Chronology - Chemung Canal.

CHRONOLOGICAL RÉSUMÉ OF IMPORTANT LAWS AND EVENTS.

CHEMUNG CANAL.

1779	Canal proposed by General Sullivan.
1815	Chapter 125 – Seneca and Susquehanna Lock Navigation Co. incorporated; $300,000 capital stock.
1825	Chapter 236 – Surveys to be made from Seneca lake to Chemung river.
1826	Report of James Geddes for canal 31 miles long.
1829	Chapter 135 – Canal commissioners to build canal from Seneca lake to Elmira (after securing rights of Navigation Co.) for not over $300,000.
1830	Contracts let for $290,263 and work commenced, to be completed in October.
1831	Fifteen miles of canal completed. Dam in Chemung river completed, 645 x 7 ft.
1832	Chapter 184 – $16,000 appropriated for completion of the canal.
1833	Canal completed; 23 miles canal, Watkins to Elmira; 16 miles navigable feeder, Horseheads to Corning; 42 ft. surface, 4 ft. water; 53 locks 90 x 15 ft.; 516 ft. lockage. May 5, 6, 7, – Heavy rains seriously damage canal and structures, especially Chemung dam. October, – Navigation opened.
1837	Lock near Millport rebuilt.
1839	Chapter 306 – Survey to be made to connect Chemung and North Branch, Pa., canals. The chute in Chemung feeder dam extended and reconstructed: cost $10,578.42.
1840	Chapter 176 – Locks to be rebuilt for not over $100,000. Allen’s report on extension to Tioga Point, 20 miles. Contracts let for rebuilding locks.
1841	Chapter 219 – Commissioners to build canal from junction with inlet to Seneca lake.
1842	Chapter 34 – Funds to be raised for work under chapter 219-1841. Chapter 114 –"Stop law," all work except necessary repairs stopped. Canal extended 1.25 miles toward lake. 53 locks ordered rebuilt by chapter 176-1840 completed and brought into use.
1843	Spring floods considerably damage canal.
1844	Aqueduct across Catherine creek, near summit level, rebuilt.
1845	Pier built at Seneca lake, 220 ft.
1846	Constitution, Art. VII, Sec. 6, – Canals never to be sold, leased or otherwise disposed of. Chapter 194 – Junction Canal Co. incorporated to connect Chemung and North Branch canals. Chapter 325 – Wooden lock at Elmira to be rebuilt.
1847	Chapter 217 – Bridge to be built at Elmira, if necessary. Lock at intersection of canal and Chemung river completed and brought into use.
1848	Chapter 218 – Canal to be built from junction with Catherine creek to Seneca lake.
1850	Canal to lake completed, pursuant to chapter 218-1848.
1852	Chapter 346 – Two bridges to be built at Elmira.
1854	Chapter 227 – Junction canal to be connected with Chemung. Contracts let to keep canal in repair for five years.
1856	Estimate for Mud and Little lake reservoirs 313,196,400 cu. ft.; $37,500.
1857	Chapter 175 – Bridge to be built at Horseheads. June, – A series of freshets badly damage canal.
1858	Chapter 211 – Locks, when rebuilt, to be size of Erie canal. Contracts let for repairing old locks. Chemung and Junction canals connected.
1860	Locks Nos. 11, 21, 27, 31, 35, 37 and 41 rebuilt.
1861	Locks Nos. 19, 40, 43, 45, 46 and 48 rebuilt. October 25, – Chemung river rises 14 ft. above normal height, 800 ft. towing-path bank swept away; navigation delayed 11 days.
1862	Chapter 130 – Trustees village Elmira may build bridges over canal at that place. Canal board by resolution increases the draught allowed to boats from 3 ½ to 4 ft. Locks Nos. 12, 14, 34, 38, 39, 42 and 44 on main canal and Nos. 50, 51, 52 and 53 on feeder rebuilt.
1863	Chapter 165 – Basin to be built on feeder at Corning; appropriation $20,000. Chapter 167 – Concerning certain bridges over canal at Elmira. (Completed 1864.)
1864	Chapter 200 – Draw-bridge to be built over canal at Cross St., Elmira. Chapter 232 – Canal commissioners directed to build timber locks same size as Erie canal. (Nothing done.) Chapter 470 – Draw-bridge (Snyder) to be built over canal at Second St., Elmira. Chapter 471 – Lock at Elmira terminus of canal to be replaced by a culvert.
1865	Chapter 19 – $20,000 appropriated for completion of Chemung canal feeder at Corning. Chapter 326 – Amends chapter 19-1865 and increases amount for completion of feeder to $50,000. Chapter 418 – Draw-bridge to be built over canal at Fifth St., Elmira. Chapter 473 – Amends chapter 200-1864 concerning draw-bridge at Cross St., Elmira. March 16, 17, 18, – Freshet badly damages canal, especially State dam.
