| In 1807, an incredible even happens,
which, was really responsible for the Erie Canal, a man goes bankrupt,
runs from justice, has a feeling of guilt and turns himself in to a
debtors prison in Canandaigua, New York. The man, Jesse Hawley, was a
victim of the impossibly high costs of transporting wheat and because of
this he went bankrupt. While in debtors prison, he wrote 15 essays on
the wisdom and reality of building a canal from Lake Erie to the Hudson
River. These article were read by New Yorker's and the result was they
believed it "could be done...".
In the early 1800's it was considered madness to build
a canal across this wilderness. New York State sent a delegation to the
federal government in Washington and was told by President Jefferson (an
inventor and engineer):
"It is splendid project and may be executed a
century hence, ...but it is a little short of madness to think of it
this day". Thomas Jefferson, 1809
The newly elected Governor of New York, Dewitt
Clinton, was not discouraged by the lack of federal support or funding,
he simply put the issue to the people of his state. By his confidence
that the project could indeed be completed, he was able to convince the
voters to approve the necessary legislation. New York State was in the
canal business. When one considers that the cost of the canal was
estimated at $6,000,000 and there was only about 1,500,000 New Yorker's,
it was a tremendous leap of faith! Something like a statewide space
program.
An interesting story occurred where all legislation
passed in the state legislature had to be approved by the Council of
Revision. It consisted of five members, who literally had the power to
pass or veto any state bills. The story goes:
Two were for the canal, two were against and one was
not decided. Judge Tompkins, was concerned that the British might try
again to capture New York and frightened the council with threats of
war. Judge Kent, who was undecided, finally said, "...If we must
have a war, or a canal, I am in favor of a canal." That simple
statement launched one of the greatest civil works projects in history.
The building of the Erie Canal.
What did this mean? What were the obstacles? Who built
it? Was it successful? These questions, when answered, tell a mighty and
many times moving story of Americans doing what they do best, the
impossible.
Building the Erie Canal meant that our country would
have a vital link to the vast interior of our present nation, not
available before. We would connect the inland seas (Great Lakes) and
create the world's largest and best canal system. For the first time
goods and people could travel inexpensively and build new lives.
New York State, as mentioned earlier was a wilderness.
There were virgin forests, with trees typically four to six feet in
diameter to be removed. There were large and uncontrollable rivers to be
crossed. And lastly a route needed to be found where a canal could lift
boats over 500 feet in
363 miles. All of this was accomplished, using hand
and animal power (there were no power tools then, steam power was yet to
be practical), in a mere eight years.
The canal was built by both New Yorker's and people
from European countries. Contracts were let to private citizens (a
partnership between state government and its people) for canal prism
(the actual dug waterway), locks, aqueducts, bridges and other
associated structures. Immigrants escaping European feudal systems had
work and more importantly a hope for the future. Many migrated to our
interior and homesteaded after the canal was built. What of this canal,
here are a few interesting facts concerning the original 1825 canal,
when completed:
83 hand cut stone and hand assembled locks, which were
90 feet long and 15 feet wide.
18 hand cut stone aqueducts, crossing some of the wildest rivers on
the east coast.
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Erie Canal Stone Cut Lock
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It was 363 miles long, dug through virgin forests,
malarial swamps, deep valleys and towering escarpments.
Total lift from the Hudson River to Black Rock,
Buffalo was not a large city then, was 564 feet. Early canal line boats
were about 61 feet long by 7 feet wide and drew three and one half feet
of water. In this relatively small craft could be carried of 70 tons of
cargo.
When the Erie Canal opened in 1825, there was an enormous
celebration, which included over one hundred canon
(used as a relay system, another story in itself)
and a ceremony which included present and past presidents of
the United States. They were, former presidents, John Adams, Thomas
Jefferson (who must have been embarrassed), James Madison
and James Monroe. Also present was Andrew Jackson,
a future president. Six in all, possibly the most
ever at one time!
The Erie Canal was so successful that it paid for itself in less than
10 years. By 1835, there was plans for a major
enlargement of the early canal. The Erie Canal
also started a canal fever, which extended to many states,
such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan. Our neighbors, north Canada,
also caught the fever and build canals between the St.
Lawrence River and Ottawa.
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E-56 Poorhouse Lock Lyons, circa 1840's
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To be Continued.... |
