conderoga, and Fort George, contribute in a very trifling degree, if at all, to the public revenues, but would with careful management afford an income to the University, which might be appropriated from time to time to the most salutary purposes. We have the highest confidence in the wisdom of the Legislature, and their disposition to encourage those institutions upon which the happiness of a Republican Government in some measure depends, and, therefore, we hope that they will grant the lands above mentioned to the University, upon such conditions as may be judged expedient, and make such further provision for the support of learning as shall appear to be proper." In their report for the next year, the Regents repeated in substance their former recommendation of the general importance of encouraging literature by the aid of funds, and quoting from the first annual message of President Washington, delivered a few days before, they add, that "knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness, and in our own most essential to the common prosperity. * * * * * * * * "Under these impressions we trust that the rulers of our country will think a part of the public property cannot be better employed than in removing those disadvantages to which learning is at present exposed, and enabling us to guard against their existence in future. "We feel the greater anxiety on the present occasion because we are convinced that the public liberality would be productive of the most happy effects. Even under all the difficulties arising from existing circumstances, we have received applications for the incorporation of Academies in the counties of Westchester and Orange.' These recommendations led to the passage of an act, March 31, 1790,' entitled "An act for the further Encouragement of Literature," which vested the title of lands at Crown Point, Ticonderoga and Fort George, and of Governor's Island in New York harbor, 1 North Salem Academy and Farmers' Hall at Goshen. 2 Chap. 38, Laws of 13th Sess. (folio), p. 31. Chap. 28, 25th Sess. 1802. 4 This island in New York Harbor was known in Colonial times as "Nut Island," or Nutten Island," and was held for the Governor's use. By an act passed March 29, 1784, its name was changed to Governor's Island," and it was continued for the Governor's use until otherwise disposed of by the Legislature. By an act passed March 31, 1790, for the encouragement of literature, this island was (with other lands forming military reservations upon Lake George and Lake Champlain) granted to the Regents, unless needed for military purposes, and the same day a committee was appointed by the Board, consisting in the Regents of the University, the rents, issues and profits of which were to be applied for the better advancement of science in the College, and in the Academies then or thereafter incorporated, as would best answer the ends of their institution, and the true intent and meaning of this act, but reserving right of re-entry in case they might be needed for the public defense. For present use, and in addition to this grant, the Regents received £1,000, to be applied as they might direct. The grant at the south end of Lake George being found to interfere with other grants of prior date, a tract of 1,724 acres on the east side of the lake, and adjoining, was given April 3, 1802,' and the former grant, so far as not included in this, was declared void. The Regents were empowered to convey these lands, and those at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, to Columbia and Union Colleges, in such proportions as they might deem reasonable and just. RESERVATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES IN THE MILITARY TRACT. A tract of ten townships in the northern part of the State, now of General Schuyler, Mr. L'Hommedieu and Mr. Benson, to prepare a plan for the management and disposal of these lands. On the 7th of April, 1790, this committee reported as to Governor's Island as follows: "That a committee be appointed and authorized to enter into contracts with any person or persons who may be willing to take a lease or leases of Governor's Island, on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the committee shall deem proper, so as no such lease shall be for a longer term than twenty-one years, and so as said island shall not be leased in more than two parcels, and the leases shall in other respects be conformable to an act of the Legislature granting the said island to this corporation." This report was agreed to, and Mr. Verplanck, Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Benson were appointed a committee for carrying this plan into effect. On the 2d of August of that year, Mr. Verplanck reported from this committee that in consequence of a sale at public auction the committee had entered into a contract with John Price, that the Regents would lease the said island to him for the term of twenty-one years, from the 4th day of May previous, at an annual rent of ninety-three pounds ($232.50), without any deduction for taxes. This being confirmed, leases were ordered to be prepared and sealed in duplicate, one for each party. A charge of £9 11s. for expenses of the transaction, was allowed and paid. On the 26th of March, 1794, commissioners were appointed for erecting fortifications in New York Harbor, and works were commenced upon Governor's Island. The title of the Regents became void by this proceeding. The island has from that period been exclusively devoted to military purposes, excepting that from 1794 to 1797 the Quarantine was located upon it. Jurisdiction was ceded to the United States February 15, 1800, with "Fort Jay" then partly erected upon it. I Chap. 25, Laws of 1802. included in Franklin, Clinton and Essex counties, was granted without reservations for educational purposes, May 5, 1786. This being found undesirable, another tract of 1,680,000 acres in the present counties of Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, Tompkins and Wayne was granted in lieu of it, and in this six lots in each township were reserved as follows: One for the promoting of the gospel and a public school or schools; one for promoting literature in the State, and the other four to equalize the shares of claimants under the bounty act. Under an act passed April 11, 1796, the Supervisors of Onondaga county (then including the whole of this tract), were authorized to designate one lot in each township for the promotion of literature, and on the 28th of September of that year they certified the following as reserved for this use: 14. Tully... 