75() IMiO.IKCTKD NEW BARGE CANAL OF STATE OE NEW YORK. 



to the jiiiu'tion of the Oneidn, OsAvoijo, and Senocii rivors, at Three 

 Eivor l\)iiit — a famous locality in the olden days. Here two i-outes 

 were oj^en to the eiilerprisiiiii- traveler. If he Avere going to the set- 

 tled western part of the State he would follow up the Seneca Kiver 

 ami thence into the various branches and into the beautiful '' finger" 

 lakes tributary to the Seneca. At that time and by that route the 

 cost of transportation between Albany and Seneca I^ake was from $75 

 to $100 j)er ton, and it took four weeks to make the round trip. If he 

 were going fai-ther west, or into Canada, or had much freight to 

 transport, he would ofttimes go on down the Oswego River to Lake 

 Oritario and thence by lake to his destination. 



The projcH'ted loute of the Erie l^arge Canal follows up the Hud- 

 son Kiver to Waterford; thence, l)y means of the requisite locks, it 

 reaches the Mohawk River above Cohoes Falls. From Cohoes P^alls 

 to just Avest of Rome the river is canalized — that is, dams are built, 

 forming great pools, and these pools are connected by channels not 

 less than 200 feet in width and 12 feet in depth. Above Rome 

 there is a summit level leading over to Wood Creek, and, as in the 

 olden days, the canal route follows down this stream and through 

 Oneida Lake and Oneida River to Three River Point, thence up the 

 Seneca River properly canalized to the vicinity of Clyde. From 

 Clyde westward there are no water coiu'ses of importance running 

 in the right direction, and the ncAV canal will follow generally the 

 route of the existing canal to the Niagara River at Tonawanda : 

 thence the Niagara River will be used up to Lake P^rie and Butl'alo. 

 Between Clyde and TonaAvanda there is one important modification 

 of the route, and this is at Rochester. The present canal goes through 

 the city in a vcit awkAvard manner, crossing the (lenesc'e River in a 

 niasf)nry a(|U('(hict, and the route is impracticable for the large canal. 

 Here a new route is adopted, passing to the south of the city and 

 crossing ilie (lenesee Rivei- in a pool formed by dannning the river. 



The Oswego Barge Canal leaves the Fi'ie Canal at Three River 

 l*oint and kee])s on down in canalized OsAvego River to Lake 

 Ontario. 



The ncAV Chani|)lain Canal keeps in the Hudson River from Water- 

 ford to Foi-t Edward, instead of following along on the bank of the 

 I'iver as at present. In doing this advantage is taken of the connner- 

 cial poAver dams which already exist in the river, and Avhich, in con- 

 nection Avith locks to pass them and the deepening of the river be- 

 tAveen the pools, Avill fully canalize the riA^er. From Fort Edward 

 to AATiitehall, at the foot of Lake Champlain, the ucav canal folloAvs 

 the location of the existing one. 



The most important question connected with any canal pr()i)osi- 

 tion is that of Avater supply, and the Erie Canal is no exception. 

 The Avestern end of the canal will be fed from Lake Erie, as at 



