OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Ohio Canals (Part 3) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 August 27, 2001 *********************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio The Kelley Family Collections Newspaper article, Plains Dealer compiled by S.J. Kelley-- 1925 And Then They Went West by Darlene E. Kelley 1998 *********************************************************************** Ohio's Canals -- Part 3. The Opening of Ohio to Trade.-- and the Economic impact. With the opening of Ohio's Canals, thousands of miles of cheap transportation for commerce and new settlers, The State rapidly grew both agriculturally and industrially. Even when the railroads supplanted the canals as the primary source of transprtation in the 1850's the canals maintained a place in Ohio's economy for another 50 years. The development of the waterways enabled Ohioans along Lake Erie to trade with Canada, the Atlantic Coast and Pittsburg. Those in the South could trade along the Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans. But the interior of Ohio was serviced by country roads that were little more than trails. Sending produce across the Appalachian Mountains was as expensive as the produce itself and it often spoiled before reaching its market. Hogs and cattle were driven overland to markets in New York and Baltimore. Shipment via river to New Orleans was often hazard and unprofitable. An improved form of transportation would benifit Ohioans, enabling them to compete in the larger eastern markets. Two years after the groundbreaking, the first boat called " The State of Ohio " carried Governor Trimble and others the 38 miles from Portage Summit near Akron to Cleveland. In November, three boats made the trip from Cincinnati to Middletown. In 1829, the first boat arrived in Dayton from Cincinnati and by 1834, ten locks from Cincinnati to the Ohio River opened the complete system from Dayton to the River. Navigation of the entire Ohio and Erie system was possible in 1832, except for the Portsmouth locks, which were finished in 1834. The Miami extension was begun in 1833, but delayed until 1837, because of border disputes with Michigan. The Wabash and Erie was completed in 1842 and the Lake Erie-Ohio riverway, later renamed the Miami and Erie Canal was opened in 1845 with the passage of the Boat " Banner, " from Cincinnati to Toledo. Success of the State funded waterways, stimulated private enterprise to build additional canals such as; The Sandy and Beaver, Lancaster ( later Hocking Valley ) Lateral, Cincinnati and Whitewater, Pennsylvania and Ohio, Warren County, Walhonding, Muskingham River Improvement, and Milan. With the completion of New Yorks Erie Canal in 1825 and as the canals opened in Ohio, Ohio became less isolated from the rest of the country. Prices for agricultural produce, wages, an canal construction costs rose. For 25 years the canals were the principal means of transportation of both freight and passengers within Ohio. In 1842, passenger travel on the canals rose exceedinly, with the largest passenger traffic on the Ohio and Erie. It never became an important route of travel across the country because of its great length and number of locks. Cost of moving a ton of freight from the east coast overland before the canals was $ 125.00, after, it dropped to $ 25.00 via canal. Products from Ohio rose in price as they found new markets. More grain came to Cleveland from the interior of the State than from the Cuyahoga Valley or the Lake Erie shore. Akron milled much of its wheat into flour and sent 376,000 bushels to Clevelad in 1846 and 1847. In 1847, Massillon sent 1.7 million bushels of flour and wheat along the canal. The Miami and Erie Canal was less heavily used than the Ohio and Erie, but it trade had a major impact on the development of the region. The emphasis was on different trade items, transporting more flour, pork and whiskey, then wheat. Between 1833 and 1850, Cincinnati regularly received 18,000 and 35,000 bushels of pork per year. After the Miami Extension was added, Cincinnati was able to send sugar and molasses, from the southern markets, north to Toledo and into Indiana. Cities like Akron grew from shanty towns into prosperous communities. The canal ran what is now Main street. Other communities like Cleveland, Youngstown, Portsmouth and Dayton developed into important trade centers. The State of Ohio's population grew from 581,295 in 1820 to 1,980,329 in 1850, due to the immigration of people from the east because of the cheapness of canal transportation. Property values increased in all 33 counties where canals were built, which meant more tax revenue. Due in part of the canals, the population of Ohio increased until it was the third most populous state in the Union. Industry like iron ore and coal mining were stimulated, mills, machine shops, foundries, distilleries, woolen and cotton factories located along the canals to utilize the waterpower and the convenient transportation. For the first time, during the construction period, workers could accumulate cash and use that to purchase goods, rather than by barter. As agricultural