History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 48

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 48

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

+ Life of Clinton. # March 15.

¿ The French gentleman wna Marc Isambert Brunel ..

# Author of n history of Onondaga County.

181

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

this lovel with Onondaga Lake, thence to the canal fine, and thence working east, laying sections on said lins. This was accomplished, and nine miles were Inid off into sections. Mr. Wright had in the mean time carried a level along the eanal line, and the commissioners remarked that when his level had been carried to the place where Mr. Geddes terminated his line, the levels of these two engineers, which embraced a distance of nearly one hundred miles, differed from each other less than ons ineh nad a half. This result exhibits in the engineers a degree of care, skill, and precision never exceeded.

" The first contract, which was nwarded to Judge John Richardson, of Cayuga, was dated June 27, 1817. The remainder of the middle section was put under contract soon after. The excavation was com- menced et Rome, with appropriate ceremonies, July 4, 1817."

The place selected was a few rods west of the United States Arsenal, and the honor of casting the first earth was given to Hon. Joshua Hathaway .* Isaac Briggs, Esq., an eminent mathematician, who had been employed by the commissioners as an engineer, after procuring the necessary instruments, was directed to operate between Utica and Rome.t

By an act of the Legislature passed June 19, 1812, the commissioners were empowered to purchase the rights, in- terests, and estate of the " Western Inland Lock Navigation Company," and by a law passed April 15, 1817, the Supreme Court was empowered to appoint a commission to appraise its property. In pursuance of this authority, Richard Varick, Nathaniel W. Howell, William W. Woolsey, Obadiah German, and Elisha Jenkins were named as such commission. The amount paid was $152,718.52.

" Governor De Witt Clinton, in his annual message of 1820, reported 94 miles of the middle section, from Utica to the Seneca River, completed, including the lateral canal to Salina."

The entire work was completed from Lake Erie to the Hudson River on the 26th of October, 1825, having oc- cupied eight years, three months, and twenty-two days in building. The total cost, as given in the history of Onondaga County, and including the Champlain Canal, was $8,273,122.66.

According to the "State Gazetteer," published in 1872, the cost of the Erie Canal was $7,143,789.86, and of the Champlain Canal, $875,000.

The first boats used were said to have been those in use on the Mohawk River, with walking-boards for poling. The section from Utica to Montezuma was in use for several years before the other portions.

That portion of the canal between Rome and Utica was in navigable condition in the fall of 1819. On the 21st of October the channel was filled with water from the Oriskany Creek, and on the 22d the first boat made a trip from Rome to Utica. It is described in Dr. Bagg's work as an "elegant boat, constructed to carry passengers, and was called the Chief Engineer,' in compliment to Benjamin Wright. On the 23d, the Governor of the State and the Board of Cominissioners, attended by about seventy ladies and gentlemen of Utica and vicinity, embarked upon it to return to Rome. The embarkation took place amid

the ringing of bells, the roaring of cannon, and the loud acclamations of thousands of spectators."

The following letter, written by a citizen of Utica, ap- peared soon after in the Albany Daily Advertiser :

"The last two days have presented in this village a scene of the liveliest interest, and I consider it among the privileges of my life to have been present to witness it. Oo Friday afternoon I walked to the head of the grand canal, the castern extremity of which reaches to within a very short distance of the village, and from one of the slight and airy bridges which crossed it I had a sight which could not but exhilarate and elevate the mind. The waters were rushing in from the westward, and coming down their untried channel towards the eea. Their course, owing to the absorption of the new banks of the canal, and the distance they had to run from where the stream entered it, was much slower than I had anticipated. They continued gradually to steal along froin bridge to bridge, and at first only spreading over the bed of the canal, imperceptibly rose and washed its eides with. a gentle wnve. It was dark before they reached the eastern extremity, but at sunrise next morning they were on a level two fact and a half deep throughout the whole distance of thirteen miles. The interest manifested by the whole country as this new internal river rolled its first waves through the State cannot be described. You might see the people running across the fields, climbing on trees and fences, and crowding the bank of the canal to gaze upon the welcome sight. A hoat had been prepared at Rome, and ns the waters enme down the canal you might mark their progress hy that of thie new ' Argo,' which floated triumphantly nlong the Hellespont of the West, accompanied by the shouts of the people, and having on her deck a military band. At nine the next morning the bells began a merry peal, and the com- missioners proceeded in carriages from Bagg's Hotel to the place of embarkation. The Governor, accompanied by General Van Rensselaer, Rev. Mr. Stansbury, of Albany, Rev. Mr. Blatchford, of Lansingburg, Judge Miller, of Utien, Mr. Holley, Mr. Seymour, Judge Wright, Colo- Del Lansing, Mr. Childs, Mr. Clark, Mr. Bonner, and a farge company of their friends embarked, and were received with the roll of the drumn and the shouts of a large multitude of spectators. The boat which received them is huilt for passengers, is 61 feet in length, and 7} feet in width, having two rising cahios of 14 feet ench, with a flat deck between them. In forty minutes the company reached Whitesboro', the boat being drawn by a single horee, which walked on the towing- path, attached to a tow-rope about 60 feet long. The horse traveled apparently with the utmost ease. The boat, though literally loaded withi passengers, drew but fourteen inches of water. A military band played patriotic airs. From bridge to bridge, from village to village, the procession was saluted with cannon, and'every hell whose sound could reach the canal swung as with instinctive life as it passed by. At Whitesbaro' a number of ladies embarked, and heightened by their siniles a scene that wanted but this to make it complete."

