Sunday, January 4, 2009

Canal News 1818, 1822, 1823

Submitted by Richard Palmer

Geneva Gazette, Nov. 18, 1818

From the Waterloo Gazette.
NEW LOCK NAVIGATION

It is with extreme satisfaction, that through the medium of your
press, I can inform the public, that on the 19th ult. the first heavy
laden boat passed the Lock, lately constructed on the Clyde, near the
new Milling establishment of the Messrs. DeZengs, at the village of
Clyde, in the township of Galen. This valuable improvement completes
an excellent Durham-boat navigation, through, perhaps, the most
fertile sections of Seneca and Ontario Counties, for upwards of forty
miles west of from the Seneca river; and creates an eligible site for
all kinds of hydraulic operations, at a point where it has hitherto
been considered utterly impracticable to raise a sufficient head of
water.

Besides, it is not the least pleasing reflection, that in the
course of a very few years this stream may become a most important
link in the chain of our western inland navigation.

In justice to an undertaking of such magnitude and and utility,
I am proud to acknowledge the enterprise of the Messrs. DeZengs,
advised and directed by the skill of that architect and mill-wright,
Mr. James Valentine. May success reward their efforts.

A SENECA FARMER.



Lyons Advertiser, June 21, 1822

Reduction of Toll. - At the late meeting of the Canal
Commissioners at Buffalo, the Collector of toll of this village
informs us, that a resolution was passed, by which the toll upon all
articles passing on the canal, between the Seneca and Genesee Rivers,
is reduced to one half of the rates charged elsewhere. One reason of
this reduction is said to be the deficiency of water. There is water
enough in the canal to render it useful for navigation, although as
the feeder from the Genesee river is not yet introduced, boats are
not able to carry more than half loads.

Another reason probably is, the navigation through this part of
the canal line, is connected with that of the middle section only by
passing for about twelve miles on the Seneca River, of which the
water is unusually low. Both of these reasons are expected to be
obviated soon, by the completion of the feeder, and by finishing the
great work through the Cayuga marshes, where the labor of excavation
is now going on more successfuly than it has been at any former
period. Whenever these works are completed, and the proper quantity
of water introduced, the toll will again be raised to the common rates.



Lyons Advertiser, Friday, Nov. 8, 1822.

Arrived at this village (Rochester,) on Wednesday last, the
Canal Boat Western Trader, Capt. Garney, from Utica, with a full
freight of Emigrants, consisting of eight families, in all sixty
persons, who have come the distance of 150 miles, for the moderate
sum of $1.50 each - thus completely elucidating one of the many and
important benefits of the Great Western Canal.



Lyons Advertiser, Dec. 13, 1822

Northern Canal. - The last stone of the Northern canal, was
laid by Gov. Clinton, President of the Board of Canal Commissioners,
on the 28th Nov. in presence of a great assemblage of people. The
Canal is connected with the Hudson at Waterford, at the head of sloop
navigation, by three beautiful locks of white marble, through which
the company passed in boats.

The Northern Canal is now finished; a boat arrived the above
mentioned day at Waterford, from Lake Ontario, by way of the St.
Lawrence and Sorell rivers and Lake Champlain! The undiverted
energies of the state can now be turned to the speedy completion of
the Erie Canal.



Lyons Advertiser, Wed., Aug. 27, 1823

We understand that two boats intended for the new liune of
packets on the canal, were launched at Bucksville Saturday last. They
are said to be very superior boats, possessing elegant accommodations.


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