New York

(-york,) a large and important N.E. State of the Amer. Union, lying bet. N. Lat. 40°-45°, W Lon. 70°-80°, is separated from Canada on the N. by the river St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, and b. on the E. by Vermont, Ma achusetts, and Connecticut, S. by the Atlantic Ocean, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and W. by Lake Erie and the Niagara River, which latter forms the frontier line dividing it from Canada W. Of an irregular triangular shape, its length from E. to W., taking in Long Island, is 412 m.; extreme breadth, 311 m. Area, 47,000 sq. m., or 32,332,160 acres. Extent of coast-line(Long Island, .,) 246 m.; of lake-shore-line, 352 m. The surface of this State maybe generally characterized as an elevated plateau broken into by the two great valleys or water-basins of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers. Its mountain-system includes the N. terminus of the Alleghanian Blue Ridge in the so called Highlands of the Hudson; and the A dir on dack groups in the N.E. angle of the State, which has not inaptly been termed the " American Switzerland," with Mts. Marcy, Seward, and Anthony forming its culminating summits. N. Y. po e es riparian advantages of the highest order, her principal streams being the noble Hudson, with its principal affluent the Mohawk; the head-waters of the Delaware, Susquehanna, and Alleghany; and the Conhocton,Oswego, and Gene see, besides the Osgewatchie and numerous smaller rivers emptying into the St. Lawrence. Her lakes comprise those of Cham plain (dividing the State-line from that of Vermont), Oneida, Canandaigua, Cayuga, Seneca, Chatauqua, George, & c. With in her limits are also found the falls of Niagara, Gene see, Trenton, Cat skill, and Taghanic. Salt is the chief mineral receiving industrial development, though magnetic and other ores of iron, with lead, copper, and gypsum, are found in quantities. Coal and petroleum occur also, but in minor deposits. Agriculture forms the staple wealth of N. Y. State. The great valleys of the Mohawk, the Seneca, and the Gene see, are among the most fertile tracts in the Union in point of adaptation to cereal production. In fact, taken as a whole, it may be said that no better farming region exists in the Union than is formed by this State. In 1871, there were under farm -cultivation 22,190,810 acres, valued at $1,272,857,766, exclusive of $45,997,712 worth of implements and machinery. Total value of farm produce, $293,526,153; of orchard-and garden - stuffs, $11,779,771; of lumber, $6,089,079; and of live-stock on farms, $175,882,712. Number of farms under cultivation in the State, 216,253, or, an increase of 19,263 since the last decennial return. The percentage of the unimproved land under tillage was 29-6 as against 31.5 in 1860. Cheese-making forms an important and lucrative element of rural industry; of this article not le than 22,769,964 lbs. were manufactured in the above year. Wool is another leading item of production. The manufacturing interests of this, the " Empire State" of the Union, are most extensive; they embrace almost every branch of mechanical industry, and are estimated to average an annual value of $150,000,000. The political divisions of the State constitute 60 cos., the chief cities and towns being New York, Albany (cap.), Brooklyn, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Troy, Elmira, Oswego, Utica, Batavia, Auburn, Binghamton, Poughkeepsie, Schenectady, ., . The govt. is vested in an executive consisting of a governor and lieut.-governor, with subordinate officers. The legislature in 1870 was composed of 32 members; the a embly of 128 representatives. N.F.sends 2 senators and 32 representatives to the Federal Congre . In 1871, the State was reported as returning a total a e ed value of $1,967,001,185, exhibiting a decennial increase of $576,536,547. Total public State debt (other than national) $150,808, -34; total municipal and non-bonded debt, $66,363,637; all other obligations, $10,355,669. In 1870 an act was pa ed placing all the educational institutions of the State under the control of a governmental department. Total receipts from all sources for scholastic purposes $10,919,466.45; number of school houses 11,705; of pupils attending public schools 1,029,955; of students in normal schools 4,734. Among the great public works belonging to the State are the Erie, Cham plain, and Oswego canals, besides inland artificial water-courses of a minor cla , aggregating in the whole a length of 900 m. Chief lines of railway, the New York Central and Erie roads. Total State tax in 1870, $14,285,976. Number of banks doing busine under State laws 61; savings' banks 1333; insurance companies 275. Tho chief public institutions are the new and unfinished Capitol at Albany, the State prison at Auburn, State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, New York State Asylum for Idiots at Syracuse, and State Inebriate Asylum at Binghamton. Principal among the seats of education are Columbia, Union, Hamilton, Hobart, St. John's, and Gene see colleges; and the universities of New York, Madison, Rochester, Troy, Cornell, and Albany, exclusive of the U. S. Military School at West Point. N. Y. State was originally the heritage of the Iroquois or "Five Nations." In 1609 Cham plain discovered the lake which has since borne his name, and in the same year, Henry Hudson sailed up the great water-highway of the State, the regions around which were claimed by the Dutch, who gave them the name of New Netherlands. In 1664 the Dutch were ousted by the English, who rechristened the country New York, in honor of the Duke of York (James II.), who had been granted a charter of the same by the Crown. For years afterwards the State became a battle-ground for the French and English. In 1759 their hostilities came to an end by the surrender of Canada to the last-named nation. From 1775 to 1783. New York city and Long Island were held by the British after having been evacuated by the American Revolutionists. The first Constitution of the State was framed in 1777, and revised in the years 1801, 1821, 1846, and 1877. In 1817 slavery was finally declared extinct throughout the State. Pop. 4,382,759. [s. 643]