The work was to be completed throughout in fifteen years, making the waters of Wood Creek, the Oswego River, and the Seneca River, navigable. The State reserved the right of taking it to themselves at any time, by paying the cost of construction and a reasonable compensation. By some of the restrictions and limitations of the act, those who were most anxious in the matter were dissatisfied; and, at the next session of the Legislature, petitioned for an amendment of the charter, which was granted, allowing the company to construct a canal of any size they saw fit, not less than ten feet on the bottom. And the locks should be at least seventy feet long; and their charter was not to be forfeited, if water was not at certain seasons of the year, two feet deep. And the company were authorized to erect mills or other hydraulic works at such places as the water was not needed for the canal. Notwithstanding these favorable terms, the corporation did not flourish, nor the work progress. Nearly one-half of the shareholders forfeited their first installments of stock; and although the remaining shareholders were willing, yet they were unable to prosecute the work; and in order to do so with vigor and energy, they again prayed legislative relief. Accordingly, the legislature in 1795, authorized the Treasurer of the State to subscribe for two hundred shares of the stock, with the privilege of voting on shares like individuals and to receive dividends of Stock, tolls, &c. Under these provisions, the work was commenced, and the canal and locks completed around the Little Falls.2
Again in 1796, the sum of fifteen thousand pounds was loaned them by the State, and a bond and mortgage taken on their real estate at Little Falls, for securing the payment, at an interest of six per cent. per annum. In 1797, the company required a further sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, in order to prosecute the plan, which sum was granted, and in 1800 the work was completed.
Although this improvement gave relief for the time being, and greatly aided the facilities for transportation, still as business increased with the population of the country, it was found quite insufficient for the requirements of the public. Further improvements were thought to be necessary; a canal direct from lake Erie to the Hudson River soon became a theme of conversation and finally of serious consideration. In a casual conversation with the Surveyor General Simeon De Witt; Gouverneur Morris in 1803 remarks, "Lake Erie must be tapped, and the waters carried across the country to the Hudson." With thousands, the idea of a canal was scouted as wild and chimerical; still there were those, and men of comprehensive minds, who could believe and advocate the plan as feasible and worthy of adoption. But the minds of the mass of community had first to be prepared for it. With this view, Jesse Hawley, Esq., of Ontario, produced those valuable papers signed Hercules, and in 1810 Dr. Hugh Williamson, of New-York, produced several able papers, all strongly urging the merits of the canal and setting forth, in the ablest manner, the most substantial reasons why such a measure should be speedily accomplished, considering the ability of the State of New-York to successfully consummate so magnificent a project. Judge Joshua Forman, of Onondaga, became enlisted in the cause, and in 1807, was elected a member of the legislature by the people of Onondaga, with express reference to moving in that body the grand project of a canal.3 In 1807, President Jefferson proposed to Congress to devote a part of the public revenue to making roads and canals, and Mr. Gallatin made an able report on the subject.
On the 4th of February, 1808, carrying out the views of his constituents, Judge Forman rose in his place and called up a resolution, which had been previously submitted and ordered to lie on the table. This resolution proposed, that a joint committee should be appointed to take into consideration the propriety of exploring the causing an accurate survey to be made of the most eligible and direct route for a canal to open a communication between the tide waters of the Hudson River and Lake Erie, to the end that Congress might be enable to appropriate such sums as should be necessary to the accomplishment of that great national object and in case of such concurrence, that Messrs. Gold, Gilbert, German, Hogeboom and Forman, be a committee on the part of the House. The Senate concurred in the resolution, and appointed, on the part of the Senate, Messrs. Taylor, Nicholas and Ward, a committee to confer with the House. The resolution, says Judge Forman, was adopted on the ground, as expressed by several members, "that it could do no harm, and might do some good." The proposition was startling, and it is said was at first received by the House with such expressions of surprise and ridicule, as are alone due to the most wild and foolish projects. It was fortunately, however, firmly sustained by Mr. Forman, who, on all occasions, stood foremost with a few friends the fearless champion of the work. But the joint committee, prepossessed in favor of the Oswego route, directed the Surveyor General to cause a survey to be made of the rivers, streams and waters, in the usual route between Hudson River and Lake Erie, and such other route as he might deem proper, thus shifting upon the Surveyor General the responsibility of countenancing a project deemed by them absurd.
