Canal Items, 1822, 1825

Submitted by Richard Palmer

Lyons Advertiser, Friday, July 26,1822

The Northern Canal- A singular fatality seems to attend the progress
of the Northern Canal. Last year the destruction of the dam across
the Hudson at Fort Edward, and an unaccountable error in determining
some of the levels delayed its completion, and prevented its becoming
useful for that season. By the following from the Albany Gazette it
will be seen that the patience of Northern brethren is again most
severely put to the test

We extremely regret to learn that the late rains have done very great
damage to the northern canal, by breaking its banks carrying away
bridges &c, &c. and that the great dam construction in the Hudson
river at Port Edward as a feeder has been again materially injured.
Upwards of 70 person were on it at the time it gave way aiding and
assisting in putting in a situation to resist life freshet.

Fortunately and providentially, the part at which gave way moved only
about six feet; had it been carried off, not one of the 70 would
probably have escaped with his life. Many of the rafts which had
remained in the canal since the spring, were broken up, and carried
may rods on the land and otherwise damaged.- The quantity of lumber
in the canal, between Whitehall and Fort Ann was estimated to be
worth 15 to 20,000 dollars, and upwards of 100 persons having the
charge of it, have been encamped on the banks of the canal for nearly
two months, waiting for a rise of water to enable them to raft it to
market. All hopes of being enabled to do it the present season, we
fear must now be abandoned .


Wayne Sentinel, Palmyra, June 15,1822

Termination of the Erie Canal. On the evening of the 2nd inst. The
gates at the foot of the Black Rock Harbor were opened, and Lake
Erie, for the first time commenced feeding the western extremity of
the Erie Canal, which is now open the whole distance to Albany,
excepting the interruption at Lockport. On Friday, suitable
arrangements were made for celebrating this event, and the following
particulars we copy from the Black Rock Gazette.

"On Friday morning at 9 oíclock the committee of arrangements for
Black Rock, accompanied by the canal commissioner ( Mr. Bouck) the
engineers (Messrs. Roberts, Hurd and Root,) and about 50 gentlemen
and Ladies, embarked in the large boat Superior, which lay in the
river on the outside of the harbour, and had been handsomely fitted
up, decorated with flags and provided with music and refreshments.

After passing ten miles down the river they entered the mouth of the
Tonnewanta creek and at half past eleven while a salute was firing by
the inhabitants of the Tonnewanta , ascended, through the lock at
that place into the canal, when they were met and joined by the
committees and other citizens from Lockport, Pendleton and Tonnewanta
who had respectively provided themselves with Packet-Boats neatly
fitted and decorated for the occasion. After interchanging
congratulations and partaking of some refreshments, the whole party
in five boats, got under way at half past one oíclock for Black Rock.

At three oíclock they arrived at and entered the harbor where they
were met and cheered by a large concourse of citizens formed in
handsome order, along the bridge dam, and ship lock, and by four new
Barges belonging to the Steam-Boats, filled with ladies and
gentlemen. The whole of the boats then moved in handsome style about
a mile up the beautiful harbor, under a national salute and
reiterated cheerings from the people on shore and landed at N.
Stillís wharf. A procession was her formed under the direction of
J. L. Barton Esq., Marshall of the day, and marched to the Steam Boat
Hotel where about 150 of them set down to a very handsome dinner,
furnished by Mr. Thayer. The day was marked by great hilarity and
good feeling, and not the least incident occurred to mar its pleasures.

This new line of canal which winds along the margin of the Niagara
for nine miles between this and Tonnewanta is remarkably beautiful,
having been laid out with great taste and judgment and faithfully
executed. It is wider and deeper than are the other sections, for the
purpose of throwing forward from the lake into the basin formed by
the bed of the Tonnewanta, an ample supply of water for the whole
line west of Rochester.