THE

INTRODUCTION

'HE present volume is the outgrowth of a study which Henry W. Hill undertook to contribute to a collection of papers, to be prepared for the Buffalo Historical Society, dealing with various phases of the history of New York State waterways. As he became engrossed in the subject, Senator Hill was led to extend the scope of his work, until he had finally accomplished a comprehensive survey of the whole history of the State canals.

Nothing of the character of the present work has before been written. Narratives there are, it is true, of some phases of our canal history, especially of the original construction of the Erie canal. While the present work has been in preparation, two noteworthy contributions to canal literature have been published: Noble A. Whitford's "History of the Canal System of the State of New York," etc., issued in 1906 as a supplement to the annual report of the State Engineer; and A. Barton Hepburn's "Artificial Waterways and Commercial Development," etc. (N. Y. 1909.) Valuable as are both of these works, neither of them performs the particular service which Senator Hill has accomplished. He has written, not merely a history of the State canals, but a history from the viewpoint of a legislator who has been largely instrumental in bringing about the results which he chronicles.

Before entering upon his long career in the State Legislature, Mr. Hill was elected a delegate from the 31st Senate district to the New York Constitutional convention of 1894. In the deliberations of that body, which gave to the State its present revised Constitution, Mr. Hill bore an active part, especially as a member of the committees on suffrage, education and civil service. His most notable work, however, was his advocacy of the enlargement of the Erie, Champlain and Oswego canals. Of that phase of his labors, Charles Z. Lincoln, in his "Constitutional History of New York," says:

"The most elaborate and comprehensive speech on canals in the convention was delivered by Henry W. Hill of Buffalo. Mr. Hill had given the subject long, patient, and thorough study, and had, apparently, examined it from every point of view. The speech is replete with historical information, and with valuable statistics

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showing the development of the canal policy in almost every age and country. It contained a general argument in favor of canal improvement, and of such constitutional changes as would readily permit this improvement; and he fortified his argument by numerous facts, figures and historical references to show the value and importance of the canal as a factor in the development of the State, and of its probable continued usefulness if a liberal policy should be adopted. The student of the economic relations of canals will find here the whole subject so carefully considered and so clearly arranged that little need be sought elsewhere. Mr. Hill thought it would be unwise to attempt the construction of a ship canal across the State. He said New York had taken her place at the head of the list of states as a consequence of the construction of our canals, and whether she could retain that position would depend on her attitude toward her great waterways. He urged the preservation and enlargement of the canals, both as a check on railroad charges, and as an important feature of our commercial prosperity; saying that "we ought to remove the present constitutional limitations prohibiting the creation of a debt for their improvement, and provide at once for such improvement."

Mr. Hill's speeches and continued efforts in the convention were largely instrumental in bringing about the adoption of section 10 of article 7 of the Constitution, which was in part formulated by him, authorizing the improvement of the canals “in such manner as the Legislature shall provide by law" and for the raising of funds therefor.

His participation in the Constitutional convention of 1894 was Mr. Hill's first public service in this State. It won him wide recognition as an advocate of canal improvement. That recognition has steadily grown, throughout his subsequent service in the Legislature. He was for five successive terms, 1896 to 1900, a member of the Assembly, and since 1900 has been without interruption and still is a member of the Senate from the 48th district. His is one of the longest terms of unbroken legislative membership in the records of the State.

Known as a "canal champion" when he entered the Legislature, he has never ceased to be one, both in that body, and before the people of the State. In the following pages he shows the part he has borne in establishing and furthering New York's present canal policy; but he has frequently minimized and passed lightly over his own share in debates, etc., while conscientiously recognizing the efforts of his associates. He had personal supervision in the Assembly of the barge canal survey bill. In the Senate, he ably supported the canal referendum bill of 1903, introduced by his colleague, Senator George A. Davis; and was one of its most active and efficient advo

cates before the people, to the very eve of the November election of that year. It was the most gigantic bonding proposition ever submitted to the voters of any State. No one did more than Senator Hill to arouse a sentiment favorable to the measure.

He introduced and secured the enactment of the ninety-nine million dollar canal bonding law of 1906. In 1902 he had formulated a proposed new amendment to article 7 of the Constitution, known as section II, providing for the application of the surplus moneys in the treasury to the liquidation of the bonded indebtedness of the State. This amendment passed the Legislature of 1902 and 1903, and was approved by popular vote in 1905. In 1903 he drafted and introduced a proposed amendment to section 4 of article 7 of the Constitution, extending the bonded period from 18 to 50 years, which passed the Legislature in 1903 and 1905, and was approved by popular vote in the latter year, as was also an amendment which he formulated to section 2 of article 6 of the Constitution.

It is not the present purpose to touch upon the many services of Senator Hill, rendered to his constituency and to the commonwealth; but chiefly to recognize his peculiar fitness as historian of the canals; especially of the latest phase of canal policy to which New York State is now pledged.

That Senator Hill writes as an ardent advocate of that policy, and a thorough believer in its wisdom, is apparent on a perusal of his pages; but no reader is likely to accuse him of unfairness in his presentation of facts. He has been at pains to give due recognition to the opposition to the barge canal measures, whether that opposition was expressed in the Legislature, by citizens who may or may not have been influenced by railroad or other interests supposedly hostile to the canals, or by the press. Indeed, this impartial record of the anti-canal forces and methods employed in the memorable campaign of 1903, is one of the features which gives to the present chronicle a peculiar value.

