The Conewago Canal, on the west bank of the
Susquehanna River below
York Haven, Pennsylvania, south of Harrisburg in York County, enabled late 18th and early 19th century rivercraft to safely bypass rapids at Conewago Falls. Work on the canal of less than began in 1793 and was completed in 1797.
Robert Morris, a Philadelphia financier, organized the project, which was carried out by chief engineer James Brindley, the nephew of a well-known British engineer of the same name. Two lift locks overcame of elevation between the ends of the canal, and a guard lock blocked unwanted water, particularly during floods. Cargo could go upstream as well as down. A boat going upriver could navigate the canal in 37 minutes compared to the whole day it would take 30 or 40 men to pull it upriver along the bank.
York Haven is at .
Despite the canal, flow variations limited the use of the river for shipping to a few months each year. In addition, river boat captains disliked paying the toll required to use the privately owned canal. River arks, a kind of boat less susceptible to damage from rocks in the rapids, made it possible to run the rapids and avoid the toll.
The
Eastern Division of the Pennsylvania Canal, which ran between Columbia and the mouth of the
Juniata River, later bypassed this same section of the river.
History
Because of the state's underlying geology, the Susquehanna River and its tributaries above Conewago Falls were more navigable than the lower river. Upstream,
keelboat
A keelboat is a riverine cargo-capable working boat, or a small- to mid-sized recreational sailing yacht. The boats in the first category have shallow structural keels, and are nearly flat-bottomed and often used leeboards if forced in open w ...
s and
Durham boats could transport cargo on these streams, but the Susquehanna's last or so to the
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the Eastern Shore of Maryland / ...
were fast, shallow, and rocky. Until completion of the Conewago Canal, most boats stopped at
Middletown, unloading cargoes of lumber, wheat, and iron for shipment to Philadelphia over of poor road. Middletown, on the east bank of the river, and
York Haven on the west bank became important flour milling centers because shipping barrels of flour in wagons from the Susquehanna Valley to Philadelphia or Baltimore was less expensive than shipping unmilled loads of wheat. In 1791, the Pennsylvania legislature authorized funds to improve navigation on the Susquehanna River above Columbia to enhance trade to and from Philadelphia. Though privately funded, the Conewago Canal became part of these general plans.
Pennsylvania's plans for east–west trade also included an improved highway, the
Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike
The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike, first used in 1795, is the first long-distance paved road built in the United States, according to engineered plans and specifications. It links Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia at 34th Street, st ...
, of stone and gravel built by a private company in 1794. An extension of from Lancaster to Columbia and the Susquehanna River was added in 1803.
[ ] After 1797, boats could use the Conewago Canal to bypass the rough water and continue to Columbia, where cargoes were unloaded for shipment by wagon. After 1803, improved road went all the way from Columbia to Philadelphia.
See also
*
List of canals in the United States
The following is a list of canals in the United States:
Transportation canals in operation
This list includes active canals and artificial waterways that are maintained for use by boats. While some abandoned canals and drainage canals have stret ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Pennsylvania Canal SocietyAmerican Canal Society
Canals in Pennsylvania
Transportation buildings and structures in York County, Pennsylvania
Canals opened in 1797
1797 establishments in Pennsylvania