April 11th, 1808, a law was passed authorizing the Surveyor General to draw upon the Treasury of the State, for such sum or sums as he might require to prosecute the survey contemplated in the resolutions of the joint committee, not exceeding in the whole, the sum of six hundred dollars, and this was all that was appropriated for the first survey and exploration of the grand Erie Canal. upon this, the Surveyor General appointed James Geddes, (https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nyononda/FAMILY/GEDDES/GEDDES.HTM), Esq. of Onondaga, to make the survey, and in his commission and instructions to Mr. Geddes, makes these remarks: "As the provision made for the expenses of this business is not adequate to the effectual exploring of the country for this purpose, you will in the first place, examine what may appear to be the best route for a canal from Oneida Lake to Lake Ontario, in the town of Mexico, and take a level and survey of it; also whether a canal cannot be made between the Oneida Lake and Oswego, by a route in part to the west of Oswego River, so as to avoid those parts along it, where it will be impracticable to make a good navigation. The next object will be, the ground between Lakes Erie and Ontario, which must be examined with the view to determine what will be the most eligible track for a canal from below Niagara Falls to Lake Erie. If your means will admit of it, it would be desirable to have a level taken throughout the whole distance between the lakes." The Surveyor General refrains from instructing Mr. Geddes to make an interior survey, because of the inefficiency of the appropriation for that purpose.4 Mr. Geddes entered with zeal and earnestness upon his duties, and in 1809 submitted his report of three different routes. The first, a communication between Lake Oneida and Lake Ontario. Second, the Niagara River route; and third, an interior route, without descending to, or passing through Lake Ontario.
In comparing the Ontario with the interior route, the report is strongly in favor of the latter. In addition, Mr. Geddes was directed to examine by inspection, a canal route from Lake Erie to Genesee River, and thence to the waters running east to the Seneca River, and gather all the information in his power, for the prosecution of the great work, should the Legislature think fit to provide for it. The report was favorable on the practicability of an interior route from Lake Erie, and it is worthy of remark that Judge Geddes' plan and route was mainly followed in the final location of the canal.5 The country from the Seneca River in the Cayuga valley, to the Mohawk River at Rome, and thence to the Hudson River, was so well known as to leave no apprehensions of insuperable difficulties. Thus by the operations of 1808, through the instrumentality of the true men of Onondaga, the fact was satisfactorily established that a canal from the Hudson River to Lake Erie, was not only practicable but practicable with uncommon facility. In January, 1809, in company with Wm. Kirkpatrick, then member of Congress from Oneida County; Judge Forman waited on President Jefferson, and informed him, that in view of his proposition to expend the surplus revenues of the nation in making roads and canals, the State of New-York had explored the route of a canal from the Hudson River to Lake Erie, and had found it practicable; and when Mr. Forman had laid all the estimates, plans, surveys, descriptions and anticipate advantages before Mr. Jefferson, and portrayed its commercial prospects and the profits which would accrue to the Untied States, as well as to the State of New-York, the President very coolly replied, "It is a splendid project, and may be executed, a century hence. Why, sir, " said he, "here is a canal of a few miles, projected by General Washington, which, if completed would render this a fine commercial city; which has languished for many years, because the small sum of two hundred thousand dollars, necessary to complete it, cannot be obtained from the general government, or from individuals--and you talk of making a canal of 350 miles, through a wilderness--it is little short of madness to think of it at this day." (Hosack's life of Clinton, page 347.)
In 1810, so favorable and satisfactory had been the report of the engineer, James Geddes, and so much in favor was this grand project with discerning men, that the legislature passed an act for the appointment of a Board of Commissioners composed of Gouverneur Morris, Stephen Van Rensselaer, De Witt Clinton, Simeon De Witt, William North, Thomas Eddy and Peter B. Porter, to which were afterwards added Robert R. Livingston and Robert Fulton. These gentleman were instructed to explore the inland navigation route, and they reported favorably the next year. It is worthy of remark that the canal commissioners in casting about for competent engineers for laying out the Erie Canal, were at a loss where to apply. Supposing there was not a man in America of sufficient science and ability to accomplish the task, they opened a correspondence with an American gentleman at that time in London, authorizing him to engage William Weston, Esq., then considered the most accomplished engineer in Europe, to come over and survey the route of the canal, and proposed as a maximum salary seven thousand dollars per year. Fortunately Mr. Weston's engagements were such that he thought proper to decline. In this dilemma Benjamin Wright and James Geddes, Esqrs., held a consultation and agreed to go before the board of canal commissioners and offer to survey the canal route provided they would give them their confidence. The proposition was accepted; to them the work was assigned, and they were engaged at a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per year.6
It may be considered a fortunate circumstance that Mr. Weston did not accept the offer of the canal commissioners. Because from the ostentation usually displayed by foreign engineers and the great expense attending their movements the people of this frugal and republican country would have become discouraged, and it is more than probably the work would have been abandoned or at least indefinitely deferred. It is worthy of remark that the engineers employed on the Erie and Champlain Canals were Americans, except in two instances, where a French, and an Irish gentleman were employed in subordinate stations for less than a year.
