Chronology - Crooked Lake Canal.

CHRONOLOGICAL RÉSUMÉ OF IMPORTANT LAWS AND EVENTS.

CROOKED LAKE CANAL.

1809	Chapter 82 – Part of Crooked lake outlet declared a public highway.
1814	Surveyor-General to survey from Seneca lake to Cohocton river.
1824	Petition for survey of canal connecting Seneca and Crooked lakes and Cohocton river.
1827	Petitions presented to Legislature praying for construction of Crooked Lake canal. March 6, – Canal commissioners report against construction of Crooked Lake canal.
1828	April 19, – Commissioners to make survey.
1829	Chapter 120 – Construction of canal authorized, not to exceed $120,000. Report of David Thomas submitted; 8 miles; 29 locks; lockage, 270 feet.
1830	Hutchinson’s report; estimate $119,198
1831	Contracts for construction of canal let. Work begun.
1833	Chapter 115 – Authorizes canal board to allow for extra expense and labor. May, – Floods cause considerable damage to unfinished work. October 10, – Canal completed; 8 miles; 42 ft. surface, 4 ft. of water; 28 locks, 90 x 15 ft. October 21, – Canal opened for navigation.
1834	Hutchinson’s "Blue line" maps completed.
1835	Chapter 276 – Commissioners to deepen upper level 2 ½ ft. and reconstruct dam if advisable.
1836	Chapter 216 – Authorizes canal commissioners to purchase water-privileges of Waggoner and Gillett.
1837	Dresden pier extended 215 feet.
1842	Chapter 114 – "Stop law," all work except necessary repairs stopped.
1844	Chapter 313 – Commissioners to make lake level same as Seneca lake, – 1 foot lower.
1845	Chapter 338 – $25,000 appropriated for reconstruction of locks.
1846	Chapter 325 – $25,000 appropriated for reconstruction of locks. Constitution, Art. VII, Sec. 6, – Canals never to be sold, leased or otherwise disposed of. Five locks rebuilt and brought into use, cost $20,999.43.
1847	Chapter 249 – Commissioners to rebuild locks when necessary. May 1, – Eleven locks completed and brought into use.
1848	May 8, – All locks completed and brought into use.
1849	Chapter 218 – Seneca lake lock to be rebuilt of stone.
1851	Pier at Dresden completed.
1853	Chapter 620 – 5,000 appropriated for improving Crooked lake level.
1855	Chapter 570 – $3,500 appropriated for completing improvement of Crooked lake level. Contracts let to keep canal in repair for five years.
1857	June 9, 17, 25, 30, – A series of freshets badly damages canal.
1859	Chapter 449 – Appropriation for improving the upper level of canal.
1861	Bridges and retaining wall at Penn Yan completed.
1863	New guard-lock constructed of stone at Penn Yan, 18 inches lower than old lock. July, – Canal badly damaged by severe storm.
1864	Penn Yan level lowered to conform to guard-lock.
1867	Chapter 579 – $25,000 appropriated for rebuilding locks. June, – Freshet considerably damages canal
1868	Chapter 716 – $40,000 appropriated for rebuilding 5 locks of stone.
1869	Four locks reconstructed, cost $36,786.26.
1870	Chapter 767 – Appropriation for improvement at Penn Yan. Locks Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11, 18 and 19 to be rebuilt.
1871	Six locks rebuilt at an average cost of $10,000 each.
1872	Chapter 343 – Appropriation of $3,000 for brush and stone protection to the locks and banks. Only about two feet of water in canal for six months.
1875	Chapter 499 – Canal board to examine and report as to sale of canal.
1876	Chapter 282 – Commission appointed to report what disposition should be made of canal. Canal not in operation.
1877	Chapter 404 – Canal to be abandoned after passage of this act. (June 4, 1877.) January 3, – Canal transferred from middle to western division.
1878	Chapter 143 – Banks and prism of canal to be released to Penn Yan and New York R. R. Co. for $100. Chapter 344 – Canal commissioners to sell the canal.
1879	Chapter 522 – Superintendent of Public Works to sell the canal.
1881	Chapter 157 – Sales of canal property to be advertised.
1882	Chapter 34 – Time for completion Penn Yan R. R. extended and released confirmed.
1884	Chapter 471 – Time for completion Penn Yan R. R. extended five years and release confirmed.
1887	Chapter 234 – Appropriation for improvement of Crooked lake outlet.
1888	Outlet improved and bar at Branchport partly removed.
1889	Chapter 570 – Appropriation for completion of improvements to outlet, pursuant to chapters 234-1887 and 206 and 389-1888.

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