HYDROLOGY OF NTBW YORK 



547 



feeder to the canal, but that the resolution authorizing this appro- 

 priation also contained the provision that the State should draw 

 all the water furnished by Xine Mile creek and Carpenter's brook 

 for supplying the Erie canal during the dry portions of the navi- 

 gation season. 1 This order, the commissioners state, was re- 

 scinded, because of containing conditions that might have ren- 

 dered the reservoir unavailable at a time when most required. 



In September. 1S43, the Canal Board made another order, appro- 

 priating the waters of the lake as a reservoir and feeder, omitting 

 what from the State officials' point of view were the objectionable 

 features of the previous order — that is to say, the order of Septem- 

 ber 1843, appropriated the water of the Skanea teles lake and 

 outlet, without reference to the rights of the riparian owners, any 

 further than that they were to be paid for actual damages in- 

 curred. 2 



Following this order the Canal Appraisers awarded damages to 

 the owners of water rights on Skaneateles outlet to the amount 

 of |2S,450. Later on the State reconstructed the dam at the foot 

 of Skaneateles lake, at the same time cutting down the bottom 

 uf the outlet enough to permit of drawing 7 feet depth of water, 

 measuring from the surface of highwater as indicated by a certain 

 *tone monument. 



Previous to 1S88 the water supply of the city of Syracuse was 

 furnished by a private company. The water furnished was, how- 

 ever, of inferior quality and the distribution system inadequate 

 to the wants of a growing city like Syracuse. Under these con- 

 ditions the citizens of Syracuse procured the passage of an act, 

 chapter 532 of the laws of 1888, constituting a board of special 

 commissioners to inquire into and investigate the several sources 

 of water supply which could be made available for the public, 

 mechanical and domestic uses of said city. It was also provided 

 that said investigation should take into account the abundance 

 of the proposed supply of water, its quality and character. 



1 Presumably what was meant was that all the water these streams could 

 furnish should be drawn before any was taken from Skaneateles lake. 



2 For an extended abstract of early history of Skaneateles feeder, see the 

 Supreme court case of the city of Syracuse against Richard M. Stacey and 

 others, Syracuse, 1894. 



