ERIE CANAL ARTICES II
Found In 19th & 20th Century Newspapers
Not in Chronological Order


Hampden Federalist and Public Journal, Springfield Mass.,
Wednesday, June 26 1822

New York June 19.

GRAND CANAL

We are informed by a gentleman who has just returned from a visit to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, that he traveled 160 miles in the new convenient passage boat on the Erie Canal, viz., from:

Little Falls to Utica 22 miles

Utica to Montezuma,

by Rome, Syracuse,

and Weed’s Basin 96

Crossing from Montezuma over

the Seneca River and the Cayuga

Marshes 6 miles

and up the river Clyde 6 1-2 miles

to Blockhouse

he again takes the canal and passing the flourishing villages of Lyons and Palmyra to Hartswell’s Basin 42

On this route are already seven passage boats with good accommodations, and hundreds of other boats transporting (col. 2) immense quantities of produce to Utica; and such is the stock in this state, that there are now 100,000 barrels of flour alone on the banks of the canal, that cannot be transported for want of boats- - may of which are now building that cost from $100 to $400 each, and carry from 150 to 400 barrels. These boats have taken freight from Montezuma to Utica, a distance of nearly 100 miles, at the extremely low rate of 5 cents per cwt., or one dollar per ton, which is about one tenth the former rate of transporting the same distance by wagons; in this case, the owners of the goods paid the tolls, which however are very trifling.

The passage boats are drawn by three horses tandem rigged; the other boats by one or two horses, according to the size of the boat- - a boy rides the rear horse, and travels from three to four miles per hour. Passengers leaving Utica at 8 o’clock, reach Weeds Basin 87 miles the next morning at 7 o’clock, traveling all night. The charge is only 4 cents per mile, which includes board and lodging both of which are as good if not better, than the taverns on the road. This is as rapid as the stages travel, much less expensive, no risk of life or limb, and no fatigue or dust attending.

The Grand Canal is nearly finished from Schenectady to Little Falls, 56 miles- - from Montezuma to Clyde, or Block House, 13 miles, and from Hartwell’s Basin to Genesee River, and from thence to Lockport, 70 miles- all of which it is said, will be filled, and boats allowed to pass, on or before the first day of October next making 260 or 270 miles, through one of the richest and most valuable parts of the state of New-York. Numerous emigrants from the hardy and industrious northern and eastern hive are to be seen transporting themselves and their families, at little or no expense, to settle on the lands bordering on the canal.

Merchants residing in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Lexington and Louisville and in Michigan and Indiana, will soon get their goods transported for 1/4 the price they now pay, and save as much or more in the breakage and damage now unavoidable in wagons, besides the saving of half or two thirds in time; which, in fact, is extending the credit on their goods.

Emigrants and their families much prefer the canal to any other route on every account- - expense, time, health and comfort &c.

The amount of toll already received at the office in Utica this spring exceeds the sum paid the whole of last year, and it is supposed it will amount 50 or 60,000 dollars.

**********************



The Advertiser, Lyons, Friday Jan. 17, 1823

Canal Navigation. The following statements shows the amount of property which passed this village on the Erie Canal, in 1822— It will be recollected that this section of the canal was not navigable from the first of July till about the first of November



32,703 bbls. Flour

12,181 bbls. Salt

1,475 do. Provisions,

406 do Ashes.

7,849 bushels Wheat

92,507 feet Boards.

40,245 gallons Whiskey

14,492 lbs. Lard

87 tons Castings

349 boxes Soap


besides a great variety of articles, the amount of which in the aggregate, is considerable– The quantity of flour and salt is large, for the time of the canal was navigable. The amount of toll collected on this section, is sufficient to show the increasing importance of
the "Big Ditch."

**********************


Wayne County Sentinel, Palmyra. Wed. March 30, 1825.

The Western Villages.– Under this head, some of the city papers have very properly noticed the extraordinary growth of several of the villages on the line of the Erie Canal since its partial completion; but we have not seen a single work respecting Palmyra . We cheerfully respond that great improvements are making in nearly all of our western villages, and few present greater evidences of the fact than the one in which we have the good fortune to be located. No speculating spirit has hurried its march of improvement beyond the degree which its own resources will warrant and sustain. Surrounded as it is by a wealthy and fertile country, and an enterprising and rapidly increasing population, it seem as if nature has heretofore done more for its facilities and importance that the citizens themselves. But we take pleasure in stating, that an enterprising spirit seldom witnessed, and a disposition to "put a shoulder to the wheel" to improve and raise up our village, is now universally manifested by them.

We had indulged a hope that a correct census of this village, accompanied by a minute statement of its growing condition, would be furnished for publication before this time; but we cannot forbear to mention, while on this subject, some of the great improvements now going on.

New streets are laying out, and preparations for building are making. In addition to the three large and commodious store-house already erected in this village, three more are now building, which will probably be finished in the course of four weeks; an excellent and convenient wharf is also constructing by the Messrs. Thayres, connected with Rogers’ Basin. The business done on the canal last year, at this point, proved the necessity of these conveniences. The number of dwelling houses, merchants, and mechanics shops &c., &c., &c., to be erected the ensuing season, is greater, perhaps, than was ever before known in any season.

**********************



The Wayne Sentinel, Palmyra Wednesday, May 1,1833

The great eastern mail is now received at this place, by the way of the Free Bridge and Vienna, from eight to ten hours earlier than it was before the change in the route, and generally in advance of the mail which is brought with all reasonable speed on horseback over the old route through Montezuma and Lyons – both leaving Elbridge simultaneously. The proprietors and the public have abundant reason to be well satisfied with the change. The particular arrangements of the stages over this route, we understand, will be announced to the public by the proprietors in a few days.

**********************

 

Syracuse Journal, April 26, 1852

The Canals. The Oneida Lake is still blockaded by ice, and boats from the east bound for Oswego will be obliged to come by way of this city for the present.

Business at this point started rather sluggishly, owing to the insufficiency of water. UP to 6 o’clock last evening there were 20 clearances — all loaded, except one, with corn from Canton, Camillus and Bellisle. The amount of tolls received was $543.37. The water on the long level east was not high enough to permit the lockage of boats. The water was not let in here until Monday night, and consequently there have been no boats loaded.

*********************

Syracuse Journal, April 30 1852

Canal Tolls. The amount of Canal tolls received at the Collector’s office in this city during the first ten days of navigation, ending the month of April, the present year is $4,462.64. During the corresponding period last year, the amount received was $5,346.33 exceeding the present year by $883.69– The decrease is much less than might have been anticipated from the embarrassments that have been experienced from scarcity of water, and from Railroad competition.

The ensuing half month will doubtless put another face on the aspect of things.

Return to North Country Railroads, Stages, Waterways & Canals
Return to Transportation Index
Return to Shirley Farone's Homepage