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298 BETWEEN THE OCEAN AND THE LAKES
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Petitions poured in upon the Legislature at its session for
this year, praying for an amendment to the Erie article of
incorporation, on the ground that in the provisions of the
original bill it was impossible to organize a company, and for
an extension of the time for completing the railroad. The
petitions were referred to the Railroad Committees. January
17th, |ames C. Curtis, of Sullivan County, from the Assembly
Railroad Committee, reported a bill amending the charter as
prayed for. This bill passed the Assembly February 9 th, by
a vote of 87 to 5. It was debated in the Senate until April
6th, amended and passed on that day by a vote of 23 to 4.
The Assembly concurred April 15 th, by a unanimous vote.
The bill was signed by the Governor April 19th.
(Abstract of Act Amending Charter.)
April 19, 1S33. An act to amend the charter. Authorizing the
commissioners -to open books for subscriptions to stock the second
Tuesday of July, 1S33, at the Merchants' Exchange in New York
City ; to organize a company on subscriptions of $1,000,000 and payment
of ten per cent, of the subscriptions ; whole route of the road
to be surveyed before the construction of any section shall be undertaken
; books to be opened from time to time, if a company is organized,
until a sufficient sum is subscribed to complete the road, but
time for completion is not extended.
York, 1833.)
(Chapter 182, Laws of New
reported a bill entitled "An Act to authorize the survey by
the State of the route of the contemplated New York and
Erie Railroad." It was referred to the Committee of the
Whole. April 14th, on motion of John R. Drake, of Tioga
County, it was taken from that committee and referred to a
select committee to report on it. Mr. Drake, Merritt H.
Cash, of Orange County, and Aaron Spafford, of Oneida
County, were appointed on this committee.
April 16th, Mr. Drake reported that the committee had
amended the bill, (hanged the title to "An Act to authorize
the survey of a route for a railroad from the City of New
York to Lake Erie.'' The bill was passed April 21st, by a
vote of 64 to 33.
In the Senate, May 5th, the Assembly bill providing for
the survey came up for final passage, having been in consideration
by the Committee of the Whole since April 22d.
Persistent effort was made to defeat it, but on that day it
was passed by the narrow vote of 12 to 11. William H.
Seward, of the Seventh District, led the opposition to the bill
in all its stages. The bill became a law May 6th. It directed
the Governor to appoint a competent anil experienced engineer
to " explore and survey a route for a railroad, commencing
at the City of New York, or the most eligible and convenient
point in its vicinity, ami continue it through the
southern tier of counties of the State, by way of Owego, to
the shore of Lake Erie, at some eligible point between the
Cattaraugus creek and the Pennsylvania line." The engineer
was empowered to employ necessary assistants. A map and
profile of the survey were to be placed with the Secretary of
1834.
State. The aggregate of the cost of the survey was not to
exceed Si5,000. This act is Chapter 311 of the Laws of
January 8th, in the Assembly, a jietition from the President New York for 1834.
and Directors of the Company, and a memorial from a convention
of delegates from the City of New York and southern
tier counties, praying the aid of the State in the construction
of the railroad and for a survey of a route, were read and
referred to the Railroad Committee.
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February 9th, a petition from the officers and Directors of
the Company, praying for a State subscription or loan of
February 3d, a memorial from Philip Church and 127 $3,000,000 in aid of the railroad, was read in the Assembly,
other citizens of Allegany County, remonstrating against the and referred to the Committee on Railroads, which, March
State extending aid to the present managers of the Company, 4th, reported a bill entitled "An Act to expedite the construction
and asking consent to withdraw their subscriptions toward
of the New York and Erie Railroad." The report
the railroad, was read and referred to the Committee on was submitted to the Committee of the Whole. March 20th,
Railroads. (" First Administration of Eleazar Lord," pages this committee reported, through Peter P. Murphy, of Herkimer
21, 22.)
County, against the bill. The report was sustained by
March 26th, Mr. Todd, from the majority of that committee,
made a report on the memorials and petitions,
a vote of 61 to 47.
pages 32-35.)
("Administration of James Gore King/'
deprecating the appropriation of public funds for the aid
of private corporations, and recommending against it. The
minority of the committee also made a report unfavorable to
the appropriation.
April 4th, Charles Winfield, of Orange County, moved that
the matter be recommitted to the Committee on Railroads,
Prosper M. Wetmore, of New York, offered a resolution
that, inasmuch as the survey for such a railroad ordered by
the State having demonstrated its practicability and construction
at a reasonable expense, the Committee on Railroads be
instructed to prepare and report a bill to provide for the
construction by the State of a railroad from the City of New
with authority to report a bill authorizing a survey of the York to Lake Erie. The bill was laid on the table.
route of the railroad by the State. This was agreed to by a April 24th, James J. Roosevelt, Jr., of New York, introduced
vote of 66 to t,^,, Messrs. Coe and Shays, of the Committee
a bill entitled "An Act to further amend the act to
on Railroads, voting in the affirmative. April 9th, Mr. Shays incorporate the New York and Erie Railroad Company,