and industrial development increased, people had more money to buy manufactured goods and to invest. Many workers acquired managerial skills from working for the State which they later used to run Banks, Railraods and other business. The Boats and Canal Operations -- There were several different type of boats to be found on the Canals. There were Cargo Boats, State Maintenance Boats, Floating Residences, Grocery Store, Packet or Passenger Boats carrying 40 to 60 passegers. Boats cost $2,000 to $4,000 each including six horses or oxen, were low, long, and narrow. Usually 13 to 14 feet wide, 78 to 89 feet long to slide through standard 15 foot by 90 foot locks. Boat building increased to fit the needs of the canals. Mostly were built by skilled builders who were in knowledge of canal demensions, and the always change of weather conditions. Trips on the canal were often described as leisurely. Days were spent on deck, ducking when the " low bridge " call, went up. In the early days, there was no schedule for the packet or passenger boats, as the passengers went ashore to cook their meals. Boats would stop twice a day, usually around 9am and 2pm for this purpose and the feeding of the animals. Often the spare animals were carried on the boat along with the passengers. Malaria ( often called " canal chills" or "canal fever" ) were common. Mosquitoes, gnats, and flies were not uncommon. Usually followed along with birds and insect eating animals. The crew was usually a six man crew. Later a cook was sometimes added. This cook also was allowed to make extra money, not only cooking for the crew. but sometimes cooking for some of the passengers, depending the contents of food supplied on the packet boat, or acquired along the route. Two crews moved the canal boats. The Lock Keeper and his crew would help the boat through the lock, day or night, and lived in a home by the canal. The boat captain and his crew would make their home in the 14 foot by 25 foot cabin on the boat. The " hoggie " controlled the team of animals that were pulling the boat. The " tripper " would push the boat forward and keep it away from the banks with a long pole. The " tiller " would steer with the rudder in the stern. Women and children did the extra cookng and cleaning. At night the Boat crew would call out " Hey! Hey! Lock". The Lock Keeper would keep large lanterns out at night which projected the light hundreds of feet along the darkened canal ditch. The Captain would blow his bugle and another crewman would wave a small lantern, often with a red light to establish communication with the Lock Keeper Crew. The Lock Keeper Crew, now alerted would rush out, open the first set of gates. After determining that the water level was even, they unhitched the tow rope. As the boat entered the canal chamber the Captain would take over the steering, while the crew jumped onto the lock to join the other crew in " locking through." Some locks would get colorful nicknames because of the events that happened, like " Johnny Cake" ( Lock 27 ) and "PanCake" ( Lock 26 ) on the Ohio & Erie canal. These two locks received these names because of the Lock Keeper's wife would feed the stranded passengers or canal boat crews because the locks often become clogged with silt and they would have to wait until they were freed from the mud. An 80 hour trip from Cleveland to Portsmouth cost $ 1.70 in 1832. 1,000 people each week traveled along the Miami Canal between Cincinnati and Dayton. The most inconvenient part of the trip, were the nights spent in 3 root wide berths, which projected in tiers from the cabin walls. Washroom facilities were shared by all on board. Navagation rules required that packet boats ( Passenger boats ) had precedence over cargo. If both boats were alike the boat traveling downstream would be required to drop its tow rope to the bottom, allowing the upstream boat to have the right-of-way. Speed was limited to 4 miles an hour to reduce erosion of the banks. Steam boats were not popular on the canals because of the damage their churning wake would make to the banks. Although rules were made for conduct at the locks if two or more boats arrived at the same time, often, right-of-way went to the crew that fought out the others. Many times crews were hired not so much for their skills but for their fighting skills. James A. Garfield, future President of the United States, served several months on his cousins canal boat in 1848 on the Ohio and Erie and Pensylvania and Ohio Canals. " I've got two mules, both who are my pal, Working their way, down the ohio's canal. Both are good workers, I'll feed them well As they work the way from the Erie Canal. We've hauled some tonage in our day. Filled with produce and people, along the way. We know every inch of the of the canal The locks, the low bridge, the friendly banks. And this we do, without much thanks. The wages are slim, I do this for fun-- Do you believe me , everyone? I do this today, and I must say-- my two mules, get most of my pay, But these two mules who are may pal Have worked their way down Ohio Canal." *********************************************** to be continued in Part 4.