People v. Stephens

— This action was commenced in March, 1873, by Francis C. Barlow, then attorney-general of the state. Its object is to recover the damage which the plaintiffs have sustained by reason of a contract made between the state and the defendant Stephens, dated the 31st day of *237December, 1866, whereby the latter undertook to keep section number one of the Erie canal in repair, as in the contract is particularly defined, for the period of five years from the 1st day of January, 1867, for the price or sum of $70,000 per year, and also during the same period to dredge the Albany basin and remove and…