(This article is interesting in the fact that it reveals the Genesee River was
being navigated many years prior to existence of the Genesee Valley Canal. If,
indeed, the river was navagible for 80 or 90 miles, it explains the purpose of
the existence of Portageville where boats would have necessarily been carried
around the Genesee Falls.
The Genesee River was but one of many natural streams used
with but few artificial improvements. There was considerable forwarding of flour
by long, shallow draft Durham boats. The primitive land and water systems of the
day were slow, rough going, dangerous and expensive, especially in the low water
times of summer.
In most cases rivers and tributaries in upstate New York were only
navigable during periods of high water resulting from spring run off. Other
rivers besides the Genesee used as trade routes pre-dating the advent of canals
included the Canisteo, Cohocton, Delaware, Mohawk, Oneida, Oswego, Seneca,
Susquehanna, Tioughnioga, and some tributaries such as Tonawanda, Tuscarora and
Wood Creeks. There are also many references to batteaux and similar small boats
(later, steamboats) being employed on the Finger Lakes.
Later, there were efforts to improve the natural waterways,
but with few tangible results. As the country became thickly settled, dams were
built which destroyed the use of them as water highways. In some cases, however,
sluiceways were built to allow the passage of boats. Subsequent canals utilized
some of these old water trade routes.)
Rochester Telegraph,
Dec. 29, 1818
We are indebted to J. Hawley, Esq., collector of the port of
Genesee, for the following statement of exports from this river since the
opening of the navigation last spring.
Flour,
- 25,996 Bbls.
Pot and pearl Ashes,
3,613 do
Pork,
- 1,173 do
Whiskey,
- 191 do
Double butt staves,
214 M.
The whole number of arrivals since last spring at this port
have been 235, the vessels average about 25 to 30 tons burthen.
The above statement, while it presents a most flattering
account of the rapid growth and increasing prosperity of the surrounding
country, shows at the same time that at no distant period, the commerce of the
Genesee must be respectable.
The time has but just passed away when the country where
these products were raised was a wilderness - when the Genesee River was only
known as the dividing line between Ontario and Genesee counties - and even now,
we believe that the knowledge of the advantages which those who live on its
banks possess for commerce, manufacturing and agriculture is limited still to a
very small portion of the country.
Perhaps in no part of the world are finer lands for farming
purposes than lie on this river - and for manufacturing, it is hazarding but
little to say that its advantages are unrivaled. It ought not to be omitted in
this place, that the Genesee River is boatable for 80 or 90 miles above the
falls. Salt to a considerable amount has been transported in boats up the river,
which have bought down in return, flour, potash, lumber, brick, &c.
Boats of 25 tons burthen, well built and covered, ply during
the summer season between this and Gardou, between which and the Allegheny River
is a portage of only 30 miles. This route when the waters of the Allegheny are
high, is perhaps on account of the saving in distance, &c. preferable to any
other for families moving from the eastern to the south western states, and will
doubtless be used for this purpose.
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GjS