thumb|Map of a portion of the canal route in the Cuyahoga Valley
The Ohio and Erie Canal was a canal constructed during the 1820s and early 1830s in Ohio. It connected Akron with the Cuyahoga River near its outlet on Lake Erie in Cleveland, and a few years later, with the Ohio River near Portsmouth. It also had connections to other canal systems in Pennsylvania.
The canal carried freight traffic from 1827 to 1861, when the construction of railroads ended demand. From 1862 to 1913, the canal served as a water source for industries and towns. During 1913, much of the canal system was abandoned after important parts were flooded severely.
Most of the surviving portions in the Akron-Cleveland area are managed by the National Park Service or Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They are used for various recreational purposes by the public, and still provide water for some industries. Parts of the canal are preserved, including the Ohio and Erie Canal Historic District, a National Historic Landmark. Portions further south are less well preserved, and a discontiguous set of locks and other canal resources roughly between Columbus and the Ohio River are listed on the National Register as the Ohio and Erie Canal Southern Descent Historic District.
History
Ohio, which achieved statehood during 1803, remained a sparsely populated region of 50,000 people who were scattered throughout the state and who had no means of transporting goods economically out of the state. Without easy access to distant markets, agriculture served only local needs and large-scale manufacturing was nearly non-existent.
Agitation for a canal system (1787–1822)
As early as 1787, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had discussed the desirability of a canal linking Lake Erie to the Ohio River as part of a national system of canals. It wasn't until 1807 that Ohio's first Senator, Thomas Worthington, offered a resolution in Congress asking Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin to report to the Senate. In 1810, DeWitt Clinton was appointed to manage the Erie Canal Commission. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to get national aid for the construction of a canal connecting Lake Erie to the Hudson River, so he enlisted the aid of state legislators and Ohio's congressional delegation. On January 15, 1812, the Ohio General Assembly passed a resolution expressing its opinion that the connection of the Great Lakes with the Hudson River was a project of "national concern". President Madison was against the proposal, however, and the War of 1812 ended official discussion.
On December 11, 1816, Clinton, by then the Governor of New York, sent a letter to the Ohio Legislature indicating his state's willingness to construct the Erie Canal without national help, and asking the State of Ohio to join the endeavor. On January 9, 1817, the Ohio Legislature directed Ohio's Governor (and former Senator) Thomas Worthington to negotiate a deal with Clinton. Due to the cost, however, the Ohio Legislature dallied, and nothing happened for three years. Finally, in January 1822, the Ohio Legislature passed acts to fund the canal system (and the state's public education obligations).
Survey and design (1822)
On January 31, 1822, the Ohio General Assembly passed a resolution to employ an engineer and appoint commissioners to survey and design the canal system as soon as possible. A sum not to exceed $6,000 was reserved for this purpose.
James Geddes, an engineer who had worked on the New York canals, was hired. Since most of Ohio's population lived along a line from Cleveland to Cincinnati, the main trunk of the canal needed to serve these areas. But no single river followed this line — canals are more cheaply and easily built along river valleys — making it difficult to design a suitable system. Specifically, the bridging of the Scioto and Miami river valleys required raising the canal to such an elevation that water from neither river could be used as a source. As a result, the canal was divided into two sections: the Ohio and Erie Canal, which connected Cleveland to Portsmouth via the Licking Divide and the Scioto River Valley, and the Miami and Erie Canal, which connected Cincinnati to Dayton. This second canal would ultimately be extended to the Maumee River at Toledo.
Copies of the original survey plat maps for the construction of both Ohio canals are available on-line from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Construction (1825–1832)
On February 4, 1825, the Ohio Legislature passed "An Act to provide for the Internal Improvement of the State of Ohio by Navigable Canals". The Canal Commission was authorized to borrow $400,000 during 1825, and not more than $600,000 per year thereafter. The notes issued were to be redeemable between 1850 and 1875.
On July 4, 1825, ground was broken for the canal at Licking Summit near Newark, Ohio.
