As Governor and Missus Clinton had done, the group traveled from Buffalo, New York to the Hudson River. A man playing the part of De Witt Clinton dropped water from Lake Erie into New York Harbor.

A few days later, citizens voted to take measures to re-develop the canal system. Today, barges still use the system to transport heavy goods. One estimate says the canal system carries more than four hundred thousand tons of goods each year. More than one hundred fifty thousand pleasure boats also use the system each year.

MARIO RITTER: Today, an area called the Canalway National Heritage Corridor contains parts of the Erie Canal of the eighteen hundreds. You can walk, run or ride a bicycle in this area.

You may want to be adventuresome and paddle along in a small boat, like Harpham and Charles. Or, you can take a historic Erie Canal boat trip. Thousands of people do this every year.

The boat moves slowly along the water. You listen to guides tell about the animals and the men who pulled the barges. And, musicians play songs of the days when the Erie Canal was helping a young nation grow.

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BOB DOUGHTY: This program was written by Jerilyn Watson and produced by Mario Ritter. I’m Bob Dougthy.

MARIO RITTER: Join us again next week for EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English.