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.
Proposed, Mar 21, 1791
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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.
Written, Feb 16, 1816
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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
Construction Started, July 4, 1817
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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.
Opened, Oct 26, 1825
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The first passage through Canal from Lake Erie to New York City.
Expanded, Nov 3, 1903
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A majority of New Yorkers authorized an expansion of the canal at a cost of $101,000,000.
Factoids
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Apr 15, 1817- NY State Legislature passed a bill funding the Erie Canal
1724-Cadwallader David Colden proposes canal linking Lake Erie and Hudson River.