The following paragraph is from one of the Utica papers of that date :

' "Seldom has there been seen more heartfelt joy than was manifested on this occasion ; and the feelings of those who viewed the departure from Utica of this, the first hoat which the waters of the canal had ever horne, hordered on enthusiasm. All the way to the embankment across the Sanquoit creek many hundreds of spectators followed the boat, and frequently filled the air with their animating cheers. ' At Whitesboro' the arrival was announced hy a national salute, and by the cheers of the people assembled to witness the scene. . After a sail of a little more than four hours the boat arrived at Rome. It re- mained at that place until a quarter past three, when it set out upon its return, and arrived at Utica ten minutes before eight. . This first trial of the canal wns highly gratifying, not only to the commissioners, but to all who beheld it; and if ever deep-felt gladness was exhibited, it was in universal and full display throughout this excursion."

In April, 1820, there was an excursion trip from Utica to Montezuma and return ; and on the 20th of May of the same year two boats, the " Montezuma" and " Chief Engineer," having on board Governor Clinton; the canal commissioners, and a large party from Utica and Whites- boro', made an excursion from Utica to the Seneca River

* The canal originally passed a half-mils south of Rome, but was changed to its present location in 1844.

t Report of Commissioners, 1818.

# State Civil List for 1874.

182

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and return. A procession of the citizens of Utica escorted the distinguished guests to the boats, where the president of the village, Mr. Snyder, made an address to the Gover- nor, who replied on behalf of the commissioners.

On the 1st of June, 1820, " The Erie Canal Navigation Company" announced that the canal was in operation for the accommodation of passengers for a distance of 100 miles. Boats left Utica every Monday and Thursday morning, at nine o'clock, and arrived at Canastota at seven P.M. ; price of passage, including board, four dollars. " A small advance to be made when the toll and lockage are established. For passage apply to Doolittle & Gould, or at the stage-office."

The Fourth of July was celebrated in that year by a great gathering of people along the canal. The " Oneida Chief," from Utica, and the " Montezuma," from Cayuga Lake, met at Syracuse. Among the party from Utica was the Governor. Many other boats were present, crowded with people from every part of the country lying adjacent to the canal. The celebration was held in an open field.

" About two o'clock," says the narrator, "the whole moved, in a novel and imposing style of procession, to Salina ; the side canal le id- ing to that place, one mile and a quarter in length, being covered with nbout twenty honts of various sizes, all thickly crowded with as many passengers as they could contain ; while those who could not thus be accommodated lined the banks, and, with the accompaniment of an excellent band of music, exhibited a spectnele more interesting and impressive than has ever, it is presumed, been exhibited in our country on any occasion whatever."

The canal lengthened apace, and business increased. In April, 1823, the Canal Navigation Company announced that they had put on four new, spacious, and beautiful boats, which were making regular trips between Utica and Rochester. A boat started every day, Sundays excepted, from Utica and Rochester, at six o'clock A.M., and made the passage in forty-eight hours. Post-coaches ran from Rochester to Lewiston, on the Niagara River, where pass- engers arrived after a passage of three duys from Utica. Both boats and coaches conveyed passengers from Utica eastward. " The Western Passage-Boat Company" put in operation a new line during this year, consisting of five packet-boats, which left their termini every evening, and made the trip in forty-five hours. In June, 1823, the canal was opened between Utica and Schenectady, and a line of " elegant packet-boats" was put on, which made the trip in twenty-four hours. On the 8th of October, 1823, the canal was opened from Rochester to Albany, and there was a grand celebration at the latter city in honor of the event. The western portion, from Rochester to Buffalo, was not completed until about two years later.

