New York's part in history . ers along the route, blind totheir own interests, demanded large damages, though theirproperty would be greatly enhanced in value through thebuilding of a canal. Discouragements multiplied. Other projects attractedattention. All the friends of the canal, except DeWitt Clin-ton, gave up in despair. He never lost faith or ceased hisefforts. Even when overthrown politically, he kept on tryingto arouse interest in his canal project and convince capitaliststhat the project was a promising one. In 1816 he wrote:In all human probabilities, before the passing away of thepr
New York's part in history . ers along the route, blind totheir own interests, demanded large damages, though theirproperty would be greatly enhanced in value through thebuilding of a canal. Discouragements multiplied. Other projects attractedattention. All the friends of the canal, except DeWitt Clin-ton, gave up in despair. He never lost faith or ceased hisefforts. Even when overthrown politically, he kept on tryingto arouse interest in his canal project and convince capitaliststhat the project was a promising one. In 1816 he wrote:In all human probabilities, before the passing away of thepresent generation, Buffalo will be the second city of thestate. In 1815 a great meeting of the New York merchants washeld and Clinton was appointed to prepare a memorial topresent to the legislature. In this document he said: If the project of a canal was intended to advance the views ofindividuals, or to foment the divisions of a party; if it promoted theinterests of a few at the expense of the prosperity of the many; if 330. DeWitt Clintun COMMERCIAL SUPREMACY its benefits were limited to place, or fugitive as to duration, thenindeed it might be received with cold indifference, or treated withstem neglect; but the overflowing blessings from this great fountainof public good and national abundance will be as extensive as ourown country, and as durable as time. It may be confidentiallyasserted that this canal, as to the extent of its route, as to the coun-tries which it connects, and as to the consequences which it will pro-duce, is without a parallel in the history of mankind. It remainsfor a free state to create a new era in history and to erect a workmore stupendoixs, more magnificent, and more beneficial than hashitherto been achieved by the human race. ^ In June, 1812, the legislature authorized the Canal Com-mission to borrow money and accept grants of land prepara-tory to beginning the work of constructing the canal, butthe War of 1812 made it impossible to borrow money,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectnewyork, bookyear1915
