Let me preface this by sincerely thanking Bill Hecht for cleaning up images and documents from the CSNY collection and sending them to my email. That’s how I get much of the raw material for Dispatches.

The Erie Canal, as well as its follow-up iterations, was built, and that changed this country. My go-to book for a thorough discussion of political wrangling leading to the 1825 canal opening is Bond of Union by Gerard Koeppel.

I’m sharing these images and links because other canals and civil engineering mega-projects were planned, would have altered history, but didn’t because they were never built. This is certainly true of the Georgian Bay Ship Canal. I’ve not read it yet, but the book I plan to start with was written by Ray Love.

I drove along this route in 2023, and yet never saw a reference to the plan as I did the trip. Also, since I’m currently working on a cruise ship shuttling between Toronto and Chicago via Cleveland, Detroit, Mackinac and more, the difference this unbuilt canal would have made is palpable.

As detailed as this map is, I wish the comparative profiles section were more legible. The rendering in this link showing a classic laker winding through the cliffs on this northern route begins to suggest how spectacular the scenery would have been. Of course, the time and distance saved would have been significant.

Again, hat tip to Bill for sharing this image.