Our travels today took us to the city of Lockport, NY where we toured the
Erie Canal Locks 34 and 35 and the Lockport Cave. There are actually two locks paired side by side. The oldest had five locks that raised boats 10 feet per lock. They completed in 1825 but were too narrow and took over 8 hours to traverse so the newer and
wider two-lock system was built around 1910. These locks raise boats and barges 25 feet per lock in a matter of minutes. We watched as several boats went through the locks and it was a surprisingly fast and smooth operation.
Then we went on a tour of the
Lockport Cave that started out as a tunnel that parallels the Erie Canal. It was built to flow water through it to power several manufacturing businesses back in the 1800s using the hydraulic power of the water to run its machinery. Our guide explained how the tunnels were blasted out at a rate of about 1 foot per day. It took a long time to complete. Most of the 'blasters' were 10-12 year old boys because they could run from the blast area faster than older men. Talk about child labor laws! ;-) At the end of the tunnel walk, we boarded a small boat for a ride through the flooded part of the tunnel. A very intersting trip indeed.
Our travels today took us to the city of Lockport, NY where we toured the Erie Canal Locks 34 and 35 and the Lockport Cave. There are actually two locks paired side by side. The oldest had five locks that raised boats 10 feet per lock. They completed in 1825 but were too narrow and took over 8 hours to traverse so the newer and
wider two-lock system was built around 1910. These locks raise boats and barges 25 feet per lock in a matter of minutes. We watched as several boats went through the locks and it was a surprisingly fast and smooth operation.
Then we went on a tour of the Lockport Cave that started out as a tunnel that parallels the Erie Canal. It was built to flow water through it to power several manufacturing businesses back in the 1800s using the hydraulic power of the water to run its machinery. Our guide explained how the tunnels were blasted out at a rate of about 1 foot per day. It took a long time to complete. Most of the 'blasters' were 10-12 year old boys because they could run from the blast area faster than older men. Talk about child labor laws! ;-) At the end of the tunnel walk, we boarded a small boat for a ride through the flooded part of the tunnel. A very intersting trip indeed.
2 comments:
Enjoying your Blog!
John,
There you were, knocking around my old stomping grounds where I grew up! I know you enjoyed it, and sure you took in the beautiful scenery in those parts!
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