The Great American Canals (Volume 2, The Erie Canal)

"The Great American Canals (Volume 2, The Erie Canal)" by Archer Butler Hulbert is a historical work that recounts the story of the Erie Canal, from its initial planning to its construction and the profound influence it had on American trade and movement. The book probably looks at how the canal joined the East Coast with the developing West, and its importance to American infrastructure history. Early on, the text spells out the main topics it will explore about the Erie Canal. The text introduces us to the Mohawk Valley's history as a key path before the canal, discussing how Indigenous people and Europeans used the land. Hulbert draws attention to the difficulties in shipping goods, like the Cohoes Falls that blocked boats on the Mohawk River. It shares the early supporters' visions for the canal, establishing the background for its rise as a key American waterway.