The Chenango Canal

The Chenango Canal

by Marjorie Bingham

Norwich Sun, March 14, 1931

The antiquity of canals is very great, dating back as far as six hundred years before the Christian era.  However, the history of American canal navigation does not extend very far back.   The Erie canal was the first work of importance completed and soon after work was undertaken, the citizens of Chenango valley suggested expedients for forming a canal junction with the Erie.

In November 1823, ten years before its construction was authorized the following reference to it appeared in the Oxford Gazette:

"Few counties can approach the Erie canal with so much ease and facility as Chenango, that are situated so far from it. We may therefore justly consider Chenango as destined, at some future period, to become an important branch of that vast inland navigation which secures to New York a proud pre-eminence among states of the union.  The Chenango river can be made boatable to its source, and by a short canal, the expense of which would be comparatively trifling, may be united with the waters of the Oneida creek, which leads directly to the Erie canal.  This has been pronounced by competent judges practicable and safe:  and at no distant day will engage the attention of our enterprising citizens."

In 1824, John F. Hubbard, member of the assembly from Chenango, presented a petition to the legislature setting forth the views and wishes of the community.  The committee to whom it was referred made a favorable report, but it was not acted upon.

In 1825, a survey was made by direction of the legislature, and the following year a bill for the construction of the canal was introduced but the legislature fearing the survey had not been made with sufficient accuracy, rejected it.

In 1826, the residents of Chenango valley at their own expense employed an engineer from Utica to survey a route through the valley connecting with the Erie, and to make an estimate of the cost of its construction, but he was suddenly taken ill at Norwich and died before the survey was completed.

In 1827 a bill passed the assembly, but was rejected by the senate.  During the summer of that year the citizens at great expense procured another survey.  In 1828 a bill for its construction was again passed by the assembly and was a second time rejected by the senate.

In 1829 an act was passed by the legislature authorizing the canal commission to survey the route and commence work upon it, if upon examination it was certain that there was an adequate supply of water; that the cost of construction would not exceed one million dollars; and that when completed it would produce to the state in connection with the increased tolls on the Erie canal, for the first ten years after it construction, tolls equaling in amount the interest on its cost together with the cost of repairs and the expense of attendance.

January 21, 1830 the commission made an elaborate but adverse report, which states that an adequate supply of water might be procured by a resort of reservoirs for the summit level, without taking any of the waters of Oriskany and Sauquoit creeks; that the cost would exceed one million dollars and that it would not produce tolls equal to the interest of its cost and the expense of repairs and superintendence, or of either of them.

During the four succeeding years of legislative inactivity Hon. John F. Hubbard did not allow the project to lose interest, but composed every argument in favor of the immediate construction of the canal.  On Feb. 23, 1833 the legislature authorized the construction of a canal from Utica to Binghamton.  Work was commenced in July 1834 and was completed October, 1836.

Various history books on Chenango county differ as to the actual cost of construction but a statement was made in "Messages from the Governor," by William l. Marcy, to the fact that Chenango canal cost about $2,250,000.  Smith's history of Chenango county stated that the engineers estimate was $1,960,450, and that of the contractors was $1,859,849.

"It is true the cost of the canal almost doubled the original estimates, but what of that?" Hiram C. Clark said, "In the end it has enriched all southern New York and given an impetus to enterprise in the Chenango valley, which would never have been attained without it.  The canal undertakings in the state, begun by Clinton, were the forerunners of the steamboats and railroads on this continent. The general utility or public expediency of works of internal improvement are not to be determined wholly by the amount of annual tolls they will yield, but it is necessary to look at the indirect advantages, such as increased value of land, the increased profits of other work connected with or affected by the ones proposed."

The canal was 97 miles long, 40 feet wide at the top and 28 at the bottom and was 4 feet deep.  There were 114 locks, each 90 by 15 feet.  There was 1,015 1-3 feet of lockage.  The greatest lift was 13 feet and the lowest was 5 feet.  It was supplied by the Chenango river and six reservoirs, Madison brook, Woodman's pond, Leland's pond, Bradley's brook, Hatch's lake, and Eaton brook reservoir.

Both the commencement and the completion of this great work occasioned rejoicing along its route and was the subject of elaborate celebrations.  For years it continued to be a great convenience to the section, but the revenues failed to meet the rising expense and it soon became a leech upon the public treasury.

Toll charges from 1833 to 1858 averaged from $940 to $21,444 per year.  The gross amount of income for tolls and other sources for the year ending the 30th of September 1876 was:  Gross income $3,717.38 and deficiencies $4,602.03.  The year had been one of disaster to the boatmen and to all others engaged in the navigation of canals.  In addition to the great depression in every branch of labor, there was a great amount of competition between railroad lines which directed trade from the canals.  It was soon abandoned after forty years of service.

The report of the commissioner on lateral canals was presented to the assembly on the 19th of January 1877 and the commission recommended the sale or other deposition of the Chenango canal.