Canals

The oldest completed canals in the United States are the South Hadley and Montague Canals of Ma achusetts, both undertaken by a company chartered in 1792. They are two and three miles long respectively. pa ing through the rapids at South Hadley and the Montague Falls on the Connecticut River. The Middle sex Canal, connecting Boston harbor with the Merrimac, was completed in 1808. The Erie Canal, largest and most important in this country, connecting the Hudson River at Albany and Troy with Lake Erie at Buffalo, was projected by DeWitt Clinton, and begun in 1817. It was completed in. 1825. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, the outcome of a project for improving navigation on the Potomac River by General Washington, was begun by the Board of Public Works of Virginia in 1820 and completed in 1850, It extends from George town to Cumber land, 184 miles. The Delaware and Hudson Canal, constructed by a company for the transportation of coal, was completed in 1829. It extends from Rondout to Port Jervis, 108 miles. The Schuylkill Coal and Navigation Canal, extending from Mill Creek to Philadelphia, 108 miles, was begun in 1816 and completed in 1825. The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Canal, from Easton to Coal port, was begun in 1821 and completed in 1829. The chief period of canal construction was from about 1820 to about 1840, when railroads began to supplant them. In 1900 there were about 2,500 miles of canals in operation, while about 2,000 miles had been abandoned. For interoceanic canals, see arts. Panama Canal and Nicaragua Canal. Canby, Edward R. 8. (1819-1873), of Kentucky, soldier, served in the Florida War 1839-1842, and received a brevet of lieutenant colonel for services in Mexican War. In 1858 he served in the so-called Mormon War. In 1863 he commanded the United States troops in the New York draft riots; a isted by Farragut’s fleet he captured Mobile in 1865. In 1873 he was treacherously murdered by Modocs while negotiating a treaty of peace. 125