[16]Id., pp. 93-94.
[16]Id., pp. 93-94.
[17]Sparks,Life of Gouverneur Morris(Boston, 1832), vol. i, pp. 497-498.
[17]Sparks,Life of Gouverneur Morris(Boston, 1832), vol. i, pp. 497-498.
[18]Id., p. 498.
[18]Id., p. 498.
[19]Id., pp. 498-499.
[19]Id., pp. 498-499.
[20]Laws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals(Albany, 1825), pp. 38-39.
[20]Laws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals(Albany, 1825), pp. 38-39.
[21]Id., p. 42.
[21]Id., p. 42.
[22]History of the ... Western Canals in the State of New York, p. 67.
[22]History of the ... Western Canals in the State of New York, p. 67.
[23]M. S. Hawley,Origin of the Erie Canal, p. 20. Clinton gave Hawley great credit for his part in promoting the Erie Canal idea—p. 21.“He [Hawley] was at Colonel Mynderse’s office in 1805, attending to the shipment of some flour to market, by the circuitous and uncertain route then in use. Himself and Colonel Mynderse conversing upon the necessities for better facilities, Mr. Hawley said: ‘Why not have a canal extend direct into our country, and benefit all—merchants, millers, and farmers.’” Hawley then pointed out on a map that Lake Erie could be made a head of water. “A change having occurred in Mr. Hawley’s business, he spent the winter of 1806 and 1807 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and not knowing when he would return to Ontario county, he sketched the first essay, and to preserve it from oblivion, as he said, he procured it to be published there, on the fourteenth day of January, 1807, in the newspaper called theCommonwealth.”—Origin of the Erie Canal, pp. 23-24.
[23]M. S. Hawley,Origin of the Erie Canal, p. 20. Clinton gave Hawley great credit for his part in promoting the Erie Canal idea—p. 21.
“He [Hawley] was at Colonel Mynderse’s office in 1805, attending to the shipment of some flour to market, by the circuitous and uncertain route then in use. Himself and Colonel Mynderse conversing upon the necessities for better facilities, Mr. Hawley said: ‘Why not have a canal extend direct into our country, and benefit all—merchants, millers, and farmers.’” Hawley then pointed out on a map that Lake Erie could be made a head of water. “A change having occurred in Mr. Hawley’s business, he spent the winter of 1806 and 1807 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and not knowing when he would return to Ontario county, he sketched the first essay, and to preserve it from oblivion, as he said, he procured it to be published there, on the fourteenth day of January, 1807, in the newspaper called theCommonwealth.”—Origin of the Erie Canal, pp. 23-24.
[24]Id., pp. 69-70.
[24]Id., pp. 69-70.
[25]Public Documents relating to the New-York Canals(New York, 1821), pp. xlix-l.
[25]Public Documents relating to the New-York Canals(New York, 1821), pp. xlix-l.
[26]Laws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals, p. 47.
[26]Laws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals, p. 47.
[27]Id., p. 67.
[27]Id., p. 67.
[28]Laws of New York, 1814.
[28]Laws of New York, 1814.
[29]Public Documents relating to Canals, pp. li-lii.
[29]Public Documents relating to Canals, pp. li-lii.
[30]“Memorial of the citizens of New-York, in favor of a Canal-Navigation between the great western Lakes and the tide-waters of the Hudson, presented to the Assembly February 21, 1816, and ordered to be printed.”—FromLaws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals, p. 122.
[30]“Memorial of the citizens of New-York, in favor of a Canal-Navigation between the great western Lakes and the tide-waters of the Hudson, presented to the Assembly February 21, 1816, and ordered to be printed.”—FromLaws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals, p. 122.
[31]The Middlesex Canal was twenty-seven miles in length and joined Boston Harbor at Charlestown with the Merrimac River. It was incorporated in 1789, begun in 1790 and opened in 1804. Its cost to 1815 was over half a million. It was thirty feet wide at the top, twenty feet wide at the base and three feet deep. The rise from Boston to summit level was one hundred and four feet and the descent to the Merrimac, thirty-two feet. It included twenty locks, seventy-five feet long, ten feet wide at the base and eleven feet wide at the top, capable of locking a boat of fourteen tons. The income from tolls beginning with $7,000 in 1808 had increased to $25,000 in 1815; land beside the canal had increased in value one-third, and New Hampshire timber at once became worth from one to three dollars per ton standing, which before was worth nothing. The success of this canal must be considered as having something to do in the promotion of the Erie Canal.
[31]The Middlesex Canal was twenty-seven miles in length and joined Boston Harbor at Charlestown with the Merrimac River. It was incorporated in 1789, begun in 1790 and opened in 1804. Its cost to 1815 was over half a million. It was thirty feet wide at the top, twenty feet wide at the base and three feet deep. The rise from Boston to summit level was one hundred and four feet and the descent to the Merrimac, thirty-two feet. It included twenty locks, seventy-five feet long, ten feet wide at the base and eleven feet wide at the top, capable of locking a boat of fourteen tons. The income from tolls beginning with $7,000 in 1808 had increased to $25,000 in 1815; land beside the canal had increased in value one-third, and New Hampshire timber at once became worth from one to three dollars per ton standing, which before was worth nothing. The success of this canal must be considered as having something to do in the promotion of the Erie Canal.
