[Homer_J_Simpson]

[Continued from January 27 (reply #10.)]

January 28. Mr. Ruggles came in this evening delighted with the effect his final report as Commissioner is producing among the anti-canal enlargement people – The Constipation Party.* Finding its facts and logic troublesome, they are attacking it as coming in too late, that is, after the expiration of his official term (the only period for a final report, one would think), and because he had thoughtlessly put “Canal Commissioner” after his signature, though describing himself as “late Commissioner” in the body of the report.

* Since his appointment to the Erie Canal Board in the summer of 1858, Ruggles, who was chosen president, had been active in promoting the interests of the great artery. The report here mentioned was the Annual Report of the Board for the year 1858; a document which argued the immense value of the canal in spite of the growing traffic of the railroads. The use of the canal was indeed soon to increase tremendously.

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas

[colorado tanker]

That Lincoln fella out West seemed to appreciate the potential of those newfangled railroads . . .

[BroJoeK]

Strong: " Mr. Ruggles came in this evening delighted with the effect his final report as Commissioner is producing among the anti-canal enlargement people – The Constipation Party.**…

** Since his appointment to the Erie Canal Board in the summer of 1858, Ruggles, who was chosen president, had been active in promoting the interests of the great artery.
The report here mentioned was the Annual Report of the Board for the year 1858; a document which argued the immense value of the canal in spite of the growing traffic of the railroads.
The use of the canal was indeed soon to increase tremendously."

Really? Seriously?

I am sad to report that said "Constipation Party" has now ruled in New York for over 60 years, preventing the Erie Canal's expansion to compete with the St. Lawrence Seaway.
The St. Lawrence handles over 200 million tons of cargo per year, much of which would use the Erie Canal, if possible, and thus partly restore Buffalo to its former glory as "Queen City of the Lakes".