THE ERIE CANAL

THE ERIE CANAL

The Erie Canal was thought of in 1808. It went under construction from 1817 until 1832. It opened up while it was still under construction. It opened up in 1825.

The Erie Canal was primarily used more for recreational traffic than commercial vessels. Although in 2008 more commercial going vessels were using the canal than recreational.

There was a problem, the land was higher from Hudson River to Lake Erie. It would take 50 minute to get through to get to Lake Erie. Which was only 360 miles long.

The Building of the Erie Canal was New York’s governor’s ideas. So that more ocean going vessels would use this route.

They had to clear out a lot of trees and dirt to make way for the canal.

They had used oxen to pull out the stumps in the ground, and the soil that had to be removed they had used large wheel barrels that were pulled by mules.

A three man team was now able to build a mile of the canal in a year. The problem here was trying to get enough help to build the canals faster.

It took 70 minutes from Buffalo, New York to get to New York City.

There were leaks that had happened throughout the canal. Fortunately they were able to fix the leaks as fast as they were happening. They had a special kind of cement that could be used under water to fix these leaks.

The Erie Canal was also known as the “Clintons Ditch”, what they used as a nickname as this was the Governor’s last name.

When the New York Railroad had opened, this slowed down the traffic on the canal. As the trains could go faster. Although the trains were faster they still used the canal as it could carry more weight.

The new improved canal has 34 canals. Which are pained Blue and Gold which are of the University of Michigan’s colors.

The beginning of the l990’s the canal is primarily used for recreational traffic.

They are debating whether to call the Erie Canal the 8th wonder of the world.

As of today the canal is opened to both small craft and ocean going vessels.

During the winter months’ (November through May) the canal is closed due to repairs. They drain the water to make the repairs. In 2006, they stopped all fees for this attraction, to get more people to come and see this.

The canal was flooded in one of the canals and was damaged severely and had to be closed down for a while.

The cost of repairing came to 15 million dollars.

The commercial vehicles are using the canals more often as the cost of diesel fuel is going up. The barges on the canal use 1 gallon of fuel for 514 miles. While if trucks or trains were used it would cost the same amount of money for less miles. This would be 202 miles by train and 59 miles by truck.

There are 35 canals but only 25 of them are in use.