The canal building age in America began in the late 18th century. The burst of construction continued for nearly four decades until the arrival of the steam-powered railroad system provided a more flexible, skeletal network for the transportation of goods and people over the vast stretches of the growing nation. However, it should be remembered that canals remained important to the economy, particularly in specific areas of the country, for more than a century following their first appearance on the scene. The following selection pays tribute to the significant role that canals continued to play in the nation’s life in the late 19th century.
The growing preservation and extension of our artificial waterways makes it of interest to note that July 19th was the one hundredth anniversary of the completion of the first canal in
America. It was in 1792 that Massachusetts had the honor of building the first artificial waterway, and although the canal was but five miles in length, it was a monument of the greatest importance. The object of the construction of this canal was to avoid the rapids at South Hadley Another canal was shortly afterward built to avoid the Montagu Falls. These canals were the beginning of our national canal system and will always be famous. They are not now used.
It was fully a quarter of a century later that the Erie canal [sic] was built. Those opposed called it the ‘‘De Witt Clinton Ditch,’’ owing to the fact that Governor Clinton was the sponsor of the movement. The canal was built in 1817, and was opened to navigation in 1825. The original cost was $8,000,000, but since then the State has spent nearly $90,000,000 on it. During the sixty-seven years of its existence, the income of the canal amounted to over $123,000,000. It is 300 miles in length, and was the first great enterprise of the kind carried out in the United States. Today we have 4,000 miles of canals in the country.
Source: ‘‘The First Canal in America, No. 11, November 1892), 242.
Manufacturer and Builder (Vol. 24,
World History
