66 RURAL NEW YORK 



the younger Governors Clinton and culminated in the 

 construction of the Erie Canal which was opened in 

 1825. From the main line of the Erie Canal a 

 number of branches were constructed in the subse- 

 quent fifteen years. Since New York State has al- 

 ways been preeminently agricultural, the opening of 

 these lines of travel and ready meaUs of moving heavy 

 freight were a great stimulus to its development by 

 affording an outlet for its products. Previously the 

 market for farm products had been essentially local. 

 The strength of this statement will be recognized by 

 considering that the only other method of movement 

 of farm products was by wagon or the movement of 

 stock on foot. Wheat was hauled from the Finger 

 Lakes region to Albany. In 1791, General Joshua 

 Whitney drove cattle from Binghamton to market 

 in Philadelphia and returned by flat (Durham) boat 

 and wagon with merchandise. The most important 

 period of development in New York was the first half 

 of the nineteenth century and especially following 

 the construction of the canals and the first railways. 

 Shortly after the opening of the Erie Canal, the Hud- 

 son Valley farmers complained that Genesee wheat 

 was flooding their market. Northern New York was 

 effectively settled about the same time as western 

 New York and as a part of the same general move- 

 ment. 



Antedating canals were the trails and wagon roads. 

 A post road was early established along the Hudson 

 from New York to Albany. A good road was ex- 

 tended up to Clinton County. The Newburg and Co- 