The canals were specified to have a minimum width of at the top, at the bottom, and a depth of feet minimum. These limits were often exceeded, and indeed it was cheaper to do so in most cases. For example, it might be cheaper to build one embankment and then let the water fill all the way to a hillside parallel, perhaps hundreds of feet away, rather than build two embankments. By damming the rivers, long stretches of slackwater could be created which, with the addition of towpaths, could serve as portions of the canal. Where it made economic sense to do so, such as lock widths or portions of the canal through narrow rock or across aqueducts, the minimum widths were adhered to.
Contracts were let for the following tasks: Grubbing and clearing, Mucking and ditching, Embankment and excavation, Locks and culverts, Puddling, and Protection.
Initially, contractors in general proved to be inexperienced and unreliable. It was common for one job to receive 50 bids, many of them local to where the work was being performed. The chosen contractor, having underbid the contract, often would abscond leaving his labor force unpaid and his contract unfulfilled. This problem was so bad that many laborers refused to perform canal work for fear of not being paid. As the bidding process was improved, and more reliable contractors engaged, the situation improved.
Workers were initially paid $0.30 per day and offered a jigger of whiskey. As work progressed, and where labor was in shortage, workers could make as much as $15 per month. At that time, cash money was scarce in Ohio forcing much bartering. Working on the canal was appealing and attracted many farmers from their land.
On July 3, 1827, the first canal boat on the Ohio and Erie Canal left Akron, traveled through 41 locks and over 3 aqueducts along of canal, to arrive at Cleveland on July 4. While the average speed of may seem slow, canal boats could carry 10 tons of goods and were much more efficient than wagons over rutted trails.
thumb|right|Graph showing the annual expenditures and revenues accrued to the State of Ohio by the Ohio and Erie Canal from 1827 to 1903.
During the next five years, more and more portions of the canal opened, with it finally being completed during 1832:
- 1828 – opens from Akron to Massillon, Ohio. The canal is long.
- 1829 – opens from Massillon to Dover, Ohio. The canal is long.
- 1830 – opens from Dover to Newark, Ohio. The canal is long.
- 1831 – opens from Newark to Chillicothe, Ohio. The canal is long.
During 1832, the Ohio and Erie Canal was completed. The entire canal system was long with 146 lift locks and a rise of . In addition, there were five feeder canals that added and 6 additional locks to the system consisting of:
- Tuscarawas Feeder (3.2 miles)
- Walhonding Feeder (1.3 miles)
- Granville Feeder (6.1 miles)
- Muskinghum Side Cut (2.6 miles)
- Columbus Feeder (11.6 miles)
The canal's lock numbering system was oriented from the Lower Basin, near the southwest corner of the current Exchange and Main streets in Akron. North of the basin is Lock 1 North, and south of the basin is Lock 1 South. At this basin was the joining of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal.
Operation (1833–1913)
thumb|The Columbus Feeder Canal c. 1881–1885
The canals enjoyed a period of prosperity from the 1830s to the early 1860s, with maximum revenue between 1852 and 1855. During the 1840s, Ohio was the third most prosperous state, owing much of that growth to the canal. Immediately after the Civil War, it became apparent that railroads would take the canal's business. From 1861 until 1879, after the canal had been badly flooded,
Notable persons associated with the canal
As a teenager during 1847, James Garfield worked as a "hoggee", driving mules to pull barges along the canal. After repeatedly falling into the canal on the job Garfield became ill and decided to go to college instead.
The canal presently
thumb|Restored canal boat
The Ohio and Erie Canal Historic District, a historic district including part of the canal, was declared a National Historic Landmark during 1966.
