114 
INTRODUCTION. 
the Atlantic anil the great, lakes, was already, he observed, nearly accomplished, 
but would not be fully realized until Lake Ontario should be connected with the 
Erie canal and with Lake Champlain ; and the importance of these improve¬ 
ments would be appreciated when it was understood that the lake coast, not only 
of this state, but of the United States, was more extensive than their sea coast. 
The next leading object, he remarked, should be to unite the minor lakes and 
secondary rivers with the canals, and to effect such a connection between the 
bays on the sea coast as would ensure the safety of boat navigation against the 
tempests of the ocean in time of peace, and against the depredations of an enemy 
in time of war. He pointed out, as portions of this great system, the construc¬ 
tion of canals to connect the Seneca, the Cayuga, the Canandaigua and other 
lakes in the vicinity, with the Erie canal, and of a navigable channel from the 
Hudson to the Delaware; an union of the upper waters of the Susquehannah with 
the Genesee and the Allegany rivers; a connection of the Erie canal with the 
Susquehannah river, through the Chenango valley ; of the same river with the Se¬ 
neca lake; of the Erie canal at Buffalo with the Allegany river, at the confluence 
of that stream with the Conewango, and of the Black river with the Erie canal; 
and the construction of a navigable communication between Gravesend bay and 
other inlets of the sea, on the shore of Long Island. To these suggestions he 
added others, concerning the importance of an uninterrupted navigation of the 
upper waters of the Hudson river, and a road through the southern tier of coun¬ 
ties from tide water to Lake Erie. 
Of this comprehensive plan, the Oswego canal, the Cayuga and Seneca canal, 
the Crooked Lake canal, the Chemung canal, the Chenango canal, and the De¬ 
laware and Hudson canal, are already completed; the Black River canal, the 
Genesee Valley canal, the New-York and Erie railroad, and the Long Island 
railroad, are now in process of construction; while for the Ogdensburgh and 
Lake Champlain railroad, the Connewango canal, the improvement of the north¬ 
ern branches of the Hudson, and the projected continuation of the Chemung 
and Chenango canals, surveys have been made under legislative authority. 