Gouverneur Morris and De Witt Clinton were commissioned to proceed to "Washington and present a memorial to congress, but were unsuccessful in their application to that body for assistance. In March, 1812, the commissioners again made a report "that now sound policy demanded that the canal should be made by the State of New-York on her own account." This year the commissioners reported estimates of the cost of building and completing the canal, cost of transportation on it when completed, probably amount of tolls to be received, revenue, importance to the State, individual opposition, the procuring and application of funds for construction, and every thing that could have a bearing upon the great question; congress was again solicited for aid, some of the States were addressed for assistance, Mr. Morris and Mr. Clinton, waited on President Madison, who, though an enthusiast personally in the matter, was nevertheless embarrassed by scruples derived from his interpretation of the constitution. Although favorable mention of the matter was made in his next succeeding message to Congress, and that body at one time entertained favorable views, still, a few days of delay was sufficient to produce a change of opinion, and the subject was dismissed. The war of 1812 caused a suspension of the project and it was not again resumed until after its close. In 1815, the subject was again revived. During the session of 1816 a memorial was presented to the legislature signed by more than one hundred thousand individuals from New-York, and the counties through which the proposed canal should pass, calling upon its members to pass laws for the commencement and execution of the proposed canals.
A large meeting of the citizens of Onondaga County, was held at the Court House on the 23d of February, 1816. A preliminary meeting had been previously held, at which Judge Forman had been appointed a committee to prepare a memorial to the Legislature. This memorial was read by Judge Forman at this meeting, and approved by acclamation. A committee was appointed to circulate it throughout the county, consisting of Daniel Kellogg, of Marcellus; Gideon Wilcoxon, Camillus; Jonas C. Baldwin, Lysander; Ashbel Kellogg, Salina; John Leach, Cicero; Sylvanus Tousley, Manlius; Barnet Mooney, Hannibal; Daniel Wood, Pompey; Marcus Adams, Fabius; Asahel Roundy, Spafford; Garret Van Hoesen, Tully, and Joshua Forman, of Onondaga; adding the Chairman and Secretary. Signed, James Geddes, Chairman, Jasper Hopper, Secretary. Over three thousand names were subscribed to this memorial. The memorial was lucid, concise and forcible, and drawn up with great ability. It contemplated $10,000,000, for the cost of the canal, covering every possible contingency. This memorial contemplated also, that the State of New-York should be charged with $2,500,000; the United States with $2,500,000; the State of Ohio with $1,000,000; the city of New-York and counties contiguous to the canal $2,000,000, and private stock holders $2,000,000.
The legislature authorized a loan on the credit of the State for a million of dollars, and the section from Rome to Seneca River, was fixed upon as the first to be commenced. In 1816 Judge Geddes made another report, of the state and general view of the country, from Black Rock rapid to the Cayuga marshes, and Benjamin Wright, Esq., upon the same subject, from the Cayuga marshes to Rome, and from thence through the Mohawk valley to Albany. De Witt Clinton, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Samuel Young; Joseph Elliott and Myron Holley were appointed Canal Commissioners, and were directed thoroughly to explore the route of the proposed canal, make estimates of expenses, calculations, surveys, maps, fieldbooks, plans, drafts, models, &c. and to present the same to the legislature, within twenty days after the commencement of its next regular session, and a sum not exceeding twenty thousand dollars was appropriated for that object. Accordingly the whole was carefully surveyed and estimates were made for the construction of a canal from Lake Erie to the Hudson River, and finally set down at five millions of dollars.
