Chronology - Hudson River.

CHRONOLOGICAL RÉSUMÉ OF IMPORTANT LAWS AND EVENTS.

HUDSON RIVER.

1648	March 10, – Ordinance passed by Director-General and Council; navigation of river forbidden, unless license be obtained.
1660	July 2, – Ordinance passed; renews ordinance of March 10, 1648.
1664	July 17, – Ordinance passed; sloops forbidden to navigate river, except in pairs.
1792	Chapter 6 – Channel not to be obstructed at Albany. Chapter 8 – All dams in Hudson river to have flood-gates and fishways.
1796	Chapter 40 – Northern Lock Navigation Co. to examine river from Albany to Mill creek; State to pay ¾ of cost if 6 ft. of water can be got for £6,000.
1797	Chapter 39 – Appropriates $7,500 for pile dykes across island channel, opposite T.L. Whitbeck’s {see errata.} mill.
1799	Chapter 11 – Dam to be built in place of dyke authorized by chapter 39-1797. Chapter 20 – Commissioners appointed to improve river between Troy and Lansingburg; to tax property $8,400.
1800	Chapter 25 – Commissioners appointed to improve river, Lansingburg to Waterford and Albany to Troy; to raise $13,000 by lottery.
1801	Chapter 12 – $5,000 to be raised by lottery for improvement. Chapter 68 – River from Waterford to Stillwater to be deepened; dams not to be removed. Chapter 157 – $10,000 to be raised by lottery for improvement.
1803	Chapter 68 – $15,000 to be raised by lottery for work near Troy; $8,000 for work, Albany to Nicoll’s creek.
1804	Canal of 12 ½ miles from Albany to New Baltimore proposed by General Genet. Chapter 67 – $20,000 to be raised by lottery for river improvement, Troy to Waterford.
1807	Chapter 171 – $27,500 to be raised by lottery for improvement.
1808	Survey to be made for dam near Troy.
1809	January 20, – Prescott’s report, favoring dam.
1810	Chapter 133 – $30,000 to be raised by lottery for river improvement, Troy to Waterford.
1812	Chapter 157 – Troy to improve river to Albany and to receive all money; $10,000 appropriated for improvement, Albany to Coeymans.
1815	Chapter 260 – Sole commissioner appointed for improvement of river, Troy to Coeymans.
1816	Chapter 37 – Sole commissioner having declined, three commissioners appointed to carry out provisions of chapter 260-1815.
1817	Chapter 196 – Commissioners appointed to explore river and decide upon improvements; Troy dam may be extended across the river and lock built.
1818	Chapter 278 – Treasurer to pay commissioners all unexpended appropriations.
1819	Chapter 120 – Troy to build dam from Fish House island to east shore. Chapter 152 – Seven commissioners appointed to present estimates for improving navigation of tide-waters. First hydrographic survey, Troy to New Baltimore, by John Randall.
1820	Canal from Albany to New Baltimore recommended by commission, of which De Witt Clinton was the chairman.
1821	Chapter 78 – Unexpended balances to be applied to Troy dam.
1823	Chapter 111 – Basin to be built at Albany. Canal from Albany to New Baltimore advised by Benjamin Wright. Troy dam and lock completed.
1827	Chapter 296 – $14,000 appropriated for dredging between Troy dam and Coeymans.
1831	Hydrographic survey, Waterford to New Baltimore, by Col. De Witt Clinton, under Government authority.
1832	Col. Clinton reports to War Department.
1834	Chapter 240 – Canal commissioners to survey river, Troy to New Baltimore, also for ship canal route, Greenbush to New Baltimore, on plan suggested by E. C. Genet in 1820; 12.75 miles, 35 ft. wide, 18 ft. deep. Congress appropriates $70,000 under advice of Col. De Witt Clinton.
1835	Chapter 163 – Albany to improve basin. Chapter 229 – United States to occupy lands necessary to improvement. Channel instead of canal advised by U.S. Engineers.
1836	Chapter 139 – Albany basin to be improved.
1837	Chapter 467 – Albany basin to be improved. 220 feet of Troy dam carried away.
1839	Chapter 29 – Land ceded to United States for lighthouse at Esopus. Chapter 323 – Canal board to survey canal routes up river from Corinth to Johnsburg and Northampton.
1840	Chapter 95 – Obstruction near Van Wies Point to be removed. 450 feet of Troy dam carried away.
1843	Survey Troy to New Baltimore, by Captain S. W. Hughes.
1849	Chapter 390 – Land ceded to United States for a beacon at Tarrytown. Chapter 406 – Channel to be cleared, Glens Falls feeder to Hadley, and Phelps bay to Sacondaga.
