In addition to providing an economic boost by allowing the transport of goods at one-tenth the previous cost in less than half the previous time.
Importance of canals in the American economy.
- The building of canals was contemplated in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to improve inland traffic in North America, which was only possible via routes and coastal navigation.
- With the exception of St. Lawrence, which was navigable up to Montreal, no navigable river system from the East Coast was reaching the far interior, so such canals faced severe restrictions. The inland reach was only a few hundred miles due to the Appalachian Mountains, and navigation was sometimes hampered by rapids or waterfalls (the Fall Line).
- The Lachine Rapids and the Niagara Escarpment prevented access to the Great Lakes, despite the fact that they offered tremendous agricultural potential. Segments between navigable canals required an expensive portage where the cargo was transported by horses.
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