Erie Canal 4.10.13

It has been too long blog readers. I had surgery last week and have endured a week of endless suffrage. However, I'm back! Today in class we broke into groups of thee to discuss both the posistive and negative effects of the canal. With much concideration of the information we found today, I concluded that the Erie Canal was generally a positive step for our country. Geographically speaking, the canal made travel west both easier and quicker, not to mention much cheaper. Towns along the canal grew and good fertile land was being sold and developed. Although it did have negative effect on the surrounding land and caused certain amounts of pollution, the canal caused several geographic improvements. Economically, it made jobs. When people are working the economy thrives. Not to mention the thousands of businesses that flourished due to the canal. Towns along it got revenue from passing travelers and it made for the developement of many new industries such as bridges and tolling. The easier transport of merchandise allowed businesses to thrive, and the entire venture was very profitable for the government. Socially, with the creation of new jobs, many people were able to find work which in turn raised the quality of life for many. Although there was several disadvantages the canal wreaked, such as the spread of disease and undesirables traveling through towns the canal brought great benefit to the people in New York and the county.