2. Canals

Canals

• Erie Canal - from Hudson R. to Lake Erie
• 363 mi., 40' wide, 4' deep, 565' elevation
• Canal Fund 1817 by DeWitt Clinton
• became an engineering school
  • John Jervis, James Geddes, B. Wright
  • round wheelbarrow of J. Brainard
  • stump-puller, portland cement
• most laborers local (not Irish) - $.50/day
• middle section done 1st, then western
  • Deep Cut, Lockport
  • See pictures of Chittenango Landing on the canal
• easter section last - 27 of 83 locks
• Seneca Chief's "wedding of the waters"
  • Buffalo to NY in 10 days by Nov. 4
• results:
  • passengers @ $.05 mi.
  • freight @ $.01 per ton mi.
  • land @ $2.50 acre = Genesee flour
  • growth of port of New York
  • immigration (the Prescott family=Zebulon, Rebecca, Eve, Lillith)