Nov. 1905] PROCEEDINGS S. I. ASs'n ARTS AND SCIENCES. 7 



The Vice-President alluded to was Daniel D. Tompkins, who came 

 to reside on Staten Island shortly after the War of 18 12. At the time 

 of the establishment of both of the above-mentioned lines of travel he 

 projected the Richmond Turnpike, which runs from the Quarantine 

 (Tompkinsville), across Staten Island and through the little villages of 

 Castleton Corners, Bull's Head and Travisville to the New Blazing 

 Star Ferry (Linoleumville). I have in my possession a letter written 

 by Governor Tompkins to Major James Guyon, Jr., (the great-grand- 

 father of Dr. Frederick E. Clark of New Brighton), giving specific 

 orders as to grades, materials, etc. In a postscript the Governor re- 

 minds Mr. Guyon that he has appointed him major of artillery in the 

 New York militia. 



Richmond Turnpike was the through thoroughfare over which the 

 famous overland stagecoaches used to rumble in the so-called rapid 

 transit of a century ago. Richmond Turnpike was chartered by act of 

 the Legislature on March 31st, 1815, beinj C.iaptar 122 of the 3Sth ses- 

 sion of the New York Legislature, entitled "An Act to incorporate the 

 Richmond Turnpike Company;" this act then provides for the opening 

 of the road through Castleton down to the Sound, and for commission- 

 ers, etc.; also, act dated January 21st, 1817, entitled "An Act to amend 

 the act to incorporate the Richmond Turnpike Company," which 

 simply refers to the building of certain portions of the road; also, an 

 act of April ist, 1824, entitled "An Act to incorporate the President 

 and Directors, Company of the Fulton Bank in the City of New York." 

 The eleventh section provides that this banking company, known as the 

 Fulton Bank, is to be incorporated upon condition that there is to be 

 contributed to the capital stock of the bank the capital stock of the 

 Richmond Turnpike Company, and that the Richmond Turnpike Com- 

 pany is to cease in twenty years after April ist, 1824; and that ended 

 the existence of the Turnpike Company in the year 1844. 



The famous thoroughfare was allowed to go to wreck and ruin in 

 time, and portions of it became unsafe for travel even in the daylight. 

 It became more and more dangerous until the era of good roads re- 

 deemed it from end to end. The last of the old milestones that used 

 to guide the people in the old days was secured by the Natural Science 

 Association in i8go and is now safely housed in our museum. ( Proc. 

 Nat. Sci. Ass7i. S. /., Feb. 13th, 1890). 



The ferry at Blazing Star was one of the best up-to-date institutions 

 of its class in the country. An advertisement in the Richmond [Staten 

 Island] Republican, in 1827, tells in glowing terms of the new ferry- 

 boat employed at that point being propelled by horse-power, — one 

 horse at that! Also, that its enterprising proprietor intended to "keep 



