Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-06-28
THE DAILY TIMES.
THE ERIE CANAL.
Editorial correspondence of the Express.

Editorial correspondence of the Express
| ALBANY, June IL
nave peen much interested in reading the Canal
Laws OF the State and the Introduce ion to the Natural
History OF New York, wherein in brief is furnished
the history OF the Erie Canal The subject is likely 10
undergo most thorough discussion pending the de.
washington was at Fort Sanwix, now the village of
Rome lie arrived there through the winding and diff
cul! navigation Of the Mohawk, crossing Wood Creek
which flows into Oneida Lake. and desce ndiag to the
sources OF the Susquehanua in the State of New York
was from Fort Stanwix the spirit of MANY letters
OF his tom his peaceful home in Virgin ia that he look
ed out to survey the future of our Inland Commerce
telax:- o'"'-
Taking contemplatve and extensive view o the
inland navigation OF the United States could NOT
but be struck with the immense diffusion and imnor
lance it, and with the goodness OF that providence
who has dealt his favors to with so protuse hand
woala 10 GOD we may have wisdom to improve them"
IL LOOK many years for the public mind 10 be thus
contemplatlve and wise Washington however lost
no opportunity to impress upon the minds OF the people
OF his own State, the necessity Of minging the inland
waters OF the country with those which washed the
continent There was even then oreshadowed the fu-
tue competition for the trade Of the valley between the
Aleghany mountains and the Mississippi. Old ocean
was blended already With the Hudson, the Susquehan-
ma, the Delaware, the st. Lawrence the Potomac the
Ohio and the Mississippi but the flow of waters was
interrupted by the high mountains and what seemed
70 De inaccessible barriers OF nature. Washington Ia
pored Tor tide water passage between the James
kliver the Kanawha, the Muskngum and the Lakes
The Keys OF the Mississippi on the side, and of the
81 Lawrence on the other, ia the hands of foreign
powers and was impossible for the Colonies to unlock
them. But 10 New York there was the Hudson.
stretching tar into the interior from the sea- There
means OF an easy channel stretching 10 the Lakes
Nature invited the creation of this work by an 18th
mus OF land so level, that the space between or the
width OF the valley, along the whole line nowhere ex-
ceeded $50 miles. These miles, however, seemed for
midabe enough at first. There had been as early as
l72oa trade between Albany and Montreal. The
great canal OF Languedoc even suggested a removal
OF the distinctions the Mohawk, and in 1884 the
Legislature OF New York appropriated 1925 for the ex-
animation OF the last named river with view Of facil-
i ,ad1 navigation between Albany and Oswego. In
l79l Governor George Clinton urged the Legislature to
appoint committee TO report upon the removal of OBJ.
strucions in the Hudson and Mohawk, and in 1892 az
ter favorable report from the Committee, the Gov
ernor urged the opening OF Lock Navigation between
the Hudson, Lake Ontario, and the Seneca Lake Com
panes were formed, but with a capital of no moro
than Soo co., There was small canal, less than three
miles long, and with five locks, constructed around
Little Falls canal oone and quarter miles along The
German Flats, and OF three-ourths OF mile from the
Mohawk to Wood Creek. -Four hundred thousand dol
lars were laid out 10 opening passage for small boats
be tween Schenectady aud the Oneida Lake. But little
was known OF Canal work, however, and constant re-
pairs became necessary. The Legislature this time
was liberal, but it seemed impossible sustain these
public works.
The idea of the Erie Canal was suggested by Cover
nenr Morris 10 1900 from the shore of the ri
yer. That distinguished more than fifty years
ago wrote in the following glowing and prophetic
strain to a friend in Europe
Hundreds OF large ships will, in no distant period
bound on the pillows OF these inland seas. Shall
will Know then that one-tenth part of the expense
borue by Britain, in The last campaign, would enable
ships to sail from London, through the Hudson river
shell OF our country The interior exceIs the part we
inhab in soil, in climate, in every thing The proudest
Empire OF Europe is but bauble compared with what
America may be, must be-"
he IL.
made from Lake Erie 10 the Hudson without locks and
in 1903 he began to urge the work upon his friend ST.
neon De Witt, who in 1904, communicated it James
Geddes (he father of the present Senator and dis
nguished Surveyor and Engineer, who was consulted
by the State in 1907 Albert Gallan, as Secretary
OF the Treasury proposed that all surplus Of
the General Government should be expended in the
construction of canals and turnpikes Jefferson, as
President ofthe United States had recommended the
measure, and Galatin had pointed out the kind of
constructed by the Federal and State Governments
But neither them afterwards did the National Gov
eminent grant any aid to the Erie Canal, though often
petioned to do so. On the contrary, at later period
there was deliberate purpose the part of some of
the enemies OF the Canal in Congress- to impose tom
mage duty on boats passing through New York. The
State demonstrated and the wrong prevented.
In 1908, resolution was adopted to survey the
country between Lake Erie and the Hudson and $500
were appropriated Mr.. Geddes then showed for the
hrs time, that the great Erie Canal practicable
and comparatively easy work. In 1910, De Witt
Clinton was in the State Senate, and here he COM
menced his earliest abors The most perseverng and
devoted exertions of this dstngu he'd man were given
from this time forward in behalf of the Canal and at
tho expense OF much OF his private fortune. Cover.
neur Morris drew up the first report which the main
reliance was placed upon the General Government
1t was said bv him, in words Of warning, which trust
will not be forgotten now, that the Canal must not
become the subject OF job or fund for speculation
His wish seemed to be to make the Canal free to all,
BY making it the property of the Federal Government.
Clinton put his shoulder to the Wheel and on the 9Th
of April, 1911, law was passed providing for ke
Improvement of the Internal Navigation of the
State" The preamble this act is in these impressive
words:
"Whereas, communi caon by means OF Canal
navigation between the great Lakes and the Hudson
River, " ill encourage agriculture, promote commerce
and manufactures, facilitate Tree and general inter-
between different parts OF the United States, and
tend to the aggrandizemen and prosperit y of the
country, and consolidate and strengthen the Unon.''
Morris and Clinton, as State Canal Commissioners
proceeded to Washington City in 1912, and returned
without hope from Congress Massachusetts,, liberal
ever in the construction of public works. pledged and
her aid New was equally and
Michigan engaged either upon their plans of
improvement, or unwilling to aid New York in her great
schemes Others said nothing
Clinton and Morris found that New York must rely
upon herself and with the faith and courage of true
they urged home upon their counrymen here to take
fast hold of the enterprise In the of their hopes
they anticipated and reported that when The canal
completed, would yield an annual income of 81 ESQ.,
900 Behold how reality has outstpped the wings
OF mag nation!
These revenues have exceeded the expectations of
the projectors by more than two millions of dollars On
the 18th OF June 1872, the Commissioners
ponted in the Senate by vote OF l6 to 49, and in tn,
Assembly by vote of 81 to AZ; they were empowered
to borrow money, deposit in the Treasury, take
sons of laud, but prohibited from taking any other
measure towards the construction OF the Canal.
This promising beginning bighted by
orseen difficulties The with England was tie
first blow. The repeal of the power granted to the
Commissioners to borrow money was the second, such
an act of repeal under the lead Of Erastus Root hav-
ing passed both branches Of the Legislature. In the
meantime, however, the Holland Land Company had
given 100 632 acres OF land to the State for The Canal
Governor Hornby gave $500 acres. Bayaid & McEveis
$500, Gideon Granger and the heirs OF the Puitney
Estata ,Isn made liberal grants.