In undertaking the present work, as a contribution to the Publications of the Buffalo Historical Society, Senator Hill at first planned merely a short paper which, with contributions from other pens, was to make up a volume devoted to various phases of the history of canals and waterway improvement in New York State. The subject was not lacking in aspects of local importance; indeed, it would be difficult to find a phase of our history more vital to Western New York and Buffalo. It had, moreover, timeliness, inasmuch as the construction of the barge canal, and the various engineering, industrial and financial problems arising in connection with it, were more and more enlisting the keen interest of the public. As

the author progressed with his work, his desire for thoroughness led him far beyond the bounds originally proposed. Some delay was consequent; but the result is a full presentation of a chapter of New York State history-the story of the barge canals-not elsewhere written; and although it is here written for the first time, the present volume is likely to stand as the definitive history of the subject.

Appended to the principal narrative in this volume, are two of Senator Hill's canal speeches. For years he has been indefatigable both as a speaker and writer on this subject, one noteworthy paper from his pen being the article on "Waterways of the United States," in the "Encyclopædia Americana," prepared at the request of the publishers when Mr. Hill was chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Navigation.

Certain topics related to the general history of New York State waterways, as for instance, the use of steam on the canals, are deferred for separate treatment, probably in the next volume of our series.

On pages 47 to 72 of the present volume, Senator Hill has given some account of the early lock navigation undertakings. In this connection it may be noted that among the unpublished Schuyler manuscripts in the Lenox Library, New York, are preserved correspondence, accounts and other papers which throw some light on the operations of those companies. Papers noted in the collection include a list of stockholders of the Western Inland Navigation Company; report of a survey for the canal at Whitehall; terms for digging, etc.; and letters to Gen. Schuyler, 1792-93, from Barent Bleeker, treasurer of the Northern Inland Lock Navigation Company; Tobias R. Schuyler, William Weston, George Scriba, Reuben Schuyler, Gerard Walton, Horace Seymour, Peter Colt, Tench Coxe, Simeon De Witt, John Porteous, Paul Busti and others. There is a letter from Gen. Schuyler to Gov. Thomas Chittenden of Vermont relative to "opening a canal and lock navigation from the tide of Hudson's river to Lake Champlain," which was laid before the General Assembly, October, 1793, and referred to a committee which recommended the purchase of twenty shares in the company. Other letters from Gen. Schuyler are to David Rittenhouse, Tench Coxe (Apr. 3, 1793), and other engineers and practical men of the time. There are Gen. Schuyler's directions as to keeping construction accounts; field-books of various surveys, including one of the canal and dykes at the falls of the Mohawk (Little Falls), probably made in 1792; a letter from Paul Busti of the Holland Land Company to the president and directors of the Western Inland Lake Navigation Company; and among many papers of value in this connection—a

document giving the state of transportation from Montreal to Kingston in 1796. The correspondence runs from Jan. 25, 1792, to Oct. 8, 1803, and the collection includes 743 items. Ten letters of the original collection, marked in the card catalogue of the library, as "retained by Miss Schuyler," are from Gen. Philip Schuyler to William Weston, John Porteous, Mr. Philip Schuyler and others, Jan. 16, 1792, to May 8, 1793. In this connection may be mentioned a letter published in the New York Journal and Patriotic Register, July 24, 1793, signed "Marcellus" (supposed to be Chancellor Robert R. Livingston) in which a bitter attack was made on Gen. Schuyler, holding him accountable for alleged evils in connection with the Northern and Western companies,

Reference has been made (pp. 67-69) to the report on Roads and Canals made by Albert Gallatin as Secretary of the Treasury, April 4, 1808, and communicated to the Senate, of which George Clinton was at that time presiding officer. It is probably the most comprehensive survey of the state of the roads and canals of the United States at that time that has been made. As printed in American State Papers, "Miscellaneous, Volume I," published in Washington in 1834, it fills 197 folio pages.

Secretary Gallatin reviews the status of all canals under construction and of many roads under construction and projected. A most valuable feature of this report is the collection of letters and documents appended to it. These include (1) a letter from Thomas Eddy to Samuel Osgood, dated New York, October 29, 1807, setting forth the plans and operations of the Northern Inland Lock Navigation Company; (2) the detailed examination which was made under the direction of the Northern Company, of the Hudson river. This report is dated Albany, October 30, 1792; (3) letter from Thomas Eddy to Samuel Osgood, dated New York, October 29, 1807, reviewing the early operations of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company. Appended to this letter are the first and second reports of that company; (4) the Act of the New York Legislature passed March 30, 1792, for establishing and opening lock navigation in the State; (5) the amendment to that Act, passed December 22, 1792; (6) a further amendment to the law relative to lock navigation passed March 9, 1793; (7) a letter from Daniel Penfield to Samuel Osgood, dated New York, January 19, 1808, stating the result of surveys and examinations along the Niagara river from Fort Schlosser to the Devil's Hole, with a view of constructing a canal around the falls.

Of these documents, the first annual report of the Inland Lock Navigation Company, in 1796, and the accompanying data compiled