Objective: To examine the major effects of the Erie Canal.
Video: The Erie Canal (4:46)
Erie Canal map c.1840
A man steers two mules pulling a boat along the Erie Canal. In the early
days of the canal this was how all boats traveled through the canal.
How a Lock Works
In the early days of the canal, when horses and mules walked
the towpath, this is how a canal boat passed through a lock.
Animation created by Terry Pepper, courtesy of eriecanal.org
Image courtesy of eriecanal.org
The Erie
Canal
· The Erie
Canal
stretches
from the
Hudson
River to
Lake Erie.
Image courtesy of eriecanal.org
Image courtesy of eriecanal.org
"Map showing Present and Proposed Canal System" -from: Annual report of the State Engineer and
Surveyor of the State of New York, for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1903.
Low Bridge (audio link)
By, Thomas S. Allen
I've got a mule and her name is
Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
She's a good old worker and a
good old pal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
We've hauled some barges in
our day
Filled with lumber, coal, and
hay
And we know every inch of the
way
From Albany to Buffalo
Chorus:
Low bridge, everybody
down
Low bridge for we're
coming to a town
And you'll always know
your neighbor
And you'll always know
your pal
If you've ever navigated on
the Erie Canal
You'd better look round for a job
old gal,
Fifteen miles on the Erie canal,
Cause you bet your life I’d
never part with Sal,
Fifteen miles on the Erie canal,
Giddap 'there mule here comes a
lock,
We'll make Rome about six
o'clock,
One more trip then back we'll
go,
Right back home to Buffalo
Chorus:
Low bridge, everybody
down
Low bridge for we're
coming to a town
And you'll always know
your neighbor
And you'll always know
your pal
If you've ever navigated on
the Erie Canal
Where would I be if I lost my
pal?
Fifteen miles on the Erie canal.
I'd like to see a mule half as
good as Sal,
Fifteen miles on the Erie canal,
A friend of mine once got her
sore,
Now he's got a broken jaw,
'Cause she let fly with her iron
toe,
And kicked him on to Buffalo
Chorus:
Low bridge, everybody
down
Low bridge for we're
coming to a town
And you'll always know
your neighbor
And you'll always know
your pal
If you've ever navigated on
the Erie Canal
Benefits of the Erie Canal
1 – It reduced travel time for shipping.
2 – It lowered the costs of shipping goods.
3 – New York City became a center of commerce.
4 – The economy of towns along the canal grew.
* The success of the Erie Canal prompted other states to build
canals.
Building the Erie Canal (2:39)