Locks and canals at the White River Falls: Historical New Hampshire/ W.R. Waterman.

Title:

Locks and canals at the White River Falls: Historical New Hampshire/ W.R. Waterman.

Author:

Waterman, W.R.

Call Number:

977.8 N5321h

Publication Information:

Concord, NH: New Hampshire Historical Society, 1967.

Physical Description:

p.22-54.

Source:

Concord, New Hampshire: New Hampshire Historical Society, 1967 Vol. 22, Issue 3 (Autumn 1967) Historical New Hampshire

Description:

The Connecticut River was a major route between Wells River, Vermont, and Hartford, Connecticut, until about 1825. In 1792 companies were chartered to improve passage of South Hadley and Bellows Falls with canals and locks. By 1810 the other three obstacles - Miller's, Waterquechee, and Olcott's Falls - were locked. In 1806 Mills Olcott of Hanover started to develop, with a succession of partners, a canal and locks past the ledges above Lebanon. After spending nearly 25 thousand dollars to build them, he opened for business in May 1810. His New Hampshire franchise of 1807 was fortified by an 1808 act requiring timber to be rafted (not sent as marked logs), and with a 10-year tax exemption. In 1810, 113 flatboats paid toll but merchandise went more and more by turnpike, and timber provided most of the revenue. The peak of total freight was 9,149 tons in 1838. Abortive movements of 1825-32 sought both to canalize the Connecticut Valley from Barnet to Northampton and Farmington, and to provide more locks for slack water navigation. The Connecticut River Company tried stern-whelled steamers (1826-32) but the locks were too narrow. The enterprise, although plagued with lumber lobbying and litigation, probably grossed nearly 5,000 dollars a year from 1810 to 1848. Based on Lock Books, Olcott MSS at Dartmouth, and court records.

Subjects:

Inland navigation. , Connecticut River. , Canals.

Organizations:

New Hampshire Historical Society Periodicals History.

Terms of Use:

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Electronic Resources:

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