https://indcanal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IW-VOL-5-NO-3.pdf#page=4
Who knew there was an Indiana Canal Society? Another great find thanks to Google! They have an article which gives a history of the Hydraulic Canal in Madison County as well as information about the older Indiana Central Canal project. Including a cute map circa 1870:
The article includes a report from a field trip they organized to see what remains of the Hydraulic Canal could be found in modern times. They also give some interesting financial details, including how much was spent on the various sections of the older Indiana Central Canal, including the section between Anderson and Alexandria, which was one of the few that was completely or almost completely constructed before the financial collapse.
To keep things straight, the Hydraulic Canal used what was built originally as a feeder canal, supplying water to the Indiana Central Canal. It was never used, even after the local project turned it into the Hydraulic Canal. The Indiana Central Canal main line involved a section based on Killbuck Creek, going north from Anderson, through Moonville, to Alexandria. This section was mostly completed…one of the few…before the project collapsed.
I urge anyone interested in an overview of the Indiana Central Canal to use wikipedia. It turns out the northern terminus of project was the Wabash and Erie Canal, which was completed and profitable for around 40 years before the railroad system became cheaper to use. So not all bad. Just mostly.
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