Senate Resolution No. 1322

BY: Senator TEDISCO

COMMENDING the Town of Waterford upon the occasion
of hosting its Annual Tugboat Roundup from September
8-10, 2023

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with
its time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those
organizations that embrace the historical significance and contributions
of their localities which strengthens the fabric of the communities of
New York State; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend the Town
of Waterford upon the occasion of hosting its Annual Tugboat Roundup
from September 8-10, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Tugboats have been an indispensable part of maritime
transportation for nearly 200 years, maneuvering larger watercraft in
tight areas, and towing unpowered vessels from port to port; and

WHEREAS, Tugs were invented in the 1810s, shortly after steam-power
was successfully applied to watercraft, and during the 1800s on the
Hudson River and Lake Champlain, old stripped-down side-wheelers and
propeller-driven towboats were used to move ever-increasing numbers of
watercraft, especially canal boats; and

WHEREAS, The Tugboat Roundup is a gathering of tugboats, workboats
and barges to celebrate the maritime heritage of the Northeast Inland
Waterways; and

WHEREAS, The Tugboat Roundup, which takes place annually the weekend
after Labor Day features a tug parade, tug tours, boat rides, tug talks,
competitions, fireworks, children's activities, vendors, food, and more;
and

WHEREAS, Waterford sits at the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk
Rivers and is the gateway to the Erie and Champlain Canals; and

WHEREAS, Waterford is home to Waterford Flight, a flight of five
locks, which spans the greatest height in the shortest distance of any
set of locks in the world; and

WHEREAS, The Village of Waterford was founded in 1794, and is the
oldest continually incorporated village in the United States, while the
Town of Waterford was founded in 1816; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Canal System is a successor to the Erie
Canal and other canals within New York; currently, the 525-mile system
is composed of the Erie Canal, the Oswego Canal, the Cayuga-Seneca
Canal, and the Champlain Canal; and

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend cultural events which symbolize the historical, social, and
cultural development of this great State, its waterways and embody the

spirit of the principles upon which this Nation was founded; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Town of Waterford upon the occasion of hosting its Annual
Tugboat Roundup from September 8-10, 2023; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Town of Waterford.