George Washington:
Canal Builder
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The Erie wasn't the only attempt to build a canal westward. Even George Washington, who was a surveyor in his youth, became actively involved in a project trying to canalize the Potomac River after the Revolution and before he took office as our first president.
There was a canal that operated on the Potomac for a few years after Washington's efforts, but it didn't succeed in making it all the way over the mountains. In fact, every early attempt to cross the Appalachian mountain chain was bound to fail for one simple reason: The locks needed to lift boats required a large and reliable supply of water from the top of the Appalachian ridge. That didn't exist anywhere on the eastern seaboard - or so they thought!
There was a canal that operated on the Potomac for a few years after Washington's efforts, but it didn't succeed in making it all the way over the mountains. In fact, every early attempt to cross the Appalachian mountain chain was bound to fail for one simple reason: The locks needed to lift boats required a large and reliable supply of water from the top of the Appalachian ridge. That didn't exist anywhere on the eastern seaboard - or so they thought!
Much depended on establishing trade routes, which means routes that could handle heavy cargoes over the steep Appalachian Mountain chain. America had title to the western lands - including the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase - but could large numbers of people actually POSSESS that land? Would we become ONE nation: Or TWO?
When surveyors set out to consider a route for a canal across New York State, they were startled to find that the Mohawk River, flowing from Rome to Albany, was unlike any other river on the east coast. It provided a gap in the mountains that opened the door for a water trade route westward.
When surveyors set out to consider a route for a canal across New York State, they were startled to find that the Mohawk River, flowing from Rome to Albany, was unlike any other river on the east coast. It provided a gap in the mountains that opened the door for a water trade route westward.