It was expected that the completion of the canal would prove injurious to the business of the Seneca Turnpike Company; but the result was directly the contrary, for although the heavy freighting business mostly departed to the canal, yet the lighter travel increased to such an extent that the company was able to make surplus dividends, equal to their regular ones before the canal was completed. This was a most remarkable result, when we consider that for a distance of 112 miles the turnpike and canal ran parallel to, and near, each other.

The canal was completed and water let into it at Black Rock, on the 26th of October, 1825. The opening cere-

monies were as grand and impressive as could well be imag- ined. Guns were planted along the canal at the distance of a few miles apart, and fired in rapid succession, thus announcing in the course of a very short time the com- pletion of the great work,-one of the most important aud remarkable, considering the difficulties under which it was constructed by the efforts of a single State, to be found in the history of the world.

A flotilla, carrying Governor Clinton and officers of the State Government, a committee of the Common Council of the city of New York, and a numerous delegation from the towns along the line of the canal, made the passage from Lake Erie to New York City. The grand procession left Buffalo on Wednesday morning, expecting to reach Utica Saturday evening, but unforeseen causes delayed them until Sunday noon. In the afternoon the delegation attended the Presbyterian church.

On Monday morning the excursionists were received at the court-house, in Utica, where Judge Ezekiel Bacon delivered an address to Governor Clinton, to which he replied in a happy and feeling manner. After the cere- monies were over the company re-embarked and proceeded on their voyage, everywhere hailed with the liveliest demon- strations of enthusiasm. At Utica, in the evening, a species of novel fire-works was exhibited, consisting of tar barrels on fire floating on the surface of the canal.

According to Dr. Bagg, the number of boats arriving at Albany in 1823 was 1329; in 1824, 2687 ; in 1825, 3336 ; and in 1826, nearly 7000.

The construction of the lateral canals from time to time has added largely to the growth of business, and, notwith- standing the vast railway competition, the canal still holds its own, and is acknowledged by all to be a great necessity ; and while the immense grain exports of the northwest con- tinue, it must remain a great thoroughfare for the trans- portation of the bulkier articles of merchandise and grain. For names of persons who have filled positions in the canal department from Oneida County, see " Oneida Civil List," Chapter XVII. of this work.

The principal promoters of this great work were Judges James Geddes and Joshua Forman, of Onondaga County, Judge Jonas Platt and Hon. Henry Seymour, of Oneida, and Governor De Witt Clinton, who labored unceasingly through all the long years during which it was in course of construction, and against all opposition, until they be- held their efforts crowned with success, and one of the most remarkable artificial works in the world put into successful operation.

About 35 miles of this canal are in the county of Oneida, and are included in the long level from Utica to Syracuse. A lateral canal was constructed from Higginsville on the Erie Canal to Wood Creek, and thence down that stream by slack-water navigation two and one-fourth miles to Oneida Lake, at a cost of $64,837.68 ; but it was allowed to fall into decay, and is not now in use excepting about one mile of it, running to the stone quarries in the town of Verona .. Its total length including the creek was six miles, and the descent 56 feet. By an act passed May 16, 1867, a new canal was ordered built from Durhamville to Oneida Lake, five and three-tenths miles in length. This

183

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

canal has six locks of the same size as those of the en- larged Erie Canal. The whole cost of the work has been $416,000. This latter work is in Madison County, and follows the left bank of Oneida Creek.

As originally constructed, the Erie Canal was 363 miles in length, 40 feet wide at the top, 28 feet at the bottom, and 4 fect decp. The locks were 90 feet in length and 15 feet wide. The total lockage (rise and fall) was 645} feet.

An enlargement was ordered by an act of May 11, 1835, and the work was commenced in August, 1836, and com- pleted in September, 1862, at a cost of $36,495,535. The length as enlarged is 350} miles. Its average dimensions are 70 feet at the surface, 52} feet at the bottom, and 7 feet deep. The chambers of the enlarged locks are 110 by 18 feet, and their lift from 3 to 15} feet. The total lock- age is 654.8 feet. Capacity of boats, from: 210 to 240 tons. Capacity of boats on the original canal, 70 to 76 tons.

In this connection we introduce a subscription raised in Utica for the construction of a basin at that point, with the subscribers' names attached. The document is from the papers of Hon. Morris S. Miller :

Messrs. Bleeker, Dudley, Miller, and Brinkerboff $4500

Ezekiel Baenn ..

