| Although
Ohio achieved statehood in 1803, 15 years after the first permanent settlement in Marietta
in 1788, it was far from a developed and organized state. There were only 70,000
inhabitants. The population of Ohio increased to over 500,000 from 1810 to 1820 as a
result of the successful conclusion of the War of 1812,
which removed the Indian threat from the
region, but these settlers were spread over a vast wilderness. The young state of Ohio was not only covered by a vast forest, but it was geographically isolated from the developed eastern states by the Appalachian Mountains. The fledgling federal government could offer little help. Its only effort, the building of the National Road (U.S. 40), was built to Wheeling, West Virginia, by 1817, but it would be 1833 before the road was completed to Columbus. To the south, access to markets via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers meant a risky and costly journey of over 1,000 miles. Since New Orleans was the destination of goods from all of the developed areas in the Midwest and western parts of this nation, it was frequently flooded with goods, resulting in unpredictable prices. The idea of a canal linking the Ohio River with Lake Erie was first suggested by George Washington. He outlined the idea in a letter to the Virginia House of Burgesses prior to the Revolutionary War. (What is now Ohio was then a part of Virginia). Ohio's future development was at stake. Clearing the land of huge and dense forests was a daunting task, so the pioneer families tended to produce enough only to sustain themselves. Access to emerging markets needed to be created so that production would be encouraged beyond the level of mere subsistence. Herbert Skinner, in his publication, "Historic Fort Loramie", pointed out the difference the canal would subsequently have for this area's farmers. Hauling charges of $25 per ton by roadway were projected to decrease to $3 on the canal. Corn selling for 12 cents a bushel would fetch 37 cents. Flour bringing 30 cents a barrel in Cincinnati was worth $8 in New York. Transportation was indeed the key! Nearby New York State provided the inspiration. Construction began on the Erie Canal in 1817. This project was designed to connect Lake Erie with the Hudson River and New York City, creating exciting new markets for the citizens of the Empire state. Ohio's leaders must have envisioned similar prospects for Ohioans with a system of canals linking to the New York system and the lucrative eastern markets that lay beyond the Appalachians. [Back] [Next] [Up] [New Search] 'Canal' segment written in December, 1998 by Rich Wallace |