Early in the year 1817, as a last resort, Congress was again memorialized upon the subject of the New-York canals, and solicited to construct them on the authority and patronage of the United States, but without success. Thus the State of New-York was thrown entirely upon her own resources. The commissioners were every where active in gathering information. No point was left unexamined. The route was divided into three sections. The levels and surveys of the previous years were reviewed, and in order to test their accuracy and correctness, it was deemed expedient that Mr. Geddes should start at a given point on the canal line at Rome, and carry a level along the road to the east end of Oneida lake, thence to the west end along the southern shore, and connect this level with the Onondaga Lake, and thence to the canal line, thence working east, laying off sections on said line. This was accomplished, and nine miles thus laid off into sections. Mr. Wright had carried a level along the canal line, and the commissioners remark, that when the level of Mr. Wright had been carried to the place where Mr. Geddes had terminated his line, the levels of these two engineers, which embraced a circuit from the place of departure to the place of conjunction, a distance of nearly one hundred miles, differed from each other less than one inch and a half. This result, so satisfactory, exhibits in the engineers, a degree of care, skill and precision in the delicate process of leveling, which has perhaps never been exceeded.
All things were now ready for a commencement and rapid prosecution of the work. The first contract was dated 27th June, 1817, and the remaining part of the whole middle section was under contract very soon thereafter, and on the 4th of July following, the excavation was commenced at Rome with appropriate ceremonies. The first contract was given to Judge John Richardson, of Cayuga. At the commencement of the ceremony, Judge Hathaway, of Rome, gave the spade to Commissioner Samuel Young, who placed it in the hands of Judge Richardson. Each presentation of the spade, was accompanied by a short and pertinent address. Judge Richardson broke the first ground, and was soon followed by several citizens and laborers, accompanied by the acclamations of thousands of spectators who had congregated, and the discharge of cannon from the United States Arsenal. It is perhaps a singular coincidence, that the first movement in the Halls of Legislation, relative to the Erie Canal, was made by a member from Onondaga,--that the first exploration was made by an engineer of Onondaga,--that the first contract was given to, and the first ground broken by a contractor, who had been several years a resident of Onondaga, and all of whom had been Judges of our County Courts, and members of the Legislature from Onondaga County. The work progressed with unusual rapidity. The zeal and perseverance of the commissioners, and the activity and industry of the contractors, was every where exerted.
In 1819 the middle section from Utica to Seneca River, including a lateral canal to Salina, about ninety-four miles, was reported by Governor Clinton, in his annual message of 1820, as completed. The animation which the completion and use of this section gave to our internal trade and intercourse, and the revenue which promised to be derived from it, inspired all the advocates of the work with renewed vigor, and many who had been its stern opposers, or silent witnesses of its progress, acknowledged the incorrectness of their views, entered heartily into the measure, and readily consented that the western and eastern sections should be completed. By the opening of this portion of the canal, the resources of Onondaga were more fully ascertained and developed. Her salt, gypsum and lime found their way to a ready market, and the produce of the agriculturist an outlet, affording more ample remuneration for his labor; a new and vigorous impulse was given to her advancement and prosperity which placed her among the first counties of the Empire State, a position which she is destined long to enjoy. Notwithstanding these favorable results, there were still, narrow minds and selfish spirits actively employed to defeat the further progress of the work. Many judged that the income of the whole canal would not equal the portion already completed. Local feelings had to be combated, and prejudices overcome, indignities to be borne, and every species of contumely and perverseness tampered with by the friends and supporters of the plan. With a devotion above all praise, the commissioners and advocates of the work stayed not their hands, till finally, in November, A. D. 1825, a period of only eight years and four months, it was proclaimed to the world that the waters of Lake Erie were connected with those of the Hudson River, without one foot of portage, through one of the longest canals in the world; and the cost, according to the books of the Comptroller, including the Chaplain Canal, was $8,273,122.66, and is considered one of the most stupendous and magnificent works of this or any other age. Middle section of the canal cost at the rate of about $13,000 per mile. The eastern section about $28,000 per mile; the western about $20,000 per mile. The illustrious Jefferson, who lived till after it was completed, declared that "it exceeded even calculation itself. New-York has anticipated by a full century, the ordinary progress of improvement." If the canal benefited the people of Onondaga, the men of Onondaga were principal promoters of the undertaking in all its incipient steps. "To the honor of originating the project of connecting the waters of the Hudson with the lakes, Mr. Clinton never made the slightest pretension. His was not the kind so narrowed by sordid envy as to claim or desire the credit belonging to others. He knew that many powerful minds had been directed to this subject, and that all these had contributed their quota to the development and perfection of the original idea of a water communication through the valley of the Mohawk to the lakes. He was aware that Washington, in his letters, Hawley, in his essays, and Foreman, in his introduction of the subject into the legislature, had preceded him in his inquiries, and that the united efforts of many more distinguished men, had assisted to bring forward and mature the vast enterprise."7 "Although others claimed it for him, yet Mr. Clinton never claimed for himself the original idea of the canal.8