69 28. Sterling (not laid out into lots) On the 13th of March, 1809, under an act passed April 11, 1808, they designated lot 88, in Sterling, as a literature lot. These and other reservations laid the foundation of land-grants, made to separate institutions, and were sold and invested as a Literature Fund as follows: Military Tract. The literature lots in townships 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17 and 20, granted to Union College. Township 13, lot 25, given to Oxford Academy by chapter 112, Laws of 1800. Township 5, lot 15, given to Pompey Academy by chapter 119, Laws of 1813. Township 3, lot 89, given to Cayuga Academy by chapter 71, Laws of 1814. Township 1, lot 100, given to Onondaga Academy by chapter 200, Laws of 1814. Township 19, lot 85, given to Cortland Academy by chapter 10, Laws of 1822. Township 28, lot 88, given to Auburn Academy by chapter 266, Laws of 1825. Township 22, lot 24, given to Ithaca Academy by chapter 308, Laws of 1826. The remainder (in townships 2, 4, 6, 14, 18, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27), were sold for the general benefit of the Literature Fund. Clinton Township.-(Now in Bainbridge, Afton and Coventry.) Lot granted to "Jericho " [Bainbridge] by chapter 3, Laws of 1882, for schools. All other townships in Broome and Chenango counties, were sold for the Literature Fund. The Ten Towns in St. Lawrence county.-Literature lots granted as follows: Potsdam, given to St. Lawrence Academy by chapter 148, Laws of 1816. Canton, given to Lowville Academy by chapter 134, Laws of 1818. In the remaining townships the lands were sold and given to the Literature Fund,' excepting $1,000 to Middlebury Academy in 1523, $1,000 to Redhook Academy in 1824, and $2,500 to St. Lawrence Academy in 1825. Other special grants have been made to Academies as elsewhere noticed in connection with our account of these institutions. Literature Lotteries. By an act passed April 3, 1801,' entitled "An act for the promotion of Literature," provision was made for the drawing of four successive Lotteries, each of $25,000, and from the avails of these the sum of $12,500 was to be paid to the Regents, to be distributed among the Academies, the residue going toward the formation of a Common School Fund. 'The Literature Lots of the eight remaining townships (each including 640 acres), were appraised as follows: Madrid.. Oswegatchie Cambray Lisbon.... Hague... The lot in Hague (Morristown) was mostly covered with water. Journal, 1829, p. 336. 'Chap. 53, Laws of 1801. $1,918 69 679 82 716 49 1,379 00 715 69 1,305 03 963 07 144 99 Assembly Crumhorn Mountain Tract.-- This tract was, by act of April 12, 1813,' directed to be sold for the benefit of Academies as the Regents of the University might direct. The avails of this grant amounted to $10,416, and went into the general Literature Fund. Lands in Broome and Chenango counties.- By an act passed April 13, 1813,' entitled "An act to authorize the sale of lands appropriated for the promotion of Literature," the Commissioners of the Land Office were required to sell all the lands formerly granted for the promotion of Literature in the Military Tract and in Chenango and Broome counties, and to invest the proceeds as best calculated to secure the principal and the regular payment of interest. The income was to be distributed by the Regents among Academies as they might deem just and equitable, taking into account all former or present endowments from the State. This was not, however, to include lot 24 in Ulysses, 36 in Aurelius, and 85 in Homer, reserved for Academies in these townships, and lot 15 in Camillus, granted by this act to Pompey Academy. Arrears of Quit-Rents.— In 1819, the arrears of quit-rents, amounting to.$53,380, were equally divided between the Literature and Common School Funds. The increase of the Literature Fund in 1827. By an act passed April 13, 1827,' the Comptroller was authorized to receive any bonds and mortgages taken, or that might thereafter be taken, on the sale of any lands belonging to the Canal Fund, to the amount of $150,000, in payment for so much of the canal stock owned by this State, belonging to the General Fund, and thereupon to cancel and discharge the like amount of said canal stock and the bonds and mortgages when so received, and the sum of $150,000 of the said canal stock, until the said bonds and mortgages were re Chap. 187, Laws of 1813. Chap. 199, Laws of 1813. 3 From a report made in March, 1818, it appears that the following funds had been derived from the sale of these lands: Bonds for the consideration of lands sold Total....... .... $21,925 81 7,750 00 59 28 $29,735 09 Besides this, there were then 2,286 acres in the Military Tract and in Broome and Chenango counties, and 2,473 acres in the Crumhorn Mountain Tract, belonging to the Literature Fund. 4 Chap. 222, Laws of 1819 5 Chap. 228, Laws of 1827, p. 237. |