Parallel Challenges Building the New York and Rideau Canals

Comparative analysis of the New York (Erie) Canal and Rideau Canal construction reveals striking parallels in challenges faced by engineers, including natural, technical, social, and managerial hurdles. Despite differing political contexts—New York State's internal improvement project versus Upper Canada's British colonial endeavor—the solutions employed were remarkably similar. This study leverages archival reports from both canal commissions to highlight shared engineering strategies, offering a unique lens on North American canal-building history.

Bujaki, M. L. (2014). Parallel Challenges Building the New York and Rideau Canals. The International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology, 84(1), 30–51. https://doi.org/10.1179/1758120613z.00000000035