1852	Chapter 365 – Obstructions to be removed at Castleton; appropriation, $10,000.
1853	Chapter 190 – Albany and New Baltimore Ship Canal and Basin Co. incorporated. Report of W. J. McAlpine on canal, Albany to New Baltimore; surface 20 ft. water; 2 locks 300 x 50 and 215 x 30 ft.
1854	Troy sloop lock rebuilt.
1856	Hudson River Bridge Co. at Albany incorporated.
1857	Chapter 374 – $25,000 appropriated to remove obstructions, Troy to New Baltimore.
1858	Chapter 361 – River opposite Troy to be dredged to 8 feet.
1860	Chapter 20 – Persons cutting ice in the river to erect safety fences.
1861	Chapter 313 – United States to build 3 beacons between Troy and Albany. Coast survey triangulation of river completed.
1863	Chapter 122 – $100,000 appropriated for improvement, Troy to New Baltimore. Coeymans dyke built, 2,940 ft.; Castleton dyke built, 3,370 ft.
1864	Chapter 105 – River to be improved, Troy to New Baltimore, and Catskill creek deepened; appropriation, $134,326.63. Chapter 243 – Bridge at Albany to be 20 ft. above ordinary tide. February 4, – Report of commissioners; channel at mean low tide is 7 ½ feet; only 4 ft. in 1819; jetties at Coeymans and Castleton secure 10 feet of water. Pixtaway dyke built, 2,907 ft; 5 ½ south of Albany. Castleton dyke built, 2,960 feet; 9 miles south of Albany.
1865	Chapter 472 – Survey to be made to determine feasibility of slack-water navigation, Waterford to Fort Edward. Chapter 561 – Appropriates $125,000 to continue improvements, Troy to New Baltimore. Greenbush dyke begun, 3, 086 ft; one-half mile south of Albany. Cuyler’s bar dyke built, 3,413 ft. (not entirely finished), and channel improved at an expense of $92,927, pursuant to chapter 561-1865.
1866	Chapter 33 – Survey of river to be made for slack-water navigation, Troy to Fort Edward, locks 225 x 25 ft. and stone dams. Chapter 491 – Work under chapter 561-1865 to continue, $150,000 appropriated. Chapter 503 – $35,000 appropriated for improvement of Albany basin. Willow island dyke built, near New Baltimore, 4,507 ft. Schodack dyke build, 924 ft; Cuyler’s dyke completed. Coeymans dyke extended 460 ft; Greenbush dyke completed. Commissioners report: loss of tide, – Stuyvesant to Albany, 24 miles, 18 inches; Stuyvesant to New York, 78 miles, 5 inches; plan of work, Troy to New Baltimore, 8 ft. at low water.
1867	Chapter 579 – $10,000 appropriated for improvement at Troy. Chapter 647 – $150,000 appropriated to continue improvements, Troy to Coxsackie. Mills light dyke built, 3,628 ft.; 10 miles south of Albany. New Baltimore dyke built, 6,470 ft.; 14 miles south of Albany. February 13, – Report on slack-water navigation; Troy to Fort Edward, 39.9 miles, 116 ft. rise; 8 ft. water; 11 locks 225 x 25 ft.; 11 stone dams; estimate, $2,360,079.
1868	Chapter 231 – $12,000 appropriated for repairs to Troy dam. Chapter 332 – Hudson, Highland Suspension Bridge Co. incorporated to build bridge from Verplanck’s Point to Buttermilk falls. Chapter 412 – Hudson River Bridge Co. to construct bridge over the Hudson at Albany to foot of Exchange St., and to remove present bridge.
1869	Chapter 32 – $20,000 appropriated to repair Albany basin. Chapter 779 – Hudson River Bridge Co. may construct another bridge across the Hudson between State St. and Maiden lane. Chapter 877 – $45,000 appropriated for rebuilding Troy dam.
1870	Chapter 555 – Canal commissioners to construct fishways at Troy dam.
1871	Chapter 268 – Contributory appropriation for construction of a bridge over river between Warrensburg and Thurman. Chapter 312 – Fulsome Landing Bridge Company may complete its bridge over river between Chester and Johnsburg. Chapter 458 – Provisions for extension of Rondout and Oswego R. R. to east bank of river; also establishment of a steam ferry. Chapter 897 – Poughkeepsie Bridge Company incorporated.
