106 INTRODUCTION. 



The ground was broken, for the construction of the Erie canal, on the fourth 

 day of Julv, 1817, at Rome, with ceremonies marking the public estimation of 

 that great event. De Witt Clinton, having just before been elected to the chief 

 magistracy of the state, and being president of the board of canal commissioners, 

 enjoyed the high satisfaction of attending, with his associates, on the auspicious 

 occasion. 



In his annual speech to the legislature in 1818, he congratulated the people on 

 the commencement of the canals, rapidly reviewed the progress already made 

 in their construction, remarked briefly on their advantages, and earnestly urged 

 that the state was required to persevere, by every dictate of interest, by every 

 sentiment of honor, by every injunction of patriotism, and by every consideration 

 which ought to influence the councils and govern the conduct of a free, high- 

 minded, enlightened and magnanimous people. The senate responded favor- 

 ably to these sentiments, and the answer of the assembly was in terms of spirited 

 congratulation. 



The commissioners made a report, showing that they had engaged Isaac 

 Briggs, an eminent mathematician, as an engineer on the middle section, and 

 had let the work to be done in small portions, by contract. 



At this session, laws were passed, authorizing the construction of the Chitte- 

 nango canal for navigation, and as a feeder to the Erie canal ; and an examination 

 of the outlet of Buffalo creek, with a view to form a harbor at the entrance of 

 the Erie canal into Lake Erie, and making improvements of the financial system 

 adopted at the previous session. The act relating to the last mentioned subject, 

 authorized the comptroller to borrow one million of dollars for the general uses 

 of the treasury, and to issue therefor stock redeemable on the first of January, 

 1828. When this law was under consideration in the assembly, Erastus Root 

 moved that the power of the commissioners of the canal fund to borrow money 

 for canal purposes, should be suspended until the redemption of the stock debt 

 to be created under the law. This was the last effort made in the legislature to 



