From 1699 multiple suggestions and proposals were made for canals and for improving water way navigation across the east coast. An act for improving the navigation of the Mohawk River, Wood Creek, and the Onondaga river, with a view to opening an inland navigation to Oswego and Lake Erie. The Bill was defeated in 1786. Finally an act authorizing survey and estimates for Mohawk and Hudson rivers and Wood Creek was passed on March 21, 1791.In 1792, an act was passed in March to establish lock navigation, followed by the incorporation of the Western and Northern Inland Lock Navigation Companies to connect Albany to Lakes Seneca, Ontario, and Champlain. The first U.S. locks were constructed by a private firm to bypass Little Falls, marking a milestone in American infrastructure. The first report comes in February 1811.&nbsp;

De Witt Clinton visits the Canal in Buffalo and publishes the ‘Memorial of the Citizens of New York, in Favour of a Canal Navigation between the Great Western Lakes and the Tide-waters of the Hudson’ which is signed by many citizens, it made a deep impression on the Legislature. Later that year NY Legislature passes a canal law on April 17, by which funds were provided for the construction of a canal&nbsp;

At Rome, NY. Next year, a southern route is proposed for the Canal. The canal was opened for traffic in but little more than eight years.

The first passage through Canal from Lake Erie to New York City.

A majority of New Yorkers authorized an expansion of the canal at a cost of $101,000,000.

A historic canal in upstate New York that runs east–west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie.Before railroads, water transport was the most efficient way to move bulk goods. In early America, transporting goods inland from coastal ports was challenging, as the Appalachian Mountains posed significant barriers to travel and settlement. Rivers offered easy passage, but beyond the fall line, overland travel was slow and arduous, with journeys taking weeks due to the rough condition of roads.DeWitt Clinton shepherded the completion of the Erie Canal for $7 million, the canal was 363 miles in length including 565 miles of changing elevation. It lowered the cost of shipping made trade easier. It was the first from east to west transportation route in the country allowing the agricultural products of reducing cost of transport by 90%... enabling agriculture products to reach the sea making New York a major commercial port.

His EXCELLENCY GEORGE WASHINGTON.LONDON, February 5th, 1797.SIR, - Last evening Mr. King presented me with your Letter acquainting me of the Receipt of my publication on Small Canals, which I hope you will soon have time to Peruse in a tranquil retirement from the Buisy operations of a Public Life. Therefore looking forward to that period when the whole force of your Mind will Act upon the Internal improvement of our Country, by Promoting Agriculture and Manufactures : I have little doubt but easy Conveyance, the Great agent to other improvements will have its due weight And meet your patronage.For the mode of giving easy Communication to every part of the American States, I beg leave to draw your Particular attention to the Last Chapter on Creative Canals; and the expanded mind will trace down the time when they will penetrate into every district Carrying with them the means of facilitating Manual Labour and rendering it productive. But how to Raise a Sum in the different States has been my greatest difficulty. I first Considered them as National Works. But perhaps an Incorporated Company of Subscribers, who should be bound to apply half or a part of their profits to extension would be the best mode. As it would then be their interest to Promote the work: And guard their emoluments.That such a Work would answer to Subscribers appears from such Informations as I have Collected, Reletive to the Carriage from the neighbourhood of Lancaster, to Philadelphia. To me it appears that a Canal on the Small Scale might have been made to Lancaster for 120 thousand £ and that the carriage at 20 shillings per ton would pay 14 thousand per annum of which 7000 to Subscribers and 7000 to extension. By this means in about 10 years they would touch the Susquehanna, and the trade would then so much increase as to produce 30,000 per annum, of which 15,000 to Subscribers, the Remainder to extension; Continuing this till in about 20 years the Canal would run into Lake Erie, Yielding a produce of 100,000 per annum or 50 thousand £ to Subscribers which is 40 per cent.; hence the Inducement to subscribe to such undertakings.Proceeding in this manner I find that In about 60 or 70 years Pensilvania would have 9360 miles of Canal equal to Bringing Water Carriage within the easy Reach of every house, nor would any house be more than 10 or 14 miles from a Canal. By this time the whole Carriage of the country would Come on Water even to Passengers -and following the present Rate of Carriage on the Lancaster Road, it appears that the tolls would amount to 4,000,000 per year. Yet no one would pay more than 21 shillings and 8d per ton whatever might be the distance Conveyed; the whole would also be Pond Canal on which there is an equal facility of conveyance each way. Having made this Calculation to Show that the Creative System, would be productive of Great emolument, to Subscribers, it is only further to be observed that if each State was to Commence a Creative System It would fill the whole Country, and in Less than a Century bring Water Carriage within the easy Cartage of every Acre of the American States, -conveying the Surplus Labours of one hundred Millions of Men.Hence Seeing that by System this must be the Result, I feel anxious that the Public mind may be awakened to their true Interest: And Instead of directing Turnpike Roads towards the Interior Country or expending Large Sums in River Navigations - Which must ever be precarious and lead [no where] I could wish to See the Labour, and funds applied to Such a System As would penetrate the Interior Country And bind the Whole In the bonds of Social Intercourse.The Importance of this Subject I hope will plead my excuse for troubeling you with So long a Letter, And in expectation of being Favoured with your thoughts on the System and mode of Carrying it into effect, I remain with the utmostEsteem and Sincere Respect,Your most obedient ServantROBT. FULTON.

Erie Canal

Cadwallader David Colden proposes canal linking Lake Erie and Hudson River.

 NY State Legislature passed a bill funding the Erie Canal 

Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject of Public Roads and Canals made in pursuance of a resolution of Senate by Gallatin.

A Treatise on the Improvement of Canal Navigation published by Fulton. The next year he wrote a letter from Fulton to President Washington referring to potential canal improvements, including a canal to Lake Erie.