Here Comes the Canal
To cut the cost of trading and make traveling easier the state of New York decided to build the Erie Canal. The governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton, pushed hard for the canal to be built. His part in the Erie Canal was so important the canal was nicknamed "Clinton's Ditch".
In 1817 the New York Legislature approved the construction of the Erie Canal and the building of a legendary canal began. Engineers designed the canal, but immigrants did the back breaking labor for 80 cents a day. The canal would go from Albany to Buffalo, New York. Building the canal would benefit everybody and would eliminate the barrier known as the Appalachian Mountains. Though, many important figures were not sure if building the canal would be beneficial to America.
Even though Thomas Jefferson was skeptical of the canal at first, he later praised Clinton on the construction of the canal in an 1822 letter, "I rejoice sincerely in the progress of your canal, and envy your location in a state wise enough to see that the common interest is individual interest, and rich enough to pursue it." - Thomas Jefferson.
In 1817 the New York Legislature approved the construction of the Erie Canal and the building of a legendary canal began. Engineers designed the canal, but immigrants did the back breaking labor for 80 cents a day. The canal would go from Albany to Buffalo, New York. Building the canal would benefit everybody and would eliminate the barrier known as the Appalachian Mountains. Though, many important figures were not sure if building the canal would be beneficial to America.
Even though Thomas Jefferson was skeptical of the canal at first, he later praised Clinton on the construction of the canal in an 1822 letter, "I rejoice sincerely in the progress of your canal, and envy your location in a state wise enough to see that the common interest is individual interest, and rich enough to pursue it." - Thomas Jefferson.
In 1825, at a whopping 363 miles long, the Erie Canal was completed. It cost seven million dollars to build, but the money lost was recovered by 1882. The cost of shipping one ton of goods went from $100 to about $15, the greatly lowered costs soon had toll fees streaming in. Building the canal was a great profit, which surprised many people. The canal conveniently made traveling smoother. The lowered costs and easier travel encouraged people to use the canal. Opening the Erie Canal was a great turning point for New York and many other states too, Michigan included.
"A cent and a half a mile, a mile and a half an hour." - Anonymous
"A cent and a half a mile, a mile and a half an hour." - Anonymous
Canal Travel
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/3/4/15341304/1360956946.jpg)
A grain-boat on the Erie Canal
Goods and people both traveled the Erie Canal. In 1825 about 185,000 tons of goods were shipped on the Erie Canal. Merchandise was shipped on freight boats, which were flat bottomed and pulled by horses or mules.
People traveled on packet boats, similar to freight boats.
People traveled on packet boats, similar to freight boats.