[32]See appendix A.
[32]See appendix A.
[33]The material for the earlier portions of this chapter is largely from the annual reports of the canal commissioners from 1816 to 1825 contained inPublic Documents relating to the New-York Canals(New York, 1821), pp. 103-185, 311-333, 344-365, 429-450, andLaws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals, vol. ii, pp. 60-78, 95-118, 150-180.
[33]The material for the earlier portions of this chapter is largely from the annual reports of the canal commissioners from 1816 to 1825 contained inPublic Documents relating to the New-York Canals(New York, 1821), pp. 103-185, 311-333, 344-365, 429-450, andLaws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals, vol. ii, pp. 60-78, 95-118, 150-180.
[34]Appendix B.
[34]Appendix B.
[35]M. S. Hawley,Origin of the Erie Canal, pp. 41-42; Hawley’s source of information was Judge Platt, one of the Council.
[35]M. S. Hawley,Origin of the Erie Canal, pp. 41-42; Hawley’s source of information was Judge Platt, one of the Council.
[36]Id., pp. 42-43. Cf. p. 143, referring to the change of route at Rome and consequent dissatisfaction.
[36]Id., pp. 42-43. Cf. p. 143, referring to the change of route at Rome and consequent dissatisfaction.
[37]Sparks’sWritings of Washington, vol. ii, pp. 341, 342.
[37]Sparks’sWritings of Washington, vol. ii, pp. 341, 342.
[38]Public Documents(1821), p. 403.
[38]Public Documents(1821), p. 403.
[39]For elaborate account of this celebration see W. L. Stone’sNarrative of the Festivities observed in honor of the Completion of the Grand Erie Canal(New York, 1825), and local histories.
[39]For elaborate account of this celebration see W. L. Stone’sNarrative of the Festivities observed in honor of the Completion of the Grand Erie Canal(New York, 1825), and local histories.
[40]W. L. Stone,Narrative of the Festivities observed in honor of the Completion of the Grand Erie Canal, p. 321. This monograph has been used extensively in describing the celebration festivities.
[40]W. L. Stone,Narrative of the Festivities observed in honor of the Completion of the Grand Erie Canal, p. 321. This monograph has been used extensively in describing the celebration festivities.
[41]Id., pp. 320-321.
[41]Id., pp. 320-321.
[42]The Influence of the Erie Canal upon the population along its course, bearing the imprint of the University of Wisconsin, 1901.
[42]The Influence of the Erie Canal upon the population along its course, bearing the imprint of the University of Wisconsin, 1901.
[43]Hammond,Political History of New York, vol. ii, pp. 369, 378. McMaster,History of U.S., vol. v, p. 109.
[43]Hammond,Political History of New York, vol. ii, pp. 369, 378. McMaster,History of U.S., vol. v, p. 109.
[44]Freeman’sJournal, Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York, September 20, 1830, p. 2, c. 2.
[44]Freeman’sJournal, Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York, September 20, 1830, p. 2, c. 2.
[45]Freeman’sJournal, August 16, 1830, p. 2, c. 6. Seward,Autobiography of W. H. Seward from 1801 to 1834, p. 78.
[45]Freeman’sJournal, August 16, 1830, p. 2, c. 6. Seward,Autobiography of W. H. Seward from 1801 to 1834, p. 78.
[46]Hammond,Political History of New York, vol. ii, p. 396.
[46]Hammond,Political History of New York, vol. ii, p. 396.
[47]Hammond,Political History of New York, vol. ii, p. 397.
[47]Hammond,Political History of New York, vol. ii, p. 397.
[48]Jenkins,Political History of New York, p. 363.
[48]Jenkins,Political History of New York, p. 363.
[49]The following counties sent petitions to the Legislature: Tioga, Steuben, Yates, Ontario, Wayne, Cayuga, Seneca, Tompkins, Chenango, Broome, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Herkimer, Lewis, Jefferson, and Chautauqua. (Laws of the State of New York, relative to Erie and Champlain canals, 1825, i, pp. 279-281.)
[49]The following counties sent petitions to the Legislature: Tioga, Steuben, Yates, Ontario, Wayne, Cayuga, Seneca, Tompkins, Chenango, Broome, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Herkimer, Lewis, Jefferson, and Chautauqua. (Laws of the State of New York, relative to Erie and Champlain canals, 1825, i, pp. 279-281.)
[50]This fact is supported by Mr. Jenkins in hisPolitical History of New York. He says: “Mr. Granger received a very heavy vote in the sixth and eighth districts; and it is probable his friends had confidently expected that the Chenango canal interests would secure his election. “The sixth Senatorial district to which the feeling in favor of the Chenango canal was mainly confined, gave Mr. Granger more than 2,000 majority. Notwithstanding it had given 6,000 the other way in 1829.” The majority for Mr. Granger in the eighth district was nearly 13,000.
