Under his direction many public improvements were carried out, among them Newtown Creek, Jamaica Turnpike, and Eastern Parkway.
Coe's political position in the 97th New York State Legislature was a particularly independent one, having been nominated by a distinctively Liberal Republican convention, and endorsed by the Democrats.
As a consequence, party ties sat very loosely upon him, and he was left free to follow an unbiased judgment in considering all questions brought before the Senate.
He came to the Legislature with the reputation of having materially assisted in unearthing the labyrinth of frauds in the jail of Kings County, through which the public was swindled out of thousands of dollars annually.
He announced his entrance into the Senate by casting his vote in favor of awarding the contested seat of the 10th District to Edward M. Madden.