INTRODUCTION. 
89 
accurate survey to be made of the various routes proposed for the contemplated 
communication. But how little the magnitude of that undertaking was under- 
stood, may be inferred from the fact that the appropriation made by the resolu¬ 
tion to defray the expenses of its execution, was limited to the sum of six hun¬ 
dred dollars. 
There was then no civil engineer in the state. James Geddes, a land surveyor, 
who afterwards became one of our most distinguished engineers, by the force of 
native genius and application in mature years, levelled and surveyed under in¬ 
structions from the surveyor-general, with a view to ascertain, first, whether a 
canal could be made from the Oneida lake to Lake Ontario, at the mouth of 
Salmon creek ; secondly, whether a navigation could be opened from the Oswego 
falls to Lake Ontario, along the Oswego river; thirdly, what was the best route 
for a canal from above the Falls of Niagara to Lewiston; and fourthly, what 
was the most direct route, and what the practicability of a canal from Lake Erie 
to the Genesee river, and thence to the waters running east to the Seneca river. 
The topography of the country between the Seneca river and the Hudson, was 
at that time comparatively better known. Mr. Geddes’ report showed that a 
canal from Lake Erie to the Hudson was practicable, and could be made with¬ 
out serious difficulty. In 1810 , on motion of Jonas Platt, of the senate, who 
was distinguished throughout a pure and well spent life, by his zealous efforts to 
promote this great undertaking, Gouverneur Morris, De Witt Clinton, Stephen 
Van Rensselaer, Simeon De Witt, William North, Thomas Eddy and Peter B. 
Porter, were appointed commissioners “ to explore the whole route for inland 
navigation from the Hudson river to Lake Ontario, and to Lake Erie.” Cad- 
wallader D. Colden, a contemporary historian, himself one of the earliest and 
ablest advocates of the canals, awards to Thomas Eddy the merit of having 
suggested this motion to Mr. Platt, and to both these gentlemen that of engaging 
De Witt Clinton’s support, he be'ing at that time a member of the senate.* 
Intr. 
* Colden’s Memoir, 
12 
