e-Books on Canals & Navigations
ACS has learned that several books about canals and navigations that are either out of print or never printed are available on the internet as pdf downloads. While these downloads may take some time due to the size of the files, they do offer a way to get the book and without any cost. So far, the list is as follows:
Kentucky River
In the book, "The Falls City Engineers," by Leland Johnson, a district history published by the Louisville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is a forty page Appendix "Up River to the Three Forks: Kentucky River Project Construction, 1836 - 1917". This Appendix is available as an pdf download at http://www.nandwphoto.com
In 1999, Leland Johnson and Charles Parrish had a longer history of the Kentucky River navigation, "Kentucky River Development: The Commonwealth's Waterway," published also by the Louisville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This out of print book is also available as an pdf download at http://www.nandwphoto.com . However, the download is only 233 pages and at last check was missing 13 pages in the middle. There should be 246 pages in the file. Steps are being made to correct this problem.
Cumberland River
On the web site of the Nashville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is an 84 page pdf download "Subduing the Cumberland: A History of the 'Old' Locks and Dams on the Cumberland River". This is an unpublished work, but can be download at http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/history/the_old_locks.htm . I found that this site is not available outside of normal business hours.
New Orleans District
On the web site of the New Orleans District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a page on history which mainly features the book Land's End A History of the of the New Orleans District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and its Life Long Battle with the Lower Mississippi and other Rivers Wending their Way to the Sea, 1975, by Albert E. Cowdrey. While the book can be acquired in hard cover from the district, pdf files of the pages and maps are also listed on the page. http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/pao/history/LandsEnd.htm
New York Canals
Early in the 20th Century, the state engineer's office of New York published two studies by Noble Whitford. The first is a study in two volumes of the history of the state's canals plus the history of other canals. This was in preparation for legislation for the Barge Canal project. The second is the history of the Barge Canal.
The first volume of the first work is written history. The second volume is mostly tables.
Recently, the University of Rochester has made the first volume of the first work and the entire second work available on line. These are:
OF NEW YORK STATE BY NOBLE E. WHITFORD, 1921Clicking on the titles above will link to the works.
Sandy & Beaver Canal
The book, The Sandy & Beaver Canal, by Max Gard and William Vodrey, Jr., is available on CD from the Sandy & Beaver Canal Association for $ 17 (including postage) from John Horn, 1310 Fairview Avenue, Salem, Ohio 44460
St. Paul District
On the web site of the St. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a section on history which includes downloadable files of the original history: Creativity, Conflict & Controversy by Raymond H. Merritt and a later update, Steward of Headwaters: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, 1975-2000, by Theodore Catton and Matthew C. Godfrey. These files can be downloaded from http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/history/default.asp?pageid=1170 (Added 11/15/07)
Home President's Letter Membership World Canals Conference Information Sheets Canal Links
Hall of Fame Canal Guides Sales Canal Boats Officers Progress Structures AC Index
Revised 6/27/08