. Rise of the new West, 1819-1829. oadsand canals in the nation, that as early as 1808 thefar-sighted Gallatin made his famous report for acomplete national system of roads and canals.^ When New York undertook the Erie Canal in 1817as a state enterprise, and pushed it to such a tri-umphant conclusion that before a decade after itscompletion its tolls repaid the cost of construction,a revolution was effected in transportation. Thecheapness of water carriage not only cornpelled thefreighters on the turnpike roads to lower theircharges, but also soon made it probable that ca-nals would supersede
. Rise of the new West, 1819-1829. oadsand canals in the nation, that as early as 1808 thefar-sighted Gallatin made his famous report for acomplete national system of roads and canals.^ When New York undertook the Erie Canal in 1817as a state enterprise, and pushed it to such a tri-umphant conclusion that before a decade after itscompletion its tolls repaid the cost of construction,a revolution was effected in transportation. Thecheapness of water carriage not only cornpelled thefreighters on the turnpike roads to lower theircharges, but also soon made it probable that ca-nals would supersede land transportation for heavyfreights, and even for passengers. For a time thepower of Pittsburg and the activity of Philadel-phia merchants sustained the importance of thePennsylvania turnpike. Until Great Lake steamnavigation developed and population spread alongthe shore of Lake Erie and canals joined the Ohioand the lakes, the Erie Canal did not reap its harvest• Cf. Hart, Slavery and Abolition {Am. Nation, XVI.), chap. 86^ LoDgitude bd
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