J. H. Ostrom.

Samuel Stocking .. 200

Thomas S. Mitebell.

J. C. & N. Devereux. 200

James Ingalls.

Asahel Savard 300

Thos. F. Field.

Gerrit Smith 500

150

J. P. Balloo.

M. Hunt.

200

Alexander Seymour.

M. Combe.

200

R. R. Lanaing.

Oren Clark

100

Win. Clarke.

Elon Andrews

100

Thos. M. Francis

Moses Bagg.

100

Alfred Burden ..

E. P. Shearoson

Abram Colver

Hugh Williams

Joho A. Russ.

Jonathan Ball

John P_

Jos. S. Porter

Waterman Johnson,

John Williams,

Isane Wilbur.

Geo. J. llopper.

J. 11. Hubbard

$7375

CHENANGO CANAL.

This work, connecting the Erie Canal at Utica with the Susquehanna River at Binghamton, was authorized Feb. 23, 1833, commenced in July, 1834, and finished in October, 1836, at a cost of $2,782,124. It is 97 miles long exclu- sive of 132 miles of feeders, none of which are navigable .* This canal is carried over the high divide between the waters of the Mohawk and those of the Susquehanna, and has 1015.3 feet of lockage up and down. The locks are built of rubble stone, and cost an average of $8000 each. The canal is calculated for boats of from 50 to 70 tons. It is 40 feet wide at the surface, 24 at the bottom, and + feet deep. There are 116 locks, with dimensions of 90 by 15 feet. It is the intention to complete this work to the Penn- sylvania line, and make connections with the canal system of that State. There are about 20 miles of this work in Oneida County, and it passes through the city of Utica and the towns of New Hartford, Kirkland, and Marshall, and across the southeast corner of Augusta. It crosscs Sauquoit Creek near the village of New Hartford, and from the village of Clinton follows the valley of Oriskany Creek to the county line.

BLACK RIVER CANAL AND ERIE CANAL FEEDER.

The first legislative action taken with a view to inaugu- rating this work was an act passed April 22, 1834, author- izing a survey from the Erie Canal, in the village of Rome, to the foot of the IIigh Falls on Black River, in Lewis County. Following this preliminary survey, an act was passed by the Legislature, April 19, 1836, providing for the construction of a canal on the proposed line, with a feeder from the Black River, at Forestport, to the main canal at Boonville. Work was soon afterwards commenced and continued, with various delays, until 1851, when it was put in operation to Port Leyden.

A dam was subsequently constructed at the head of the Long Falls, at Carthage, on Black River, by which naviga- tion for canal-boats and small steamers was secured on that stream a distance of 42 miles, to the foot of the High Falls, where the canal connects. The following is an abstract of the State engineer's report for 1851 :

" This ennal diverges from the Erie Canal at the village of Rome, Oneidn Co., following up the valley of the Mohawk River, and its tributary, the Lansing Kill, to the summit level, a distance of twenty- three miles; thence crossing the dividing ridge between the Mohawk and Black Rivers, about two miles, to the village of Boonville ; thence descending into the valley of Black River, and at the distance of ten and one-third miles entering anid river below the High Falls, in the county of Lewis; thence following the river by slack-water navi- gation, a distance of forty-two and a half miles, to the village of Carthage, in Jefferson County, making the length of the ennal and river nhout seventy-eight miles.

"A navigable feeder of ten miles in length in constructed from the Black River, entering the ennal at the village of Boonville, which is designed for n feeder to the Black River Canal, and also for the Erie Canal. Add to the canal, river, and feeder two miles of navigation on the reservoir above the State dam, making in all ninety miles of navigation.

" From Rome to Boonville, a distance of twenty-five miles, there are seventy locks, overcoming an elevation of 693 feet. From Boon- ville to the High Falls, a distance of ten and one-third miles, there are thirty-nine locks, with a descent of 386 feet.

"On the whole line of ennal, feeder, and river, there are one hun- dred and nine locks, five nqueducts, eleven waste-weirs, eighteen culverts, thirty three road bridges, thirty-six farm bridges, three change and tow-path bridges, two guard-locks, one damn and bulkhead, three dams, thirty-three lock-houses, six stop-gates, two draw-bridges, and the delta-feeder."

The dimensions of this canal originally were, 42 feet on the surface, 26 feet at bottom, and 4 feet deep. The locks were 90 by 15 feet, and admitted boats of 70 tons.

THE OPENING.

1824 ... April 30. 1842 ... April 10. 1860 ... April 25.

1825 ... April 12.

1843 ... May 1. 1861 ... May 1.

