Canal History

Before a mere thought was given to breaking ground on the New York State Canals, there was a man with a dream. Four-term New York Governor DeWitt Clinton imagined a network of waterways that would “create the greatest inland trade ever witnessed,” and make New York, “the granary of the world.” 

The United States experienced rapid economic expansion during the 18th and 19th centuries, creating a need for a safe, reliable trade network linking coastal hubs. Turnpike roads served this purpose but were barely tenable, becoming unforgiving in the summer sun and practically melting away during winter precipitation. These rudimentary highways were dangerous, and travel upon them was slow, hurting the viability of perishable goods. 

A better solution would come from an unlikely place. Jesse Hawley, a flour merchant from Bridgeport, Connecticut, found himself in debtor’s prison after going bankrupt while attempting to ship his products west. While incarcerated, Hawley wrote fourteen essays, published in the Genesee Messenger in 1807, describing in detail the route, costs, and benefits of establishing a 400-mile canal linking Buffalo to Albany.

The letters were generally dismissed as the fantastical ramblings since Hawley was not a trained civil engineer. However, Joshua Forman, a New York State Assemblyman, recognized that Hawley had studied rigorously and had developed an intriguing thesis. In 1808, Forman would go on to submit the first State legislation to determine the practicality of Hawley’s proposed water route that would eventually become the Erie Canal.

In 1810, DeWitt Clinton was recruited to the proposed waterway’s cause by the Treasurer of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company, Thomas Eddy and State Senator Jonas Platt. Clinton would put his rising political stature behind the project, beginning with passing a measure in the State Senate that would establish the Canal Commission and begin work on routing planning. Clinton would become the figurehead of the canal effort and be remembered as its most famous proponent.

Even after a significant delay caused by the War of 1812, Clinton was undeterred. In 1816, he submitted the New York Memorial, a document that spurred a series of meetings meant to generate public support and ultimately result in a petition with over one hundred thousand signatures in support of the canal’s construction.

On April 15th, 1817, the New York State Legislature would at long last approve construction of the Erie Canal. The bill put forth by the legislature authorized an expenditure of $7 million to construct the 363-mile long, 40-foot wide waterway. Later that year, Clinton would use the momentum gained by the success of the project to land himself a seat in the Governor’s office.

The Erie Canal opened in 1825 after eight years of construction. Clinton helmed the inaugural voyage aboard the Seneca Chief, culminating in a symbolic “Wedding of the Waters”, which saw the Governor emptying two casks of water from Lake Erie into the Atlantic Ocean. Within the span of 15 years, New York would become the busiest port in America, moving tonnages greater than Boston, Baltimore, and New Orleans combined.

The Erie Canal kicked off a canal-building boom that spanned most of the 1820s. During this time, several lateral canals were incorporated into the waterway network, including the Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca canals. Between 1835 and 1918, the canals were enlarged several times because of heavier traffic. During later expansions, new channeling techniques were used, and locks were installed to safely accommodate the imposing barges that now traversed the waters.

Every major city in New York, with only two exceptions, falls along the trade route established by the Erie Canal; a fact that had an immediate and lasting impact on the developmental trajectory of the state. As it stands, nearly 80% of upstate New York’s population lives within 25 miles of the Erie Canal.

Today, the network of canals, which encompasses the original Erie Canal, as well as the Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca canals, is known by its unified name; the New York State Canal System. Having served its purpose as a vital medium for commercial transportation, the Canals are being transformed into a recreational and historic destination, allowing visitors to relax and reflect upon the storied circumstances of the Canal System’s creation.