A. L. Bishop — The State Works of Pennsylvania. 167 



The foregoing review warrants the conclusion that in matters 

 of improvements in transportation facilities the policy pursued 

 was liberal and progressive. Actuated by an enlightened public 

 spirit, numerous charters for turnpike roads, bridges and naviga- 

 tion companies had been granted, many of which were subsidized 

 with public funds amounting to a total of $2,373,542. By pur- 

 suing this policy, the state had strongly stimulated the activities 

 of numerous liberal-minded citizens in their efforts to keep abreast 

 of the times. We have seen further that the early champions of 

 internal improvements, long before the Erie canal was projected, 

 not only had conceived the idea of connecting the eastern and west- 

 ern waters by a navigable route of communication, but also had 

 carefully surveyed the proposed line and made estimates of the 

 expenses incident to its construction. While Pennsylvania and her 

 southern neighbors thought seriously about this scheme, the enter- 

 prising citizens of their sister state, !N"ew York, were actually con- 

 structing a similar work with all consistent speed. Their example 

 in this connection was a powerful factor- in precipitating the move- 

 ment in Pennsylvania. Accordingly, before the completion of the 

 Erie canal, there arose in that state a widespread and vigorous 

 popular agitation for a through waterway to the West. It is to an 

 examination of this movement that we next turn our attention. 



Chapter II. — The Popular Movement for Internal 



Improvements. 



The close of the first quarter of the nineteenth century was 

 marked by vigorous efforts on the part of many states of the Union 

 to improve their transportation facilities. The commercial cities 

 on the Atlantic seaboard had watched with interest the growth 

 of the West and the rapid expansion of its trade soon after 1815. 

 Yet, apart from local sporadic movements, no very serious atten- 

 tion had been paid to the matter of a better western communica- 

 tion. To this end, however, these cities now became the leaders of 

 popular movements in their respective states. In the West, the 

 transportation enterprises proposed, and later carried through, 

 were scarcely less numerous or important.* The principal works 



* "It is reported that, from an actual examination of the subject, no less 

 than 102 canals are made, making, and projected in the United States." 

 Niles' Reg., XXX (July 1, 1826), p. 317. 