1826 ... April 20. 1844 ... April 18.

1862 ... May 1.

1827 ... April 22. 1845 ... April 15. 1863 ... May 10.

1828 ... March 27. 1846 ... April 10. 1864 ... April 30.

1829 ... May 1. 1847 ... May 1. 1865 ... May 1.

1830 ... April 21.

1848 ... May 1.

1866 ... May 1.

1831 ... April 16.

1849 ... May 1.

1867 ... May 4.

1832 .... April 25.

1850 ... April 22.

1868 ... April 23.

1833 ... April 19. 1851 .... April 15.

1869 ... May 6.

1834 ... April 17. 1852 ... April 20. 1870 ... May 10.

1835 ... April 15. 1853 ... April 20.

1871 ... April 24.

1836 ... April 25.

1854 ... May 1. 1872 ... May 13.

1837 ... April 20. 1855 ... April 1. 1873 ... May 15.

1838 ... April 12. 1856 ... April 5. 1874 ... May 5.

1839 ... April 20.

1857 ... April 6. 1875 ... May 18.

1840 ... April 20. 1858 ... April 28.

1876 ... May 4.

1841 ... April 24.

1859 ... April 15.

1877 ... May 8.

1878 ... April 15.

RAILWAYS.

The first railway constructed in the State was between Albany and Schenectady, a distance as given at the time

* State Gazetteer.

Hubbell & Whipple ...

Jaines Dana

W. Williams

184

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

of 17 miles. It was incorporated under the name of the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad Company, April 17, 1826. The road was opened in 1831.

The first railway constructed in Oncida County was kaowa as the Utica and Schenectady Railroad, and, as its name indicated, connected the two cities named. It was 78 miles long, and was opened in 1836 .* The company purchased the old turnpike-road on the north bank of the Mohawk River. It was at first laid with light rails, which were taken up and the track re-laid with heavy rails, ia 1846-49. This section of road was merged in the New York Central Railway in 1853.

The Syracuse and Utica Road was incorporated May 11, 1836, and opened in 1839 from Syracuse to Utica, 53 miles. This line was also merged in the New York Central Railway in 1853.

The New York Central Railroad Company was chartered April 2, 1853. It was formed by the consolidation of the following companies: Albany and Schenectady, Schenectady and Truy, Utica and Schenectady, Mohawk Valley, Syra- cuse and Utica, Rochester aad Syracuse, Rochester, Lock- port and Niagara Falls, Rochester and Buffalo, Buffalo and Lockport, of which the Mohawk Valley and the Syracuse aad Utica direct railroad have never been constructed. The New York Central Road was merged in the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad in 1869. This is the only long line of railway in the Union (and possibly in the world) having four steel tracks. The traffic over it is sim- ply immense. No other lines cross it throughout its whole extent, and its facilities for the transportation of freight and passengers, live-stock, etc., are unsurpassed in any country. It passes through the cities and towns of Utica, Whitestown, Rome, and Verona, ia Oncida County, the total number of miles being not far from thirty.

Black River and Utica Railroad Company was formed Jan. 29, 1853. The road was opened from Utica to Tren- ton on the 1st of Jaanary, 1855. Under an act of March 31, 1860, the holders of mortgage bonds foreclosed, and changed the name of the road to the Utica and Black River Railroad. At this date its capital was fixed at $860,000.

This road connects with Watertown, Sacket's Harbor, Clayton, Morristown, and Ogdensburg, the line having been opened between the two last-mentioned places recently.

Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg .- This road was originally chartered under the name of Watertown and Rome Railroad, April, 1832; revived May 10, 1836, and May 6, 1837; extended May 17, 1845, and again April 28, 1847. Work was commenced at Rome in No- vember, 1848. The road was opened to Pierrepont Manor May 28, 1851; to Watertown, Sept. 24, 1851; to Chau- mont, Nov. 20, 1851 ; and to Cape Vincent in April, 1852. The name was changed to its present one in 1861. The shops of this company were formerly located at Rome, but have recently been removed to Oswego.

Utica, Chenango and Susquehanna Valley Railroad Company .- This company was formed Jan. 11, 1866.

The road extends through the towns of Utica, New Hart- ford, Paris, Marshall, and Sangerfield, in Oneida County, and thence through Madison, Chenango, and a portion of Broome County, to Binghamton, a distance of 95 miles, with a branch to Richfield Springs, in Otsego County, 21 miles. : It is now operated by the Dela ware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company. ..

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 48

Author: Durant, Samuel W Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 920

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920