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" border="1"
|+ |Ohio and Erie Canal - Connecting canals
! |Coordinates<br/>
! |Elevation<br/>
! |Name<br/>
! |Description<br/>
|-
| |
| |
| |Columbus Feeder
| |Lockbourne, Columbus, Franklin County
|-
| |
| |
| |Granville Feeder
| |Granville, Licking County
|-
| |
| |
| |Hocking Valley
| |Carroll, Lancaster, Fairfield County;<br/>Logan, Hocking County;<br/>Nelsonville, Athens, Athens County
|-
| |
| |
| |Muskingum Side Cut
| |Dresden, Zanesville, Muskingum County;<br/>McConnelsville, Morgan County;<br/>Marietta, Washington County
|-
| |
| |
| |Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal
| |Akron, Summit County;<br/>Kent, Ravenna, Portage County;<br/>Warren, Trumbull County;<br/>Youngstown, Mahoning County; Ohio;<br/>Lawrence; Beaver, Beaver County; Allegheny, Pennsylvania
|-
| |
| |
| | (The northernmost section in Cuyahoga County is still undergoing construction.) There are many connecting trails going to other points of interest throughout their park systems.
<!--
|mark=Red pog.svg
|marksize=8
|position=bottom,left,right,top
In-Oh 01 1ST PM Latitude 40-59-22, Longitude 84-48-11
KY KY Kentucky
OH 35 OHIO RIVER SURVEY
OH 36 BETWEEN THE MIAMIS
OH 37 MUSKINGUM RIVER BASIN
OH 38 OHIO RIVER BASIN
OH 39 1ST SCIOTO RIVER BASE
OH 40 2ND SCIOTO RIVER BASE
OH 41 3RD SCIOTO RIVER BASE
OH 43 TWELVE MILE SQUARE
OH 47 WEST OF GREAT MIAMI
OH 48 US MILITARY SURVEY
OH 91 CT WEST RES-OHIO
OH 92 OHIO CO PUR-OHIO
OH 93 VA MILITARY SURVEY-OHIO
OH OH Ohio
PA PA Pennsylvania
WV WV West Virginia
Ellicot's Line Ohio-Pennsylvania
1st Prinicpal Meridian Indiana-Ohio
-->
<gallery widths="200px" heights="175px">
Image:OhioErieCanalLock.JPG|Restored canal Twelve Mile Lock 38, Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Image:Peninsula Lock.jpg|Peninsula Lock 29,<br/>Peninsula Aqueduct steel trusses<br/>over Cuyahoga River in background.
Image:HAER OHIO,77-PEN.V,6-1.jpg|Deep Lock 28 as it existed in 1985
</gallery>
thumb|459x459px|Drawing of the Ohio Canal System from early to mid 1900s
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" border="1"
|+ |Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail Landmarks
! |Mile<br/>Post<br/><br/>
! |ID<br/>#<br/>
! |Coordinates<br/>
! |Elevation<br/>
! |Name<br/>
! |Type<br/>
! |Municipality<br/>
! |County<br/>
! |Description<br/>
|-
| |0
| |44 North
| |
| |
| |Cuyahoga River Sloop
| |Lock
| |Cleveland
| |Cuyahoga
| |Merwin Street between James street and West street
|-
| |
| |43 North
| |
| |
| |
| |Lock
| |Cleveland
| |Cuyahoga
| |Sherwin Williams, James and West, Merrwin and Vineyard
|-
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |Weigh
| |Lock
| |Cleveland
| |Cuyahoga
| |Seneca a.k.a. West 3rd. street
|-
| |3
| |42 North
| |
| |
| |
| |Lock
| |Cleveland
| |Cuyahoga
| |relocated to 42A,
|-
| |3
| |42A North
| |
| |
| |Weigh and Guard
| |Lock
| |Cleveland
| |Cuyahoga
| |near Grasselli chemical company, Dille street and Independence road
|-
| |5
| |41 North
| |
| |
| |RathBuns
| |Lock
| |
| |Cuyahoga
| |near Austin Powder Works, Harvard Road, near Jennings Road
|-
| |8
| |40 North
| |
| |
| |Willow
| |Lock
| |Cuyahoga Heights
| |Cuyahoga
| |off Canal Road, near I-77
|-
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |Mill Creek
| |Aqueduct
| |Cuyahoga Heights
| |Cuyahoga
| |carries canal over Mill Creek (Cuyahoga River) off Canal Road
|-
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |GNIS
| |
| |
| |GNIS 17 Cleveland South topographic map
