Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/387

 NEW YORK (STATE) NEW YORK (OUT) 373 gagements took place along the borders. In 1796 the " Western Navigation Company" was incorporated, which built locks around the rapids on the Mohawk, and dug a canal across the portage at Rome, so that laden boats could pass from the ocean to Oneida lake, and thence by the outlet to Lake Ontario. In 1800 Gou- verneur Morris conceived the plan of a canal directly through the state from east to west. In 1808 James Geddes made a partial survey of the proposed route, and reported favorably. De Witt Clinton investigated the matter, and from that time gave to the project the whole weight of his influence. The war of 1812 caused a suspension of the project, but in 1816 a law was passed authorizing the construction of the canal. Work was begun in 1817, and the canal was finished in 1825. It speedily be- came the great channel of trade and emigration. In 1853-'4 the constitution was amended in order to enable the state to borrow $9,000,000 to facilitate the completion of the canals. In 1865 an amendment providing for the appoint- ment of five commissioners of appeals was re- jected. In 1866 a convention was called by popular vote for the revision of the constitution, in pursuance of its provision for the submission of that question every 20 years. The members were elected in April, 1867, met on June 4, and continued their sessions till Feb. 28, 1868 ; but at the election of Nov. 2, 1869, the new consti- tution was rejected, as well as several amend- ments which were submitted separately, except- ing one reorganizing the judiciary. An amend- ment providing for the appointment instead of the election of the principal judges was re- jected at the election of 1873. In November, 1874, several amendments which had been pro- posed by the legislature were ratified by the people. These removed the property qualifi- cation of colored voters, restricted the power of the legislature to pass private .or local bills, made changes in the executive department, prescribed an oath of office in relation to bri- bery, established safeguards against official cor- ruption, and removed the restrictions imposed upon the legislature in regard to selling or leasing certain of the state canals. During the civil war New York furnished to the federal army 455,568 troops, or 380,980 reduced to a three years' standard. In 1869 the legislature ratified the 15th amendment to the federal con- stitution; in 1870 this action was annulled by a resolution, which was rescinded in 1872. The history of New York from 1609 to 1691 is given in Brodhead's "History of the State of New York" (2 vols. 8vo, 1853 -'71). See also "History of New Netherland," by E. B. O'Callaghan (2 vols., New York, 1845-'8), and " Documentary History of New York (4 vols. 4to, Albany, 1849-'51), and " Documents rela- tive to the Colony of New York" (11 vols., 1855-'61), both edited by him. The geological and natural history survey of the state was made in 1836-'42, the results of which have been published in elaborate reports, viz. : zoology, by De Kay, 5 vols. ; botany, by J. Torrey, 2 vols. ; mineralogy, by L. C. Beck, 1 vol. ; geology, by W. W. Mather, E. Emmons, L. Vanuxem, and J. Hall, 4 vols. ; agriculture, by E. Emmons, 5 vols. ; palaeontology, by J. Hall, 4 vols. (vol. v. in progress, 1875). NEW YORK, a city of the state of New York, coextensive with the county of the same name, the commercial metropolis of the United States, and the most populous city in the western hemisphere, situated at the mouth of the Hud- son river, about 145 m. below Albany, 18 m. from the Atlantic ocean, 190 m. in a direct line S. W. of Boston, 205 m. N. E. of Washington, and 715 m. E. of Chicago ; lat. of the city hall, 40 42' 43" N., Ion. 74 0' 3" W. The main body of the city is situated on Manhattan island; besides which it includes Randall's, Ward's, and Blackwell's islands in the East river ; Gover- nor's, Bedloe's, and Ellis islands in the bay, oc- cupied by the United States government ; and a portion of the mainland N. of Manhattan isl- and, and separated from it by SpuytenDuyvel creek and Harlem river. It is bounded N. by the city of Yonkers; E. by the Bronx river, which separates it from the towns of East Chester and West Chester, Westchester co., and by the East river, separating it from Long island; S. by the bay; and W. by the Hudson or North river, which separates it from New Jersey. Its extreme length N. from the Bat- tery is 16m.; greatest width, from the mouth of Bronx river W. to the Hudson, 4J m. ; area, nearly 41 sq. m. or 26,500 acres, of which 19 sq. m. or 12,300 acres are on the mainland. Manhattan island is 13-& m. long, and varies in breadth from a few hundred yards at the Bat- tery to 2J m. at 14th street, diminishing again to less than 1 m. above 130th street, and having an area of nearly 22 sq. m. or 14,000 acres. The East river islands comprise about 300 acres, and those in the bay 100 more. Manhattan island is bounded N. by Spuyten Duyvel creek and Harlem river, which separate it from the main- land of the state, E. by the East river, S. by the bay, and W. by the Hudson river. The island was originally very rough, a rocky ridge running from the S. point northward, and branching into several spurs, which united after 4 or 5 m., culminating in Washington heights, 238 ft. above tide water, and a bold promon- tory of 130 ft. at the extreme N. point. The S. portion of the island and the shores in some places were alluvial sand beds, while marshes and ponds also occurred. But the original character of the surface has disappeared in the lower portion, and is disappearing in the up- per, before the constant grading and filling for the construction of new or the improvement of old streets. One of the largest bodies of water was the " Collect pond," nearly 2 m. in circum- ference and 50 ft. deep, which covered the site of the "Tombs" and adjacent territory, and was connected with marshes on the Hudson by a rivulet on the line of Canal street, which takes its name from this circumstance. The