Map
of Erie Canal
During
the early 1800's, the new United States of America
began to develop plans to build a waterway to transport
goods from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes
region through the imposing Apaplachian Mountains.
Prior to construction of the Erie Canal, the transportation
of goods to the western states was cumbersome and
very expensive.
In
1816, a plan was formulated to make The Erie Canal.
The canal would link the major port of New York
City to the Hudson River near Troy, New
York. From Troy, the canal would then link the
Hudson River to western cities in New
York such as Rome, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo.
From Buffalo, on Lake Erie, goods could be transported
to the canal from the western Great Lakes. Hence,
goods could be shipped from anywhere in the Great
Lakes to major urban centers such as New York City.
Although the plan was rejected by president James
Monroe, the New York State Legislature approved
the plan and planned to pay for the canal by charging
tolls for those who used it. Governor DeWitt Clinton
was a major proponent of the plan.
The
Canal took over seven years to complete. Laborers
had to literally dig the massive canal with simple
shovels through mountainous areas. Farmers who lived
along the canal often contracted workers to build
portions of the canal through their land. Many foreign
immigrants were paid well to help build the canal.
The 363 mile-long, 40 foot wide Erie Canal was completed
on October 25, 1825.
The
Erie Canal revolutionized life for many in America.
Not only did its construction result in drastic
differences in shipping costs, but it prompted huge
population growths in the Great Lakes region. People
began to move closer to large cities because goods
could easily be transported via the Erie Canal to
urban areas, and goods could also be shipped west
from the cities. The $7,000,000 cost of the canal
was quickly covered by tolls. Tolls were eliminated
soon after the cost of the canal was reclaimed.
