ABSTRACT
WHEN, at the close of the War of 1812, the nation turned enthusiastically to developing more effective means of internal transportation, attention was directed to canals as well as to turnpikes. Though ambitious schemes for extensive artificial waterways, including canals across the Appalachian barrier, had long been urged, actual building had advanced so slowly that by 1816 only about 100 miles of canal had been constructed in the United States. Only three canals in operation at this time were more than 2 miles long. The longest (27.25 miles) was the Middlesex, which by tapping the Merrimack River brought the products of New Hampshire to Boston Harbor. The Santee and Cooper Canal in South Carolina gave Charleston access to the commerce of the Santee River. Finally, the Dismal Swamp Canal provided for passage of small boats between Norfolk and Albemarle Sound.