1866	Chapter 519 – Draw-bridge to be built at Watkins. Chapter 570 – Junction Canal Co. may build a railroad from Elmira to Athens, Pa. Locks Nos. 24, 25, 28 and 32 reconstructed; only three, Nos. 1, 36 and 40 of the old timber locks left.
1867	Chapter 579 – $10,000 appropriated. Chapter 667 – Bridge to be built at Baldwin St., Elmira. June, – Freshet damages the canal. Locks Nos. 1, 36 and 40 rebuilt.
1868	Chapter 715 – $30,000 appropriated for construction of a pier at Watkins.
1869	Chapter 877 – $15,000 appropriated for dredging. Iron bridge with stone abutments authorized by chapter 667-1867 completed. Pier at Watkins completed.
1870	Chapter 578 – For construction of an iron bridge over canal feeder at Horseheads. Chapter 767 – Appropriates $35,000 for several improvements to canal. April and June, – Dam at Gibson destroyed by floods.
1871	State dam, Gibson, destroyed in the spring of 1870, rebuilt.
1872	Chapter 785 – One mile of canal abandoned to Elmira for public street.
1873	August 11, – Severe rains carry away 5,000 cubic yards of towing-path near Gibson; navigation suspended 12 days.
1876	Chapter 382 – Commissioners appointed as to disposition to be made of canal.
1877	Chapter 404 – Canal to be abandoned at close of season of navigation, 1878.
1878	Chapter 171 – Transfers a part of canal to Elmira for use as a public street. Chapter 344 – Canal commissioners to sell the canal.
1879	Chapter 522 – Superintendent of Public Works to sell canal after January 1, 1880.
1880	November 12, – Canal from Elmira to Horseheads deeded to Canal R. R. Co. for $600, pursuant to chapters 404-1877 and 344-1878.
1881	Chapter 157 – Sales of canal property to be advertised. Chapter 482 – Parts of abandoned canal released to certain parties. Chapter 593 – Sanitary condition of abandoned canal from Havana to Horseheads to be improved. Materials in locks, bridges, etc., sold for about $2,200.
1884	Chapter 105–Canal to be drained at Horseheads.
1885	Chapter 470–Canal to be drained at Havana.
1886	Chapter 278 – Lock at Corning to be filled up. Chapter 440 – Slope wall to be completed at Corning.
1887	Chapter 169 – Seneca lake level reopened. Chapter 346 – Appropriation for completing slope wall on canal at Corning.
1888	Chapter 315 – Slope wall at Corning to be completed. Chapter 416 – Opening of Seneca lake level to navigation.
1889	Chapter 382 – Appropriation for repairs to swing-bridge at Watkins (Supplemented by funds from chapter 416-1889, new bridge was built.) Chapter 467 – Reappropriation for sanitation of abandoned canal, pursuant to chapter 593-1881. Chapter 568 – For construction of a basin at Havana, also opening Seneca lake level.
1890	Chapter 96 – Appropriation for sanitation of abandoned canal. Chapter 338 – Reappropriates unexpended balance for opening Seneca lake level, pursuant to chapter 416-1888. Swing-bridge at Watkins completed, pursuant to chapter 416-1889.
1891	Chapter 300 – For construction of slope wall on the abandoned canal at Corning. Work of reopening lake level completed.
1892	Chapter 435 – State Engineer to prepare map of certain parts of abandoned canal.
1893	Chapter 726 – For abatement of nuisance caused by insufficient drainage of canal and canal feeder. April 19, – State Engineer reports concerning maps, surveys, etc., of abandoned canal, pursuant to chapter 435-1892.
1894	Chapter 358 – For improving the sanitary condition of the canal. Chapter 572 – For improving Seneca lake level of canal.
1895	Chapter 57 – For a bridge at Schuyler St., Havana. (Completed 1897.) Chapter 453 – For draining abandoned canal at Montour Falls. Chapter 679 – For constructing a sewer at Horseheads. Chapter 932 – For repair of prism of abandoned canal.
1896	Chapter 482 – Reappropriation for improving Seneca lake level, pursuant to chapter 572-1894. Chapter 801 – Amending chapter 482-1881.
1898	Chapter 624 – For reconstructing banks and channels Glen Creek, Watkins, the same having been altered by State in building canal.
1899	Chapter 569 – Appropriation for draining abandoned canal at Montour Falls.
1901	Chapter 699 – Appropriation for improving the harbor at Watkins.
1903	Chapter 600 – For reconstructing slope wall, south side of feeder, abandoned canal at Corning.
1904	Chapter 729 – To abate the nuisance caused by the waters of the canal and feeder at Big Flats.
1905	Chapter 172 – Reappropriates unexpended balance for constructing slope wall at Corning, pursuant to chapter 600-1903.

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