WHM- The Blackstone Canal - Economic Impact

Highway of Commerce: The Blackstone Canal
Industrial Worcester

Quotes related to the Economic Impact

The influence of the Canal, even in prospect, upon business, is extensively felt and acknowledged. Preparations are making to carry on branches of manufactures, which could not be done to profit without the facilities of water transportation. When the Canal shall have gone into actual operation, its effect, combined with the advantages we already possess for manufacturing, will give increased value to, and call into use, the immense water power yet unoccupied in the vicinity, thus adding to our population by giving profitable occupation to thousands, extending and invigorating trade, and securing to the agriculturalist a ready market and a good price for all the surplus products of his lands.

-Massachusetts Spy,
July 26, 1826

There is a prospect of full employment at present of all the boats on the Canal, which have now become considerably numerous. The lading and unlading of boats, the arrival of teams with freight to put on board of them, and the constant passing of trucks [wagons] with goods brought by the boats to be delivered at different points in town, yesterday and the day before, presented scenes of activity and bustle in the vicinity of the head of the Canal which afforded a gratifying contrast with the appearance of the same place four years since when no improvements had been made, and when the land occupied now by the canal and basin was used as a mowing field.

-Massachusetts Spy,
April 25, 1829

Chairs, chairs, everlasting in number, brought into town in large loads from the northern parts of the county, seemed to me to be the principle loading of the boats down the canal.

-John S.C. Knowlton & Clarendon Wheelock,
Carl's Tour in Main Street (1889)

Central Street . . . was the principal road from Main Street to the canal basin and the canal stores that stood around it.

-John S.C. Knowlton and Clarendon Wheelock,
Carl's Tour of Main Street (1889)

April 17, 1829
John W. Capron Esq. Sir, I have seen a letter from yourself to Col. Lincoln giving some account of your nursery of apple trees. Referring to that, I will thank you to send me straight and thrifty trees.
Large Early Bough Apples	4 trees
Large Early Harvest Apples	6 trees
Black July Flowers Apples	4 trees
Sopsavines Apples	6 trees
Seek No Further Apples	4 trees
Roxbury Russett Apples	6 trees
You will oblige me by having the trees property packed and forwarded with a Bill by the first canal boat. SSJr.
April 23, 1829
Stephen Salisbury Esq. Sir, agreeable to your request of the 17th instant, I yesterday put on board of the canal boat Rhode Island, 36 apple trees of the following kind:
Early Bough	4
Yellow Harvest	6
Black July Flowers	4
Sapsavine	4
Roxbury Russetts	3
Gift Sweetings	4
Goodenough	4
Pound Royal	1
Ball	2
Capouns Pleasant	4
We have no quince trees that we can recommend & of course did not send any. Yours respectfully, John W. Capron 34 apple trees = $6.00

- Salisbury Family Papers,
American Antiquarian Society

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