agent_dani: (0)
Sharp Dressed Dyke ([personal profile] agent_dani) wrote in [personal profile] pandop 2006-08-22 05:33 pm (UTC)

I wonder how much time elapsed between the two uses. Many of the canals here fell out of use in the 1800s, and the land was allocated for other purposes.

The stretch of the D&H Canal I mentioned in my LJ is blocked by US Rt. 6 in two spots near that lock and pool. I'd be surprised if much more than 0.25 miles of it still exists there, with US Rt. 6 running over it's path either side of that lock.

The railroads and, in turn, automobiles took over here. With railroads, some of the canal companies became rail companies, e.g. D&H.

In those days, such things were seen to have no value. The unused canals were worthless as such, but often valuable as land for railroads and the like.

Fortunately, some pieces survive, but often more due to luck than anything else.

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