Thanks to The Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd. East,
Syracuse, NY 13202 for permission to use this picture
People came from everywhere to load and just to watch the canal. You have to understand these people did not have newspapers to know what was going on in other parts of the country so they went to boat loading places to find out the news.
When farmers grew extra crops, they would load them on the boats where they were shipped to markets to be sold. Before the canal came to Wabash farmers received ten cents per bushel for wheat or forty five cents when it was taken to Michigan City. After the canal came through farmers got one dollar for each bushel so they were getting a lot more money. The cost of the supplies that farmers had to buy went down. First salt cost $10 for a barrel. A few years later it only cost four dollars per barrel because it was easier to ship the supplies.
The canal boats were pulled by horses or mules. A rope would be hooked to the animal. The animal would walk along the side on a path. If you were wondering if the horses or mules just trotted along the sides or if they were ridden, well, the boss of the canal would hire twelve to thirteen year old boys to ride along the side. The boys got paid ten dollars a month.
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