Although Gouverneur Morris said in a casual conversation with Simeon De Witt, that "Lake Erie must be tapped," and had traveled and seen canals in other countries, and no doubt had bright visions of the future improvements in this country and occasionally astonished his friends by detailing them in conversation, but it was no wise probable that he viewed them as works to be accomplished in his day, or as a patriot he would have proposed the subject himself to the Legislature, of which he was a member, and brought the project into favorable notice. It was James Geddes, of Onondaga, who traversed the wilderness of western New-York, and gathered all the materials, and reported all the facts upon which statistics were based, and Joshua Forman, of Onondaga, who from the beginning was the uncompromising, unflinching defender and eloquent advocate of the great work; and it was not till after these men had labored long and faithfully in the cause, that the giant intellect and master mind of De Witt Clinton was aroused to a sense of the importance of this magnificent undertaking. These two men of Onondaga, from the beginning to the end, were intimately connected with the work, in fact, identical with it, and indispensable to it. They labored faithfully and effectually throughout; Judge Geddes as an able engineer, Judge Forman as the unwavering promoter of its utility. These two men furnished more solid information relative to the canal, than all others put together. Till they took hold of it, the whole matter was considered by most men but an idle dream, a delusion, a false, unfeasible project.
The first ground broken on the Erie Canal, in the county of Onondaga, was by Mr. Elias Gumaer, in the town of Manlius. Oliver Teall, Esq., took several contracts in the eastern part of the county. Messrs. Northrup and Dexter, and Jeremiah Keeler, built a section or two through Syracuse. Hazard Lewis, of Binghamton, built the locks. The first locks were built of Elbridge sand-stone. Commissioners, engineers, builders and masons, had no idea that the Onondaga limestone could be cut for facing-stone for locks, so little was this valuable material then understood. After the canal was completed, all things were ready, and the water was let in. For a long time it would not flow further west on the Syracuse level than the Stone bridge; the water all disappeared in a bed of loose gravel. Many despaired of ever making the canal tight; but after a deal of perplexity, this place was stopped, and the water ran on to the Raynor Block, and there performed the same freak, and it was several weeks before this level could be filled.
The first boats used on the canal, were the Mohawk boats, with wide walking boards for poling up the Mohawk River.
Oliver Teall was appointed the first Superintendent on the Erie Canal, and Joshua Forman, the first Collector; office at Syracuse.
In 1819, the Canal Commissioners recommended the construction of a water communication from the Erie Canal to the salt works at Salina, which work was completed simultaneously with the middle section of the Erie Canal. The following year, the Legislature directed the canal commissioners to open a boat navigation between the village of Salina and Onondaga Lake, and the Seneca River. This was named the Salina Canal; but afterwards, when the improvement was continued to Oswego the whole was designated as the Oswego Canal, which was completed in 1826-27, and is now the greatest avenue for the exportation of Onondaga salt.
HYDRAULIC CEMENT.--Intimately connected with the Erie Canal, is the discovery and history of water lime, or American Hydraulic Cement. The first works of masonry on the Erie Canal, were contracted to be done with common quick lime. Mr. Mason Harris and Mr. ___ Livingston, of Sullivan, Madison county, entered into a contract to furnish a quantity of this lime for the construction of culverts, aqueducts, &c., on the middle section of the canal, between Rome and Salina. They burned a large kiln and commenced the delivery of it. The purchasers, upon trial, found that it would not slack; all were greatly surprised who heard of the fact, and wondered at the singularity. The circumstance became common talk among all classes, in any way engaged in canal matters, and finally became known to the engineers, of whom Canvass White was one, and Judge Wright another, who took an interest in the affair. The article was examined, and the ledge from when it was taken. Dr. Barto, a scientific gentleman from Herkimer County, was called upon to make experiments, to prove what this new substance should be. He came on, took some of the rough stone, and in the trip hammer shop of John B. Yates, at Chittenango, burned a parcel, pulverized it in a mortar, and in Elisha Carey's bar-room, (the present Polytechny,) in the presence of Messrs. Wright, White, and several others, mixed it with sand, rolled a ball of it, and placed it in a bucket of water for the night. In the morning it had set, was solid enough to roll across the floor, and by Dr. Barto pronounced cement, not inferior to the Roman of Puteoli, or the Dutch Tarras of the Rhine. Mr. White had recently returned from England, where he had been to examine bridges, canals, aqueducts, culverts &c., of that country, and the materials of which they were made.