1872	Chapter 269 – Albany and Greenbush Bridge Co. incorporated. Chapter 310 – Troy and West Troy Bridge Company incorporated. Chapter 321 – Troy, Lansingburg and Cohoes Bridge Co. incorporated. Chapter 346 – River to be dredged between Troy and Coxsackie. Chapter 546 – Mechanicville Bridge Co. incorporated.
1873	Chapter 713 – Appropriates $50,000 for improvement of river navigation.
1875	Chapter 403 – Supplementary to chapter 332-1868, concerning the Hudson, Highland Suspension Bridge Co.
1876	Chapter 204 – $40,000 appropriated for State Engineer to improve river between Troy and Coxsackie; to secure 5 ft. water, below Troy sloop lock; 6 ft. water, 125 ft. wide, between Troy and Albany; 10 ft. water, 125 ft. wide, between Albany and Coxsackie. Chapter 376 – Dumping in river forbidden. 136,709 cubic yards dredged from the river.
1877	Chapter 275 – Commissioners appointed to establish bulkhead lines in the river. Chapter 346 – Amending chapter 269-1872, the act incorporating the Albany and Greenbush Bridge Co. Chapter 412 – $15,000 appropriated for State Engineer to improve river from Troy to Coxsackie; to secure from State dam to Troy bridge, 5 ft. water, 60 ft. wide; to the lower Albany bridge, 7 ft. water, 125 ft. wide; to Coxsackie, 10 ft. water, 150 ft. wide. January 31, – Lieut. Willard, U. S. A., reports depth at mean low water: Bogart light, 8.6; Overslaugh dam, 8.1; Coeymans, 8.2; New Baltimore, 8.8. 226,842 cubic yards dredged from river.
1878	Chapter 39 – Time for completing Poughkeepsie bridge extended to 1881. Chapter 205 – Appropriates $30,000 for improvement of river navigation, as per chapter 412-1877. 211,654 cubic yards dredged from river.
1879	Chapter 106 – $30,000 appropriated for State Engineer to improve the river from Troy to Coxsackie; to secure from State dam to Troy R. R. bridge 5 ft. water, 60 ft. wide; to lower Albany R. R. bridge, 8 ft. water, 125 ft. wide; to Coxsackie, 10 ft. water, 150 ft. wide. Chapter 388 – Adjoining owners to have first right to cut ice to center of river. 114,197 cubic yards dredged from river.
1880	Chapter 50 – Time for completing Poughkeepsie bridge extended three years. Chapter 51 – $30,000 appropriated for State Engineer to improve river from Troy to Coxsackie, as per chapter 106-1879. Chapter 541 – Lights to be maintained on all Hudson river swing-bridges.
1881	Chapter 230 – $30,000 appropriated for State Engineer to improve river, Troy to Coxsackie, as per chapter 106-1879.
1882	Chapter 77 – Time for completion of Poughkeepsie bridge extended to 1888. Chapter 372 – $30,000 appropriated for State Engineer to improve river, Troy to Coxsackie, as per chapter 106-1879, also West Troy side-cut.
1883	Chapter 233 – Land ceded to United States for lighthouses at Danskamer Point and Narrow Channel. Chapter 451 – $30,000 appropriated for Superintendent of Public Works to improve river, Troy to Coxsackie; to secure railroad from bridge at Troy to lower railroad bridge, Albany, 8 ft. water, 125 ft. wide; to Coxsackie 10 ft. water, 150 ft. wide.
1884	Chapter 110 – $30,000 appropriated for Superintendent of Public Works to improve river, Troy to Coxsackie, as per chapter 451-1883. Chapter 273 – Land to be ceded to the United States for lighthouses on river. Chapter 541 – Governor to appoint commission to report on storing head waters of Hudson river. 115,897 cubic yards dredged from the river.
1885	Chapter 210 – $30,000 appropriated for Superintendent of Public Works to improve river, Troy to Coxsackie: to secure from Troy dam to Troy R. R. bridge, 6 ft. water, 80 ft. wide; to the lower Albany R. R. bridge, 8 ft. water, 125 ft. wide; to Coxsackie, 10 ft. water, 150 ft. wide. 167,340 cubic yards dredged from river.
1886	Chapter 172 – $25,000 appropriated for Superintendent of Public Works to improve river, Troy to Coxsackie, as per chapter 210-1885. 104,000 cubic yards dredged from river; dyke built at New Baltimore, 1,000 feet long.
