re: #274 Timothy Watson

Clinton’s Ditch (DeWitt Clinton, that is).

It was one of the keys to opening up economic development to the West of the original Colonies, turned NYC into the major shipping hub in the country, and transformed how the nation communicates and travels. While it was quickly superseded by railroads, it showed how transportation would go on to shape the development of the nation (it is now operated by the NYS Thruway Authority and nearly all traffic on the canal is for pleasure/personal, not commercial/cargo purposes).

The canal quickly paid back its debt and became a huge revenue generator for NY and the federal government.

The canal also ended up being used as part of the Underground Railroad to help escaping slaves make it to Canada.