HISTORY OF THE RISE, PROGRESS AND EXISTING CONDITION OF THE WESTERN CANALS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. FROM SEPTEMBER 1788, TO THE COMPLETION OF THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE GRAND CANAL IN 1819,

Title continued: "TOGETHER WITH THE RISE, PROGRESS AND EXISTING STATE OF MODERN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES, ON THE BERKSHIRE SYSTEM, FROM 1807 TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, JANUARY 10, 1820'. In December 1791, Elkanah Watson proposed to the New York State legislature that natural waterways could be used to create what later became the Erie Canal across New York State, connecting the Hudson River and New York City with the Great Lakes. Later he competed with Dewitt Clinton for the credit for this concept. In 1792, with General Philip Schuyler, Watson formed a company to build locks and canals, starting with the canal at Little Falls, New York, about halfway through the Mohawk Valley where the river had rapids that prevented through traffic. Blue paper covered boards, cloth spine with label. Front hinge is cracked with cover firmly attached. Light foxing throughout. [ (iv) ,210pp (2) ] , Pink endpapers. Portrait frontispiece, engraved title page. Two maps one of which is a fold out. Engraved forms. Single page addendum with additional information attached to the rear endpaper and signed Rebman Co. 1909. New York, Western and Grand Canals; Maps; 8vo; 212 pages. …