Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/407

 Reid : The Story of Old Fort Johnson 397 ment twice repeated (IV. 35, 695), that the court of appeals has held that the legislature cannot compel a municipality to pay laborers whom it employs the rate of wages prevailing in the locality. The case cited, People ex rel. Rodgers v. Colcr (166 N. Y. i), merely holds that the legislature cannot compel such payment by contractors for public work. The language, in the opinion of Judge O'Brien, upon which the author relies, was not essential to the decision. And that such payment by a city can be compelled by statute was affirmed by a majority of that court in the later case of Ryan v. Nezv York (177 N. Y. 71). There is no reference to the importance of the novel doctrine laid down In re Jacobs (98 N. Y. 98), and since followed; nor any dis- cussions of the decisions, which are merely noted. In fact the treat- ment of the decisions of the courts seems perfunctory rather than philo- sophical. This is the least satisfactory part of the book, but notwith- standing contains much that will be of use to the practitioner. Most of these, however, are minor blemishes, which can easily be corrected. The book is indispensable to all constitutional lawyers, legis- lators, and statesmen in New York. It will be interesting and useful to every lawyer and man in public life in every part of the United States and to all students of constitutional history and sociology through- out the world. It will be the standard authority upon the subject for at least a generation. Roger Foster. The Story of Old Fort Johnson. By W. Max Reid. (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 1906. Pp. xii, 240.) The most famous historic house in the Mohawk Valley to-day is probably old Fort Johnson, situated a few miles west of the site of Amsterdam. Not only has this old colonial " mansion " with its sur- rounding hills and valleys a local interest, but, through the prominence and significant influence of the original owner and his family, the history of the building appeals to a wide circle of readers and students. Persons interested in the preservation and proper care of the relics of our past will rejoice that this historic building has been placed in the hands of the Montgomery County Historical Society. For about a half-century the house was in the possession of the Akin family, but in 1905, in order to settle the family estate, the property had to be sold. Through the munificence of Major-general J. Watts de Peyster, a grandnephew of Lady Johnson, the wife of Sir John, the building was presented to the society. It will become the museum of the society and will house, among other objects, the interesting Richmond collec- tion of Indian relics. It is unfortunate that better advantage has not been taken of the opportunity to write a good local history on the subject. The Story of Old Fort Johnson is an interesting, rambling tale; it is a mixture of history, fi'tion, ethnology, and gossip. One does not expect scientific