In all this business great allowance must be made for defects, arising from a want of experience, and the assistance of persons practi- cally conversant with the subject.
FROM the preceeding description of the river, the board will readily perceive that from Schenectady, to the mouth of Schio- hara Creek, the obstructions are many, from the number of rap- ids, the little water on those rapids and above them. Several of the rapids might be deepened by erecting small stone dams, nearly across the river, leaving a passage for boats ; but this whilst it would give a sufficiency of water, would so increase its velocity, as to render an ascent with a half loaded boat, of a size to carry three or four hundred bushels of wheat, extremely dif- ficult, without the aid of machinery to draw up the boat, and such machinery it would be difficult permanently to erect, on account of the vast quantity of ice which suddenly descends whenever the Schohara Creek breaks up in the spring of the year, and which would destroy such machinery.
SOME of the rapids may be deepened by removing the stones in the bottom, but this can only be successfully executed where the water above the rapid is deep ; for if it is not, another rapid
·
·
1092
INLAND LOCK-NAVIGATION.
is formed immediately above, by deepening the existing one. But the improvement of this part of the river although difficult yet it is feasible, and would be easily so, without any very ex- traordinary expence, if the bed of the river was a solid rock ; for then four or five dams at proper distances would create a series of ponds, covering the intermediate rapids; and hence by means of a lock and guard gates at each dam, boats would ascend or descend from the one to the other in snecession, but to drive piles to secure all the dams from blowing, would be so arduons and expensive an operation, that a canal and locks in the adjacent grounds would be infinitely preferable. These various difficulties have employed the closest attention of your committee, and they determined on a re-examination of this part of the river : Mr. Schuyler accordingly, on his return re-viewed the river, and the contignons grounds from Nº 17, towards Nº 16 : It appears to him practicable, and probably most effectual, as well as cheapest, to erect a strong dyke of timber and stone, parallel to the bank of the river, from the deep water just above the mouth of Schohara Creek, and on the north side of the river, until it shall descend the river as far as to gain height sufficient to enter the bank below the rocky part, which would be at the distance of about 1100 yards, and, as the fall then would be about 9 feet a lock might be constructed there, and thence a canal might be carried through good grounds on the low lands, having the uplands on one side, until just below Clyne's tavern, where it would again enter the river, continued and confined by a dyke, or embankment for about 300 yards ; and then again through the low lands along the foot of the up lands to the river near the house of the late Guy Johnson, where it would enter the river with one or more locks : The whole distance from Nº 17 to this point is abont four miles. Near the point of beginning above mentioned, that is near Nº 17, guard gates will be requisite, to prevent the water in high freshes from overwhelming the Canal and Locks. But as the Navigation between this point, and that a little to the westward of Nº 9, must also be improved, to enable loaded boats to pass in dry seasons, it necessarily claimed atten- tion : Here Mr. Schuyler found good banks on both sides of the river, at a place a little above Nº 9, the width of the river about
1093
INLAND LOCK-NAVIGATION.
200 yards. If a dam was here erected across the river abont nine feet high it would probably deaden the water to where the Canals and Locks above mentioned shall enter the river, near Guy Johnson's, and so overcome the Willow, and the other rapids in that space. If the bottom of the river should be rock, the expence of the dam, would not be great, if not, it must be piled; , in either case there is little doubt but that it would stand the shock of the ice and freshes ; a Lock would be requisite here, to ascend into, and descend from, this dam. At some distance below this dam and lock, a canal may be led from the river on the south side, secured with guard gates, and run through low lands, and well sheltered along the foot of the hills and re-enter the river at Daniel Peck's, which is supposed to be about Nº 5, and thus, with the necessary locks, every difficulty would be obviated. For want of accurate surveys and implements to determine the quantity, and kind of earth and stone, or rock, to be removed, it is absolutely impossible to ascertain with any degree of precision, the expence that would attend the proper improvement of this part of the river; it certainly will be considerable, probably not less than £20,000.
FROM Schohara Creek to the falls, it does not appear necessary to form any Canals, the rocks which impede the passage of boats in the Caughnawaga, Keetar's and Haycock's rapids, and other places, will be easily removed by rolling them to the shore, or when too large by blowing them. Those rapids which are too shallow may be deepened by removing the stone and gravel, as the water above is in general deep, and if cuts are made through the gravel and sand banks, which obstruct the river about Fox's Creek, and a little higher up the navigation will be such as the act contemplates, and the expence will pro- bably not exceed £2,000.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.