How did you get involved with American History and specifically the Erie Canal?
Always a history fan and a concentration in college but the Erie Canal and its history were thrust upon me when I took a job with the NYS Canal Corp, the state agency in charge of the operation and preservation of New York's canal system.
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What was the most innovative technology used in the creation of the Erie Canal?
There is nothing innovative about pure will and determination or back breaking labor so the mention of technology or inventions is secondary in my opinion. However, I believe the "wheel barrel" may have been invented (or innovated) during the Canal's creation and the "stump puller" for sure. The stump puller (look it up for drawings and proper explanation) was a tall man-powered machine on wheels or a cart with pulleys and ropes for the removal of stumps. I think a group of men could average four stumps a day by hand and about forty per day with the use of a stump puller.
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How was New York State able to maintain the canal in the 1800s with its limited resources?
Tolls. Tolls on the Canal paid back the money that was borrowed or bonded for the original construction. Right away New York knew they needed a larger canal (deeper & wider) because the of immediate success and traffic. I believe the enlargement was paid for in the same way.
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What resources does it take to maintain the canal today?
A tremendous amount of hands on care. The engineers, mechanics and lock tenders work very hard (and very very carefully) on each mile of the Canal and each bolt and slab. The pride, appreciation and responsibility of each canal employee and the contractors that work in and around the Canal cannot be overlooked. The funding is an obvious answer, as keeping the channels open for commercial use, the generation of hydroelectric power, irrigation, the fisheries and the generation of tourism revenue for the state & canal-side communities, are so important, but I think the way in which these funds are used, that is, the care, upkeep & promotion of the Canal is the single most important resource.
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On a scale from 1 to 10, how critical was the Erie Canal to New York state economy? Explain.
10. Ok, 9.95, New York state would have done fine without the Erie Canal but New York City almost immediately grew larger than the port of Boston, Baltimore, Charleston and New Orleans combined; it became not just the port of call for America but eventually the whole world. The success of the Canal spurned many lateral canals in NYS which in turn sparked commerce. The need for labor brought in immigrants who earned and spent money. Lastly, it can probably be said that the completion and success of the canal must have created a "we can do anything" mentality- nobody said they could do it-they did and it was an overnight success. I mean they started digging a bigger canal right away. We are the empire state because they felt that way. Later the Barge Canal, probably NY's first civil service project, before railroads took over, shipped a tremendous amount of products between the Atlantic & the great lakes. NY enjoyed over 100 years of business fast tracked because a four ft deep ditch was the best way overland.
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How would America be different without the Erie Canal?
Well I would say some of America's success can be explained the same way as the last answer, any young country that found a quicker and cheaper way inland to fertile lands and massive lakes would be changed so without it, maybe NY, Chicago, Detroit & Delouth grow slower. Manhattan remains forest longer. I'm not sure, I haven't got that far yet. I think America would be America just not as fast.
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What do you believe to be the most important lasting effect of the Erie Canal?
Two part answer. One is, that it established New York City as the financial capital of the world. The other is, I would hope, that history tells us that "it" can be done. Some called it the eighth wonder of the world, that a state, with no help from the federal govt, dug and operated a 360 mile inland waterway 500 ft above sea level..What? Yeah, "it" can be done.
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What purpose does the Erie Canal serve today?
The Erie Canal and the NYS canal system is primarily a recreational waterway today. Most of the old towpath is now a multi-use trail and near completion. Thousands visit upstate NY communities both via the trail and waterway spurring economic development and a growing tourism industry. The Canal supports several very important non-tourism activities as well: a resurging commercial shipping corridor, 27 hydroelectric plants, irrigation for farms & golf courses and drinking water.
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Is there other information you would like to add about the Erie Canal?
I answered without considering the future. But what purpose will the Canal serve tomorrow? What is the most lasting effect the Canal will have may not yet be known.. Signs tell us that water is the next precious resource that will have folks migrating back from Arizona & the southern states. The NYS canal system connects five major lakes and seven rivers. Water transportation is more efficient and causes less pollution than over land shipping. 77 tractor trailers can be put on an Erie Canal barge. Long stretches of the shoreline of the Erie Canal are poised for business to develop. The communities along the canals are growing and the Canal is fostering economic development, the tourism industry is growing in NY and industry experts are only just realizing what the canals offer and the regions they connect. So in that conclusion sentence you may want to say, this is the report as of today, the future may hold a very interesting period for the Canal's next 200 years.