Norwich bulletin., 1921-08-25
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
OPENING OF THE ERIE CANAL

OPENING OF THE ERIE CANAL
 It is hard to estimate the great ex- citement and interest over the entire | country when the Erie canal was opened i in 1925. There was finally a commer- cial link between the East and the West 1 and it was considered that great profits | would accrue to both sections. After eight years of persistent labor the big ditch so constantly the subject of rid icule, was ready for transportation.
 The celebration of the opening began in Buffalo where on the 18th of October a procession of citizens and militia es- corted the orator and the melted guests to a gaily decorated fleet lying in wait on the canal. One of these boats, the Lion of the West, was a verftable Noah's Ark, containing a bear, two eagles, two fawns, two Indian boys, birds and fish. all typical of the products of the West before the advent of the white man. When the address had been made the signal was given, and the Seneca Chief drawn by four gray horses, started east ward on most memorable journey 1 When the procession started there was l a salute of a continuous line of cannon placed along the canal to Albany and down the Hudson to New Yrk.
 | When the last gun was fired at the Bat ! IC4Ss lll0 LOI Us III the ndTDOT returned 1 the salute and the news that New York had heard the tidings was sent back to Buffalo by second cannonade. The pro- gress of the little fleet was one continu- 1 ous ovation along the entire route 1 From Albany an escort of gayly dress | ed steamboats accompanied the fleet down the Hudson to New York where the ] entire population, increased by 30, 900
 strangers turned tut to receive it, and
 whence thousands, boarding every kind
 of craft, went down the bay to Sandy
 Hook. There Governor Clinton, lifting the kegs from the deck of tke Seneca Chief containing water from Lake Erie, which had been brought from Buffalo. poured their contents into the sea, say ing as he did so:
 This solemnity at this place, on the first arrival of vessels from Lake Erie is intended to indicate and commemorate the navigable communicatiin which has been accomplished between our Mediter- ranean seas and the Atlantic ocean, in about eight years ti the extent of about 425 miles, by the public spirit and energy of the people if the state of New York and may God if the heavens and the earth smile propitiously on their work and render it subservient to the best in terests if the human race"
 When this ceremony was over a grand salute was fired and the boats returned to the city where 8 fine industrial par ade, to which each trade society fur
 nished float with artisans at work closed the day. At night there were
 balls, parties dinners and Examinations
 The transportation facilities were
 unique. Shortly before eight in the mirn-
 ing and seven in the evening two blasts lon 8 horn would give notice that the
 Buffalo packet was about to start where upon the westbound travellers would hur?
 " from their hotels and board a vessel
 not uTssike a Noah's Ark
 The hull was eighty feet long by eleven
 feet wide, and carried on it's deck ling low house, with fiat roof and sides sloping which were pierced by a continu- ous row of windows provided with green blinds and red curtains. At the forward !. end was a room six feet long cintaining four berths and called the Ladies' Dress , ing Room Bebind it was room thirty six feet long. which was used as a cabin
 and dining room by dfa and bed room
 at night
 Precisely at 8 o'clock the steward and his helpers would appear, loaded down , with adjustable berths sheets, pillows mattresses, curtains and in a little time l the cabin would resemble the interior oi
 modern sleeping car.
 Each berth was narrow wooden frame with a strip of canvas nailed over it and was held in place by two iron rods which projected from one side, and fitted = into two holes in the wall of the cabin f and by two ropes attached to the other
 side of the frame and made fast te
 rings in the ceiling.
 When the passengers outnumbered the berths. the men slept on the dining tabls
 or on the floor. WAen the weather wal fine the travellers gathered on the rooi X reading. sewing, talking and playing cards till the helmsman would shou