|-
| || || || || || Bridge || || Cuyahoga || Rockside Road
|-
| || || || || || TrailHead || || Cuyahoga || CVSR
|-
| |11 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Cuyahoga ||
|-
| |11
| |39 North
| |
| |
| |
| |Lock
| |Independence
| |Cuyahoga
| |
|-
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |Lock
| |Valley View
| |Cuyahoga
| |Canal Visitor Center
|-
| || || || || || || || Cuyahoga County || Tinkers Creek Road
|-
| |13 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Cuyahoga ||
|-
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |Lock
| |
| |Cuyahoga
| |Alexander's Mill
|-
| || || || || || Mill || || Cuyahoga || Alexanders (a.k.a. Wilsons)
|-
| |14 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Cuyahoga ||
|-
| || || || || || Trailhead || || Cuyahoga || Sagamore Road
|-
| |15 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Cuyahoga ||
|-
| |16 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Cuyahoga ||
|-
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |Pinery Dam and Feeder
| |Lock
| |
| |Summit
| |
|-
| || || || || || Bridge || || Summit || SR-82
|-
| 17 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Summit ||
|-
| || || || || || TrailHead || || Summit || Station Road bridge to CVSR-Brecksville
|-
| |19
| |35 North
| |
| |
| |Kettlewell Whiskey
| |Lock
| |
| |Summit
| |
|-
| 18 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Summit ||
|-
| || || || || || Trail || || Summit || Old Carriage
|-
| || || || || || Trail || || Summit || Old Carriage Connector
|-
| 19 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Summit ||
|-
| |20
| |34 North
| |
| |
| |Red
| |Lock
| |
| |Summit
| |Jaite in southwestern Northfield Township
|-
| || || || || || TrailHead || || Red Lock
|-
| || || || || || Bridge || || Summit || Highland Road
|-
| |20 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Summit ||
|-
| |20.5
| |33 North
| |
| |
| |Wallace
| |Lock
| |
| |Summit
| |in Boston Township
|-
| 21 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Summit ||
|-
| |21
| |32 North
| |
| |
| |
| |Lonesome
| |Lock
| |
| |Summit
| |was in Boston Township
|-
| 23 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Summit ||
|-
| |23
| |30 North
| |
| |
| |Peninsula Feeder
| |Lock
| |Peninsula
| |Summit
| |
|-
| || || || || Peninsula || TrailHead || Peninsula || Summit || CVSR
|-
| |23
| |29 North
| |
| |
| |Peninsula
| |Lock
| |Peninsula
| |Summit
| |
|-
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |Peninsula
| |Aqueduct
| |Peninsula
| |Summit
| |carried canal over Cuyahoga River
|-
| || || || || || Bridge || || Summit || SR-303
|-
| 24 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Summit ||
|-
| |25
| |28 North
| |
| |
| |Deep
| |Lock
| |Peninsula
| |Summit
| |at the deepest lock along the canal
|-
| || || || || || TrailHead || || Summit || Deep Lock Quarry
|-
| 25 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Summit ||
|-
| 26 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Summit ||
|-
| |27
| |27 North
| |
| |
| |Johnny Cake
| |Lock
| |
| |Summit
| |
|-
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |Mudcatcher
| |Lock
| |
| |Summit
| |
|-
| |30
| |24 North
| |
| |
| |Niles
| |Lock
| |
| |Summit
| |
|-
| || || || || || Bridge || || Summit || Yellow Creek (Cuyahoga River)
|-
| 30 || || || || || MilePost Marker || || Summit ||
|-
| || || || || || Bridge || || Summit || Bath Road
|-
| || || || || Indian Mound || TrailHead || || Summit || CVSR
|-
| |
| |
| |