Livingston Republican
Tuesday, July 3, 1838
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
Junction of the Dansville Branch with the Olean Canal. - The Canal Commissioners met at Mount Morris on Wednesday last to locate the Genesee Valley Canal from that place for the junction of the Dansville Branch. Considerable interest was felt by the friends of the several routes.
The Commissioners decided in favor of the Nunda Valley route in preference to the Portage. The main reason for this location, aw we learn, is, that the great number of locks at Mt. Morris can be dispensed with by taking the canal to Nunda Valley instead of Portage. It was generally supposed, however, that the Portage route would be selected.
Indeed, we fear that by the security of our Mount Morris friends on the subject, the junction of the branch canal has been, or in all probability will be, carried about three miles towards Dansville.
By this location, the great sand hill near Portage is avoided; the ghost of which, it will be recollected, so prodigiously frightened Dr. Cash that he proposed a repeal of the law authorizing the construction of the canal.
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Rochester Daily Advertiser
September 24, 1847
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
A CARD
At a meeting of the passengers on board the Freight Packet Frances, on her first pleasure trip rom Rochester to Dansville and back, Sept. 20th, 1847, D. B. Delano of Cuylerville was carried to the chair, and Benjamin F. Smith of Rochester chosen Secretary.
On motion of H. F. Hatch of Rochester,
Resolved: That the are freight boat Frances equals, if not surpasses in neatness, beauty, convenience, and comfort, any other boat with which we are acquainted on the canal, and that she is highly creditable to Z. H. Benjamin, the builder and R. C. Tifft the painter.
Resolved, That we recommend all persons traveling in that section of the country, to take the new freight packet Frances, feeling assured they will find her as a handsomely furnished boat, and as gentlemanly a commander as ever sailed a floating palace on the water of the Genesee Valley Canal and that we return our sincere thanks and assurances of our best wishes to Capt. T. K. Schuyler and his crew for their gentlemanly and kind attentions to us during our tour to Dansville and back. Also to our Dansville neighbors, and friends of the intermediate places, for their cheerful greetings while entering and leaving their pleasant villages, and also to Mr. Perkins and his jovial company, of Rochester for escorting us with their sweet music, especially the ladies’ favorite, the little singer of the banjo.
Resolved, That the proceedings be published in the Rochester papers.
D. B. Delano, Chairman
Benjamin F. Smith, Secretary
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Rochester Daily Advertiser
September 30, 1847
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
FREIGHT PACKET FRANCES - We saw on Saturday a splendid new packet at Benjamin’s Boat Yard, built by Thomas Pease & Co. to run on the Genesee Valley Canal. The accommodations are ample for passengers, having 80 single berths, well carpeted, with commodious staterooms, etc. The Frances is to be commanded by Capt. T. K. Schuyler, part proprietor. The painting was done by R. C. Tifft. He has recently come to the city and has shown by this specimen of his work, that he deserve a share of public patronage. The boat will be launched this afternoon at 2 o’clock.
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Livingston Union, Mt. Morris, N.Y.
May 10, 1848
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
The boats Caroline, Capt. T. K. Schuyler, and Frances, Capt. William H. Trimble, for a daily line between this village and Rochester. Their captains are too well known to need any recommend from us - the boats are new, and for finish, comfort, neatness, and every thing that makes traveling pleasant, they are not to be excelled by any Packets in the State. They are both fitted expressly for passengers, and will accommodate over 100 with good berths.
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Livingston Republican, Geneseo, N.Y.
June 28, 1848
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
DANSVILLE AND BUFFALO LINE. - The enterprising proprietor of the Genesee Valley Freight and Passenger Packets, has extended the line to Buffalo, one of these new and convenient Packets leaving Dansville for that point daily. The Frances, Capt. Schuyler, left for Buffalo yesterday afternoon; The Empress, Capt. Parkell, takes her departure at 2 o’clock today; the Caroline, Capt. Tremble, leaves on Thursday, and the America, Capt. Sherwood, onFriday at the same hour. Boats for Buffalo every day at 2 o’clock. These Packets are new and commodious, and the Commanders gentlemanly and obliging.
By this arrangement the public along the line of the Genesee Valley Canal will be accommodated in the most convenient style; and more gentlemanly commanders or better boats “ne’er sailed the canal: than these same boats. Giver them a call.
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Rochester Daily Democrat
Friday, June 13, 1851
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
Genesee Valley Canal. - The people of Nunda, Portage, and the northern towns of Allegany county, have for some months been anxiously looking forward to the time for opening another section of the Genesee Valley canal, ad we are informed that their hopes are about to be realized.
It is expected that the section from Shaker Settlement, in Groveland, to oracle, 36 miles in length, will be opened in a very few days - probably the early part of next week. Upon this section are sixty-one locks. There has been some unexpected delay of the work upon the tunnel section in the vicinity of Portage, but it is believed it will soon be in a condition to receive the water.
The tunnel through the mountain, it will be recollected, was abandoned, and a canal has been out upon the side of the mountain. During the “suspension” of the public works, the tunnel was neglected, and by the crumbling of the rocks, was soon filled up.
As soon as this section is in operation, a large amount of freight, principally lumber, will be brought to market. We understand that something like fourteen million feet of pine lumber, two and a half million staves, and a large quantity of shingles, have been deposited upon the banks of the canal in the towns of Belfast and Canada, in anticipation of the opening of this section. It will find a ready sale in this and other markets.
