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



The worthy example of Xew York, as has been said, was a strong 

 factor in arousing Pennsylvania to action. Scarcely had the Erie 

 canal been commenced before signs of the approaching popular 

 movement appeared, l^umerous articles were published in the 

 newspapers or were circulated in pamphlet form for the purpose of 

 impressing upon the public the need of a canal to compete with 

 New York. A pamphlet written by a state senator* from Phila- 

 delphia deserves notice. The writer set forth in the strongest 

 language, "the superior situation of Philadelphia, geographically 

 considered, for the attraction of the great and increasing trade of 

 the countries bordering on the Susquehanna, the lakes and the 

 western rivers." He compared the distances from Pittsburg to 

 ISTew York and Philadelphia, and showed a handsome margin in 

 favor of the latter. f The resources of the two states were con- 

 trasted to the advantage of Pennsylvania. The ISTew York canal 

 commissioners were quoted to the effect that they expected from 

 the Erie canal a revenue from which "the whole expense of this 

 magnificent operation would be defrayed in a few years, and an 

 immense revenue would be secured to the state. This would enable 

 it to patronize literature and science, to promote education, morality 

 and religion; to encourage agriculture, manufactures and com- 

 merce; and to establish the interest of human improvement upon 

 an imperishable basis and to an incalculable extent." If these 

 results were confidently expected in ISTew York,' the outlook in Penn- 

 sylvania was certainly more promising. Unless immediate action 

 were taken, however, the natural advantages of the latter state 

 were bound to be outweighed by the promptitude of N'ew York. 



With reference to Baltimore as a rival, the situation was also 

 alarming. Via the new national road, that city Avas ninety miles 

 nearer the Ohio valley than was Philadelphia. Moreover the road 

 was over a part of its length free from tolls, "| while heavy fees 

 had to be paid upon the whole distance from Philadelphia to 

 Pittsburg. To protect the commerce of Philadelphia, in the face 

 of competition from both the north and the south, the need of a 



* Breek, Sketch of Internal Improvements already made by Pennsylvania 

 (1818). 



f He estimated the distance from Pittsburg to New York at 76GJ miles; 

 from Pittsburg to Philadelpliia, 423 miles. 



$ It was toll free between Fort Cumberland and Brownsville, a distance of 

 72 miles. 



