Clinton's Ditch: The Erie Canal - 1825

SYNOPSIS FOR CLINTON’S DITCH: The Erie Canal-1825 • In 1724 Cadwallader Colden, Surveyor-General under the British Colonial Governor advances fur trade into western New York and considers water transport. Some along the Mohawk ` River. • De Witt Clinton’s family move from Ireland to New York. De Witt raised in New Britain, NY. • As the canal idea grows, so does Clinton’s political career and his interest in canal. • Clinton’s political influence continues but so does opposition to him personally. • Movement west begins, canal commissioners are appointed in 1810 including Clinton. • War of 1812 slows canal development. • War with England goes in 1812 causing a delay in canal development. • After the War of 1812, the need for a water transport to move goods and people from east to west and back again is apparent. First, the very-new settlers along the canal route are enlisted with farm owners becoming contractors and others, common laborers. Immigrants are recruited right off the boats in New York and Boston harbors and transported to the canal construction sites. • As the canal moves forward, Clinton’s adversaries such as Martin Van Buren and Tammany Hall (Republican-Democrats) fight Clinton who rises to Governor July 1817. • July 4, 1817, ground-breaking for Canal at Rome. • Clinton’s vision of water transport grows. Clinton adversaries try to eliminate him from any political position he may hold. Construction continues. • Van Buren finally succeeds in having Clinton removed from the Canal Commission by legislative act in 1824 but the populous of New York won’t allow Clinton to be so badly treated—they elect him Governor for a third non-consecutive term. • The opening Ceremony of the Erie Canal on Wednesday, October 26, 1825 at Buffalo opens with Governor De Witt Clinton standing on a canal barge awaiting the Celebration to begin for the now-completed canal and the firing of the first of 32 lb. carronades and other cannon spaced ten-miles or so apart along the 363-mile canal and more along the Hudson River sending an Echo Carronade all the way to New York City in only 80 minutes. • We follow the four canal boats through their nine-day trip to New York Harbor where Clinton performs the “Wedding of the Waters,” pouring Lake Erie water into New York Harbor on November 4, 1825. A fitting climax for De Witt Clinton and his labor of 25 years.