The citizens of that region have contemplated a celebration of the event, to them so important. Should this be determined upon, it is presumed that there would be a large attendance from this city.
The new section of this canal is under charge of Mr. Hammond, who is proving himself an efficient and capable officer.
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Buffalo Courier
Monday, June 23, 1851
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
The Nunda Telegraph says that there are 14,000,000 feet of pine lumber, and 2,000,000 staves waiting for the arrival of boats on the new section of the Genesee Valley Canal between Nunda and Oramel. The water was let into this section of 36 miles in length, on Saturday.
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Havana Journal
Friday, July 4, 1851
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
Genesee Valley Canal. - We learn that the water was let into the Genesee Valley Canal from The Shaker Sedttlement, in Groveland, to Oramel, 36 miles, on Saturday, the 14th inst. The people of Nunda, Portage, and the Northern towns of Allegany county are to be largely benefitted by this new thoroughfare.
Large amounts of lumber, shingles and staves, which had been deposited upon the banks of the Canal in the town of Caneadea and Belfast, in anticipation of the opening of this section, are now being crowded to market. We hope the day is not far distant when the Packet’s bugle will be heard reverberating through the valleys of the Cattaraugus. Already we see in the Allegany papers an advertisement of the “New York and Olean Line” of Canal Boats.
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The Republican Era, Oramel, N.Y.
April 30, 1852
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
The stockholders of the Oramel and Portageville Packet Boat Co. met at Fillmore for the purpose of completing an organization. The Boat Frances, is all painted and furnished ready for use and will be brought into service next week under Capt. D. N. Bacon.
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Nunda Times
May 8, 1852
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
THE PACKET LINE - The stockholders of the Oramel and Portageville Packet Boat Company, we understand, met at Fillmore on Tuesday last, for the purpose of completing an organization. The following gentlemen were chosen officers of the company:
President - Oramel Griffin
Secretary-Treasurer - S. Rail
Directors - J. S. Morgan, T. Bradford, T. Oakes, O.M. Russell, and E. Pond.
We are creditably informed that the company intended to increase their capital stock, and extend their line to this village. We have no doubt that it will prove a profitable investment, and afford great accommodations to the business public.
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Cuba Patriot
April 2, 1860
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
Sued for Trespass. - This past winter parties have been filling the canal near Belfast with logs, in order that they could raft them down to the mills. It is estimated that logs enough to make two million feet of lumber were rolled into the canal. This fact coming to the knowledge of W. A. Kirkpatrick of this village, the Superintendent, he sued two of the parties.
The trial came on last week, and resulted in their being fined. Other parties should take warning, as Mr. Kirkpatrick intends to see that the canal is kept clear of all such obstructions.
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Buffalo Evening Courier & Republic
Feb. 28, 1868
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
(Comment made on condition of the Genesee Valley Canal made by Henry F. Fish at the Canal Convention in Buffalo, Feb. 25, 1868).
“Mr. Fish, of Rochester, alluded to the ruin of the Genesee Valley Canal under the present system. There is not a lock on that canal will hold water, and navigation is almost impossible. Sea weed grows upon the water; the docking timber and bridges are all out of condition.”
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Buffalo Courier
July 16, 1873
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
A break was made in the Genesee Valley Canal about eleven o’clock this morning, at Portage, just north of the Aqueduct. It is seventy-five feet long, forty feet deep and was caused by leakage. About two weeks will be required for repairs.
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Rochester Union
March 23, 1876
The Genesee Valley Canal
Our views are, that if there were any people anywhere who have sufficient interest and confidence in the Genesee Valley canal to justify them in offering to accept its use as a free gift so long as they keep it in navigable condition and give adequate bonds to save the state harmless, in case of casualty, they had better make the offer and the state had better accept it.
It here be not any people ready and willing to do this, then the next best thing the state can do is to get rid of its liability for damages on account of anything the Genesee Valley canal make take into its banks to do by break or otherwise, in the quickest and easiest way possible.
The canal business is a very expensive luxury to the tax-payers of the state, and particularly the Genesee Valley canal business, which has cost the people in disbursements upon it during the past four years - from 1872 to 1875 inclusive - $49,317.33 over and above all receipts from it.
If the people up the valley feel any interest in the disposition the state is to make of the Valley canal, they would do well to organize and bring forward at once some scheme for taking control of it. Perhaps the legislature might, as a matter of economy, be induced to pay them something to take the elephant off its hands.
We have known legislatures to vote away vast sums of money for less purpose, whether considered in the light of honesty or of expediency.
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Nunda News
Saturday, November 3, 1877
(Submitted by Richard Palmer)
Break in the G. V. Canal.
On Saturday morning about 9 o’clock there was a big break in the Genesee Valley Canal, between Nunda and Portage, about one-half mile above what is known as the Strong bridge. Nearly 100 feet in length of embankment went out and it carried the earth some 20 or 25 feet below the canal bottom.
It went out with a rush and came near carrying off Mr. S. B. Warford, who was looking after that section. It is an extensive break and there was some question about its being repaired this fall as navigation is so nearly closed. The canal officials were expected here to look over and determine.
Canal Commissioner Ogden was in town Tuesday, and it was decided to commence repairs at once. It is estimated that will make about ten days as there is a fill of over 300 yards of earth.