At considerable expense, and by repeated experiments, he found this to be an excellent substitute for the Roman cement, and he sought for and obtained a patent right of the United States, for this discovery. Notwithstanding the patent, four hundred thousand bushels was made and used on the canal, which might subject the manufacturers to the payment of sixteen thousand dollars, if prosecuted. Mr. White devoted considerable time and money in making experiments, and in introducing this cement, amidst the doubts and fears which essentially operated against the general use of it. It was at first used with great reluctance and caution; commissioners, builders, and particularly masons, were entirely opposed to its use. In 1819, abutments, culverts, aqueducts and locks, began to be constructed. At first the face work of the locks only was laid in water-lime, and the arches of the aqueducts; the other work was laid in common lime. No provision had been made by the Canal Commissioners, for the importation of cement; the expense was dreaded. They appeared to think that under the circumstances, common lime would answer for the work, although Tarras or Roman cement had been recommended by Judge Wright.
All mason work on the canal, was laid in water-lime after 1819. The discovery was considered of immense importance to the State, and all agreed that Mr. White ought to be liberally rewarded for his persevering efforts in bringing it into general use. Water lime was every where used in the face of the patentee. At length Mr. White, finding no other means of redress, resolved to test the validity of his right. He accordingly brought a suit in the District court of the United States, against Timothy Brown, of Sullivan, for an infringement of his patent, and obtained a judgment for seventeen hundred dollars. Other contractors were equally liable; the article had been manufactured extensively in Madison, Onondaga and Cayuga Counties, and Mr. White held a claim against them, which could be legally enforced, to the amount of upwards of twenty thousand dollars. These contractors, with Mr. Brown at their head, petitioned the legislature for relief. Whereupon a committee was appointed to investigate the matter and report. In 1825, a compromise was effected, by the State paying to Canvass White, the sum of ten thousand dollars, on condition of his assigning and assuring to the people of the State of New-York, the full right forever, to manufacture and use this said cement, and of his discharged the said judgment and all claims against the petitioner, and all and every citizen of the State, for or on account of any infringement of the said patent right. By mutual agreement the whole matter was thus amicably arranged, and all persons were thereafter allowed to manufacture and use water lime. The article was first burned for market in the town of Sullivan, Madison county, one mile and a half west of Chittenango, in the fall and winter of 1818-19, on large log-heaps. John B. Yates fitted upon a mill for grinding it. Mr. White had the exclusive right of manufacturing and vending the article. The price ordinarily charged, was from three dollars fifty cents to five dollars per barrel of five bushels. The barrels were lined with oiled paper, and were made perfectly water tight.
It has ever been considerable a truly fortunate circumstance, that so valuable an article for the permanent construction of locks, aqueducts, &c., for our canals, was found at the very time at which it could hardly be dispensed with.
FOOTNOTES
1. Abraham Hardenburgh surveyed the route under
the celebrated Engineer William Weston, around the Little Falls and from
Fort Stanwix to Wood Creek in 1788; expenses thirty-nine pounds seventeen
shillings and eight pence. The instrument first used in leveling
the route of the Inland Lock Navigation Company was the same used by Judge
Geddes in exploring the Erie Canal route, made by David Rittenhouse, of
Philadelphia, and is now in possession of Hon. George Geddes, Camillus.
2. The locks around the Little Falls were constructed
under the superintendence of General Philip Schuyler, whose memory, for
services rendered his country, will long be cherished with affection.
He was, after the completion of the work in 1795, appointed the first president
of the company, and superintendent.
3. Thos. Wheeler's letter, Onondaga Democrat,
dated 14th September, 1846.
4. Mr. Geddes' expenses exceeded the appropriation
by seventy-three dollars, which sum was afterwards allowed by the Legislature,
so that the whole engineer's expenses for this exploration cost the State
of New-York only six hundred and seventy-three dollars, an investment made
by the State, which for profit and importance, will probably never be exceeded.
5. See letter to William Darley, Canal Docuemnts,
Vol. I, page 42.
6. Correspondence of James Geddes.
7. See Hon. J. R. Lawrence's Clinton Monument
Report, Assem. Doc. 1839, vol. 4, No. 215.
8. Hosack, p. 304.