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| E.R.I.E. (Erie’s Restoration Interests
Everyone) Formed in 1988 we are a group of people "Dedicated to the
Preservation and Restoration of the Erie Canal. "The Erie Canal was
one of the earliest canals built in the United States and essentially
the first major transportation route through the natural Appalachian
Mountain barrier. The Appalachian Mountains, stretching from Quebec to
the State of Georgia, was a major obstacle to the growth of our country.
The Erie Canal, when completed in 1825, provided for the first time a
practical means of developing the vast interior of our country, both
commercially and by settlements. The United States, when freed from colonial rule, was concentrated along the Eastern coastal areas. This was largely because it was nearly impossible to cross the Appalachian chain of mountains, or navigate the only water route (New York's Mohawk River). This was well known by our early Presidents, who worried that unless we were able to populate the vast and rich interior of our country, all would be lost to foreign colonial powers, i.e. the French and British. Something needed to be done, in the early 1760's George Washington, as a surveyor, noted that improvement to navigation of the mighty Mohawk river would help solve the Appalachian barrier problem. In 1768, Colonial Governor Sir Henry Moore recommended navigational improvements of the Mohawk River. Prior to this the river was navigated by native Americans , British and French using small boats. It was possible to travel as far as, Little Falls, at which point they needed to portage a considerable rapids. This trickle of commerce was literally the only major trade in the area. In 1792, a company was formed, the Western Navigation and Lock Company, to build locks past the rapids at Little Falls. This shorts canal, with its five locks, was the first useable canal in the United States. It was small, about 4 feet deep and 12 feet across, the locks were, 70 feet by 10 feet. Building a canal became an obsession to many in New York State. Canals and natural waterways were connected and plans considered for even more ambitious projects. In 1803 Goveneur Morris, suggested ( although this is not fully documented) that a canal could be built between Lake Erie and the Hudson River. 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...".
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| 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.
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.
To be Continued.... |
