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propriation was made for their payment. Understanding that arrangements had been made for the needed funds in anticipation of an appropriation by the Legislature, we entered into engagements for the prosecution of the survey.

Disappointed in this respect, the undersigned were compelled to make other provision or suspend the work. The Bank of the Republic, in the city of New-York, on the introduction of John Thompson, Esq., relieved us from our embarrassment and enabled us to continue our operations, relying upon an early appropriation for its repayment.

In the mean while we were for some time without the means of meeting our proportion of the expenses which were accruing, while for the expenditures of the Connecticut Commissioners an appropriation had been made by that State.

The survey being jointly conducted by the two commissions, its wants were provided for by the several members, as at the time was most convenient, and bills were commonly paid by those who contracted them. That confidence being placed in the honor of each of the Commissioners to which his position entitled him, there was a comparative disregard of the relative amount of payments from the two States while the work was in progress.

In consequence of the absence of the Connecticut Commissioners and from other causes, during the latter half of the survey, an undue share of the outlay fell upon us, borne the more cheerfully because of our early want of funds.

At various times an adjustment of accounts between us was proposed by either party, but the absence of individuals or of memoranda had prevented it, up to the interview Nov. 6th. This was the first opportunity which had occurred for a settlement in many weeks, Mr. Holly not having been present upon the latter half of the survey. As the work was now suspended was right and proper that our financial matters should be adusted independently of all other questions.

The utter refusal of our request at that time both disappointed and astonished us. Upon the other matters agitated, we can see ground for an honest difference of opinion, involving as they do, important legal questions. For the course taken upon this matter on the occasion referred to, and the persistence up to this time in the denial of a settlement except upon an impossible condition, no justification has been attempted, nor can we imagine any motive consistent with the relations of the Connecticut Commissioners to us and their own State.

Although we were confident that our payments had exceeded those made by them, we paid or guaranteed the debts of the joint commission, so far as known to us, being unwilling that the credit of our State should suffer by their action, and preferring that the State of New-York should hold the claims against Connecticut, rather than that individuals should be deprived of their dues or be put to inconvenience in recovering them of the Connecticut Commissioners.

A law was passed by the present Legislature, approved by the Governor, February 21st, 1857, appropriating money for the payment of the expenses incurred and services* rendered by the Commissioners in prosecuting this work, in accordance with which the following sums have been paid by the Comptroller, the accounts for the same being deposited in his office.

ON ACCOUNT OF THE JOINT COMMISSION.

For services, board and transportation of` engineers and assistants, and for various miscellaneous items,.....

ON ACCOUNT OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK.

For services, traveling expenses, &c., of commissioners, cost of maps, copies of documents, &c., &c.,......

ON ACCOUNT OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.

For board of Messrs. Whiting and Holly at sundry times,........

$2,637 99

3,072 57

11 00

$5,721 56

* See appendix E.

Other expenses incurred and paid by the commissioners, not being yet settled at the Comptroller's office, are not stated here.

Of the sums stated as paid, on account of the joint commission, we are uncertain what proportion is properly chargeable to Connecticut. As already related, one of the commissioners from that State not only refuses a settlement of accounts, but even a statement of expenditures. We have, however, from the Comptroller of Connecticut, received an exhibit of the money paid by him to the commissioners, in which there appear items supposed to be properly chargeable to the joint commission, amounting to $935 06.

This would make the balance in favor of New-York $850.96; but we are aware of large items incurred, and, as we had supposed, paid by the Connecticut commissioners, which do not appear in the Comptroller's. statement. If these have been paid they will reduce this balance; if not, a part of them, at least, will be assumed by us and will enhance it.*

WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED?

Although we are unable to report a complete performance of the duties assigned to us and a satisfactory settlement of the questions pertaining to them, none of the work executed will be rendered unnecessary by the differences which have arisen." The survey was suspended at such a point that whatever line may be finally adopted, the work remaining to be done will be but the completion of what we have already commenced.

About thirty miles of the boundary is practically determined.

On the remaining portion, more than fifty miles in length, a straight line connecting its extremities has been run, and

The comparative cost of this survey, and the last one executed previously, may be judged from the following facts:

In 1717 New-York appropriated for the expenses of settling the line seven hundred and fifty ounces of plate. This was exhausted before 1725. The bills paid by New-York for the survey of that year, extending twenty-one miles, amounted to £198 98.* How much Connecticut had paid in addition to this does not appear. The cost of completing the lines in 1730, which was borne by the patentees of the equivalent tract, is stated by them to have been more than £2000.

All these were inferior compass surveys, made without cutting a transit path through forests, &c.

* See appendix X.

marked, forming a basis for such additional operations as may be necessary to distinguish the points in the boundary which may hereafter be fixed upon.

The relative position of this line and the ancient line in many places has been ascertained.

The entire survey thus far is one in which we take pride for its thorough, accurate, expeditious and economical execution, as compared either with former surveys of the same lines or with similar work at the present day.

The necessity of the work has been demonstrated and a state of facts disclosed relative to the vagueness and imperfection of this boundary, which is at the same time a discredit to the Government of both the adjoining States and a high testimonial to the patience, forbearance, and placable disposition of the people on either side.

The causes of these doubts and difficulties have been investigated; records, public and private have been searched and compared, and the papers relating to the origin, progress and former attempted settlements of the disputes on this subject thoroughly examined.

The facts relating to the line are mainly ascertained and the the questions reduced to a simple one of law, easy to be determined.

Aside from its utility in determining the boundary the survey has incidentally been serviceable in other respects.

STATE MAP.

It shows the importance and pressing necessity for an official State map. Though we may be justly proud of the enterprise and munificence of the Empire State, it is surpassed by several of its neighbors in the provision made for the correct delineation of the form and features of the surface and the divisions of ter ritory, as well as in the care taken for the preservation of "the ancient landmarks."

There are no accurate or authentic maps of town or county limits deposited in any public office. In many cases the bounds

are designated in no wise on paper or on the land, except by heaps of stones or marked trees. Whatever is known to the public of the courses of streams, the height or extent of mountains, or the windings of roads is learned from maps prepared from most imperfect information, and published at private risk. Occasionally the State has been called on to purchase an edition of a "State atlas" compiled by individual enterprise, many years since, from such materials as then existed, and it has thus assumed a sort of official character. The unreliability of this work appears from the discrepancies which our survey has disclosed.

We cannot refrain from alluding to the facilities for the execution of such a work as would be creditable and in the highest degree useful to the State, afforded by the operations of the United States. coast survey, already extended over five counties. In one of them a long and accurate base line has been measured, from which triangulations have been extended in the vicinity of the Hudson river into the very heart of the State. The corps of United States Topographical Engineers on the lakes has also rendered much valuable service, and the magnetic telegraph in connection with the Dudley Observatory, so munificently endowed by our citizens, is ready to join these operations with one another and determine the true position of scores of prominent towns.

With the contributions to the detail of such an enterprise, which may be derived from the canal and railroad surveys, we class the information furnished by our work, as being accurate, full and reliable.

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE BOUNDARY.

The action of the Connecticut Commissioners, if nothing further should be done, would result in leaving the line in a worse state of confusion than that in which it was found. There is now, for the first time in this century, a "disputed territory." The inhabitants along the line are in great perplexity. Unpleasant feelings have arisen which can only be prevented from becoming more serious and permanent, by the most prompt and decisive action.

One of the Connecticut Commissioners has advised citizens of New-York residing within the lines of the survey, to vote in

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