"With that vote the bill became a law."[1]
Preliminary work was immediately begun in the early spring of 1817 at the strategic summit level at Rome by conducting "a careful re-examination of the line of the canal, and of the levels of the preceding year." This reconsideration seemed to indicate that a longer summit level at Rome than the one selected should be made, and Utica was chosen as the eastern extremity of this level rather than Rome. This decision was enforced by the fact that Mohawk navigation above Utica was always more uncertain than at any point below it; if the canal for instance should terminate at the Mohawk because of lack of means, or other cause, it would be advantageous to have its terminus on the Mohawk at a point where navigation was as uniformly reliable as possible. The Western Inland Lock Navigation Company had often found it necessary to make a portage from Utica to Rome, such was the low stage of water in the Mohawk. The summit level chosen,
- ↑ M. S. Hawley, Origin of the Erie Canal, pp. 41–42; Hawley's source of information was Judge Platt, one of the Council.
