American Pocket Library of Useful Knowledge/Canals
CANALS
New York was the pioneer in the introduction of this species of improvement. The Erie Canal, commenced in 1817 and finished in 1825; since when the canals in this Slate alone have been extended to 950 miles at an expense of 20,000,000; upon which the tolls collected from 1829 to 1836, amounted to 9,983,637 dollars.
TABLE,
SHOWING THE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES OF CANALS AND RAIL-ROADS.
Speed per
hour. |
Daily
duration of labour. |
Daily dist.
trav. by a h’se drawing 112 lbs. |
Load for 1
horse on a canal. |
Load for 1
horse on a rail-road. |
Horses to draw on canal the load of one horse on a rail-road. |
| ms. | h. m. | miles. | tons. | tons. | horses. |
| 312 | 5 42 | 20 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 1 |
| 4 | 5 | 20 | 7.5 | 9.75 | 1.3 |
| 5 | 4 | 20 | 4.8 | 9.64 | 2.08 |
| 6 | 3 20 | 20 | 3.33 | 9.53 | 2.86 |
| 7 | 2 51 | 20 | 2.43 | 9.42 | 3.87 |
| 8 | 2 30 | 20 | 1.87 | 9.31 | 5.31 |
| 9 | 2 13 | 20 | 1.48 | 9.22 | 6.2 |
| 10 | 2 | 20 | 1.2 | 9.68 | 7.2 |
| 11 | 1.48 | 20 | 1 | 9 | 9 |
The splendid lines of artificial navigation in the United Stales, exceeding 4000 miles in extent, have created internal trade, promoted agriculture and business generally to an immense extent.
PRINCIPAL CANALS, Finished or in progress in the United States.
In Maine, Cumberland and Oxford, 20. In Massachusetts, Middlesex, 27. Blackstone, 45. Farmington, 78. New York, Delaware, Hudson, &c., 82. Erie, 363. Champlain, 63. Black River, 76. Oswego, 38. Chenango, 96. Cayuga, 20. Chemung, 23. Morris, 101. New Jersey, Delaware and Raritan, 43. Pennsylvania, Delaware Canal, 60. Lehigh, 66. Schuylkill, 108. Little Schuylkill, 20. Pennsylvania, 312. Susquehanna, 39. Western Branch, 66. Northern Branch, 76. Beaver, 30. French Creek, 46. Pennsylvania and Ohio. 82. Sandy and Beaver, 73. Delaware and Maryland, Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, 14. Maryland, Chesapeake and Ohio, 186. Virginia and North Carolina, Dismal Swamp, 23. Virginia, James’ River, 150. South Carolina, Santee, 22. Georgia, Savannah and Alatamaha, 60. Brunswick, 12. Alabama, Muscle Shoals, 37. Louisiana, Lafourche, 85. Ohio, Miami, 265. Ohio and Erie, 306. Wabash and Erie, 110. Indiana, White Water, 76. Illinois and Chicago, 96.