The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-05-10
new CANAL GUSTS
FAMOUS old ERIE
Big Ditch Ends Career After
Ninety Years Success.
CAUSED MUCH PROSPERITY.

Governor Ciinton's Folly" Piaythine
In Politics and Producer of Wealth.
Also Long Had Cupid as It's Presid-
ing Deity and Was Scene of Much
Romance and Pleasure.
This year will mark practically the
end OF the career of the Old Erie canal
after u service TO New York state nj
the west OF ninety years. Already II
Is a thing of shreds and patches. BY
June l the entire new cana system
replacing the old Erie. will be Ia or
Grafton.
In its time the old Erie canal ha>
seer much OF the district which IL ira
verses transformed from a wilderness
Considered more wonderful at its In
ception than is the Panama canal To
day. ii now gives place TO something
much better adapted TO these hust ins
times.
The popular idea that the new barge
canal is the Erie canal enlarged il a
misconception. The new channel IS a
successor TO "Clinton's big ditch, not
a rehabilitation. Generally IL follows
the route OF the old canai-it N
the Hudson river and Lake Erie but
the channel is new and in places is far
from the old one.
Old Canal Like Cow Path.
The new line strikes out boldly fOI
the objective point. whereas the old
Erie was much like u cow path. fol
lowing the line of least resistance. saw
ing dollars in construction. although
the result in its ninety years has vast
ed centuries OF time for commerce
Another transition marked his year
was the virtual passing OF the tow
path and he canal mule. famed In
story and tradition.
Little appreciated In the days OF his
glory. the mule is now lamented as a
factor In the good old days of the long.
lazy trips between Buffalo and New
York. The boy driver found time TO
do a little fishing then. and the captain
under the awning ove the cabin at
the stern balanced in ease on the tiller
But the new canal is built for craft
driven by engines. The mule is no
longer available.
AS a picturesque feature In the land
scape the new barge canal falls far
short of the old Erie. Old landmarks
have been sacrilegiously SCARED or de
stroyed- The wider expanse of water
has an assertiye aspect compared with
the placid tranquility of the lazy. I'm.
ruffied old Erie.
Was RidicuIed as Folly.
Ridiculed in the beginning as the
hobby. indeed the folly. of Governor
Dewitt Clinton. abused throughout its
ninety years. a plaything and political
asset OF first one faction and then OF
another. the Erie has added millions
of the Empire State and been a large
factor In connecting the great agricuI-
tural areas Of the west with the port
of New York. I'm the beginning 1t cost
only $7.50O.O00. whereas its successor
will cost from fifteen to twenty times
as much.
What II has added to the assessment
rolls OF the rich country between Troy
and Buffalo cannot be calculated. Like
wise what 1t has contributed to the
wealth OF the farmers and shippers of
the west is beyond knowing.
IL would be interesting IL 1t were
possible TO name the governors, Unit
ed States senators and representatives
In congress who We're indebted to the
Erie canal for their advancement and
success Ii the truth were fully known
the old Erie would have to bear a bur
den of shame as well as fame.
"Thsm Mas Happy Days"
But who ever lived near the Erie ca
nal and cannot recall the skating par
ties. the boating. the swimming and
the occasional regal splendor of a ride
In a steam launch? In a more remote
time our fathers and mothers had their
wedding trips on board the old packet
boats, which In their day constituted
the acme of luxury In travel. and the
romance and adventure in which they
played part remain treasured memo
ries of grandmothers in MANI homes
In the Mohawk valley and western
New York.
No one ever thought of 1t I'm the old
days. but looking back 1t seems that
even the names Of the towns on the
Erie were suggestive of romance and
observation-disclosures. Macedon. Area
dia. Clyde. Jordan-the very names
marshal before the mental vision a host
OF cavaliers. gladiators and knights
The part that the old Erie played in
loves young dream Is almost too ten
der Il write about.