1887	Chapter 162 – $30,000 appropriated for Superintendent of Public Works to improve river, Troy to Coxsackie, as per chapter 210-1885. Chapter 512 – Fishway to be constructed in Troy dam. 118,958 cubic yards dredged from river.
1888	Chapter 173 – $50,000 appropriated for Superintendent of Public Works to improve river, Troy to Coxsackie; to secure from Troy dam to Troy railroad bridge, 6 ft. water, 80 ft. wide; to the lower R. R. bridge, Albany, 10 ft. water, 140 ft. wide; to Coxsackie, 11 ft. water, 175 ft. wide. 195,414 cubic yards dredged from river.
1889	Chapter 106 – $50,000 appropriated for Superintendent of Public Works to improve river, Troy to Coxsackie, as per chapter 173-1888. Chapter 278 – Mole to be constructed at McCabe, Houghtaling island. 178,148 cubic yards dredged from river.
1890 {see errata.}	Chapter 204 – $30,000 appropriated for Superintendent of Public Works to improve river, Troy to Coxsackie, as per chapter 173-1888. Chapter 501 – Troy and Breaker Island Bridge Co. incorporated. March 25, – Pier lines approved by Secretary of War, Troy to New Baltimore. 82,812 cubic yards dredged from the river.
1891	United States Government assumes charge of improvements; {see errata.} no appropriation by the State.
1892	Chapter 155 – State Engineer to report condition of State dams at Troy and Cohoes. Chapter 158 – Alteration of pier head line in New York City. Chapter 281 – Albany and Bath-on-the-Hudson Bridge Co. incorporated. Chapter 293 – $35,000 appropriated for Superintendent of Public Works to improve river, Troy to Coxsackie, as per chapter 173-1888. Chapter 607 – For improvement of west channel of river between New Baltimore and Coxsackie. 123,609 cubic yards dredged from the river.
1893	Chapter 85 – For improving lateral channels and repairing certain dykes in the river. $1,520,249 spent in dredging the river between Troy and Coxsackie since 1797.
1894	Chapter 358 – For completing the mole between river and Houghtaling island. Chapter 374 – Provides for construction of free bridges over river at Stillwater.
1895	Chapter 97 – For a commission to confer with representatives of New Jersey concerning the acquisition by the United States of the Palisades. Chapter 599 – For a survey of upper Hudson river valley, with a view to store waters for improving navigation on Champlain canal and lower Hudson. Chapter 953 – To regulate the cutting and harvesting of ice in river. Chapter 982 – Bulkhead and pier lines established at Albany.
1896	Chapter 15 – Palisades in Rockland County ceded to United States for a National park. Chapter 320 – Supplementing chapter 599-1895, provides for continuation of survey of upper Hudson river valley. Chapter 950 – Additional appropriation for completing mole between river and Houghtaling island, pursuant to chapter 278-1889.
1897	Chapter 560 – Appropriation for removal of part of pier at Piermont, Rockland County. Chapter 567 – Authorizes Superintendent of Public Works to purchase the Fort Miller bridge near State dam, Northumberland. Chapter 592 – Regulations concerning navigation of the Hudson river.
1898	Chapter 201 – Amending chapter 560-1897 authorizing the removal of a part of the dock at Piermont. Chapter 552 – Reappropriates unexpended balance for completing mole between river and Houghtaling island, pursuant to chapter 950-1896.
1899	Chapter 264 – Amending chapter 953-1895, regulates the cutting and harvesting of ice in Hudson river. Chapter 569 – Appropriation for completing the mole between the river and Houghtaling island.
1900	Chapter 33 – Authorizes Hudson River Water Power Co. to build and maintain a dam across river between Glens Falls and Palmer’s Falls. Chapter 170 – To provide for an Interstate Park along the Palisades. Chapter 175 – The dam erected and maintained near Mechanicville by Hudson River Power Transmission Co. legalized.
1901	Chapter 164 – Waterford Electric Light Co., may construct and maintain a dam across river between Half Moon and Schaghticoke. Chapter 541 – Part of Esopus island to be conveyed and jurisdiction ceded to the United States. Chapter 669 – Construction of a dam across the river to Warren County authorized.
1904	Chapter 104 – Extending time for completion of Hudson Suspension Bridge and N. E. R. R. Co.’s bridge over the river between Verplanck’s Point and Buttermilk falls, 10 years. Chapter 749 – Amending chapter 953-1895, regulates the harvesting of ice in river.

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