[50]This fact is supported by Mr. Jenkins in hisPolitical History of New York. He says: “Mr. Granger received a very heavy vote in the sixth and eighth districts; and it is probable his friends had confidently expected that the Chenango canal interests would secure his election. “The sixth Senatorial district to which the feeling in favor of the Chenango canal was mainly confined, gave Mr. Granger more than 2,000 majority. Notwithstanding it had given 6,000 the other way in 1829.” The majority for Mr. Granger in the eighth district was nearly 13,000.
[51]Jenkins,Political History of New York, p. 372.
[51]Jenkins,Political History of New York, p. 372.
[52]W. N. Holland,Life and Political Opinions of Van Buren: Attitude toward internal improvements, pp. 269-274.
[52]W. N. Holland,Life and Political Opinions of Van Buren: Attitude toward internal improvements, pp. 269-274.
[53]This is probably a reference to such loans as were authorized to be made to the New York and Erie Railroad. The New York and Erie Railroad was incorporated in 1832 and in 1836 the legislature authorized a loan of the credit of the state to the company for the amount of $3,000,000 subject to certain restrictions, some of which were that the route of the road should be through the Southern tier of counties in the state, one-fourth was to be completed in ten years, one-half in fifteen years, and the whole of it in twenty years. The road was to begin at Tappan, Rockland County, on the Hudson, pass through Goshen, Oswego, Elmira, and other towns and end at Dunkirk on Lake Erie.—Tanner,Canals and Railroads of the United States, 1840, p. 74.
[53]This is probably a reference to such loans as were authorized to be made to the New York and Erie Railroad. The New York and Erie Railroad was incorporated in 1832 and in 1836 the legislature authorized a loan of the credit of the state to the company for the amount of $3,000,000 subject to certain restrictions, some of which were that the route of the road should be through the Southern tier of counties in the state, one-fourth was to be completed in ten years, one-half in fifteen years, and the whole of it in twenty years. The road was to begin at Tappan, Rockland County, on the Hudson, pass through Goshen, Oswego, Elmira, and other towns and end at Dunkirk on Lake Erie.—Tanner,Canals and Railroads of the United States, 1840, p. 74.
[54]Lossing,Empire State, p. 493.
[54]Lossing,Empire State, p. 493.
[55]Documentary Sketch of New York State Canalsby S. H. Sweet (Albany, 1863), p. 104.
[55]Documentary Sketch of New York State Canalsby S. H. Sweet (Albany, 1863), p. 104.
[56]Laws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals(Albany, 1825), vol. ii, pp. 13-14.
[56]Laws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals(Albany, 1825), vol. ii, pp. 13-14.
[57]Sweet’sDocumentary History, pp. 198-199.
[57]Sweet’sDocumentary History, pp. 198-199.
[58]Id., p. 201.
[58]Id., p. 201.
[59]Id., p. 207-208.
[59]Id., p. 207-208.
[60]Id., p. 204.
[60]Id., p. 204.
[61]Id., p. 205.
[61]Id., p. 205.
[62]Id., p. 210.
[62]Id., p. 210.
[63]Id., p. 213.
[63]Id., p. 213.
[64]Id., p. 326.
[64]Id., p. 326.
[65]House Reports, No. 423, 54th Cong., 1st sess., 1896, also,No. 1023, 55th Cong., 1st sess.
[65]House Reports, No. 423, 54th Cong., 1st sess., 1896, also,No. 1023, 55th Cong., 1st sess.
[66]Laws of 1898, ch. 44.
[66]Laws of 1898, ch. 44.
[67]Senate Documents, no. 23.
[67]Senate Documents, no. 23.
[68]Laws of 1899, ch. 494.
[68]Laws of 1899, ch. 494.
[69]Report of the New York Commerce Commission, Albany, 1900.
[69]Report of the New York Commerce Commission, Albany, 1900.
[70]Laws of 1900, ch. 411.
[70]Laws of 1900, ch. 411.
[71]Historic Highways of America, vol. xiii, p. 25.
[71]Historic Highways of America, vol. xiii, p. 25.
[72]Historic Highways of America, vol. ix, pp. 213-215.
[72]Historic Highways of America, vol. ix, pp. 213-215.
[73]“An act to provide for the improvement of the internal navigation of this state,” passed April 17, 1816. FromLaws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals, vol. ii, pp. 184-186.
[73]“An act to provide for the improvement of the internal navigation of this state,” passed April 17, 1816. FromLaws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals, vol. ii, pp. 184-186.
[74]“An Act respecting Navigable Communications between the great western and northern lakes and the Atlantic ocean,” passed April 15, 1817. FromLaws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals, vol. ii, pp. 358-364.
[74]“An Act respecting Navigable Communications between the great western and northern lakes and the Atlantic ocean,” passed April 15, 1817. FromLaws of the State of New-York relative to the Canals, vol. ii, pp. 358-364.
[68]Suspended. See act March 30, 1820.
[68]Suspended. See act March 30, 1820.