The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03
AN FFICE OLDER THAN IL STATE.
Tho state EuRineer aud surveyor in Colonial
Times Was surveyor or the Kings Woods.

The state Engineer and Surveyor in Colonial
Times Was surveyor or the Kings Woods.
The office of State Engineer, which under va
rious titles and designations has existed in Now
York considerably longer than the State Gov
ernment itself of which it is now a part, is to DO
filled at this years election and there is already
some controversy over the nomination for the
place notwithstanding the fact that since tho
establishment OF the post Of Superintendent of
Public Works its duties arc neither onerous nor
important. Perhaps on account OF the antiquity
of its esta blishmcnt perhaps on account of its
original designation, or perhaps on account of
some of those who have filled it. the office of
State Engineer has been n favorite among pub
lie officials belonging to "tho oldest families"
When the present State OF New York was a
province of the Netherlands there was a Sur.
veyor.General. whose duties were chiefly TO
substantiate and approve the land measure
ments of those authorized to take them at n
time when the wealth of the State was almost
exclusively in land and land value. Later on.
under the English domination, a new title of a
somewhat srntimenta character was bestowed
on this official. He became known as the
Surveyor OF tho Kings Woods and. as might
be supposed, the only persons designated for
service in this post were those who enjoyed the
confidence either of the King. the Kings Minis-
tiers or the aristOcracy. During the Rerolu-
tionary war tho office OF Surveyor-tfcntral was
renewed by an act passed for raising two regi-
ments for the defence of the State. the recruits
for which #ere 10 receive bountics OF unappro-
priatod lands.
The Surveyor.Gcneral under tho first Consti-
tuition was appointed by the Council OF Appoint
mcnt. lie was a commissioner Of tho Canal
Fund ana Of the Land Office. He had numerous
special duties imposed upon him, relative 10 the
sale and settlement Of LANDS, the adjustment Of
Indian titles, and other internal land matters.
His salary was $500. The Constitution OF 1916
abolished the Office Of SurvcyOr'Gcncral, and in
stitutcd in its place that of state Engineer and
Surveyor. Since then his duties have
been considerably curtNiled. His jurisdic-
ton over tho railroads of tho State has
been taken away and vested in a Board
of Railroad Commissioners His supervision Of
public works is now only a qualified one, these
being under tho direction OF the superintendent
of Public Works, who has charge, too. OF tho re-
pairs and improvements made in lhe annals. an
important item. Tho state Engineer, however,
retains a few Of his prorogatlves ana he gers a
salary OF 50, 900 a year. He mas u seal, an oihce
in Albany, ana assistants. lie has also q long
Schuyler was the first of the SuryeyOr|GeneTalS.
OrviIle HOIley was another, Van Rensselaer,
Richmond was another. H0 held tho place for
eight ycnrs in Hli. John ID. Van Buren,, Jr., was
still another; NcrplanCk GOWN was u cahul-
date for IL IN lsJl.
Engineer, nov serving his second i"rln., W hen
ever there has been uu election for the place
candidates from ih luicrIOr OF the State gen.
orally alOng the Mohawk Valley have RSpired
10 II. and in the days Of the old LAND riots" in
bigger man than the Governor " quite often.