Existing comment:
The James River and Kanawha Canal
Conceived by George Washington, the canal eventually stretched 197 miles westward to the town of Buchanan. It was the first major transportation artery for industry and carried water to power mills. Canal boats carried grain, hides, tobacco, wood, iron, and coal from the interior to Richmond where finished goods could be shipped worldwide. Only at mid-century was it eclipsed by the railroads. |