So after the Illinois Michigan Canal was completed were did the laborers go? Some apparently used the script they were paid to purchase farm land along the canal. However this does not appear to represent a large number because most did not have a large enough stake to start farming. Some went from canal building to workers in the limestone quarries in Lemont, Joliet and Bridgeport. This was essentially a common labor job. Many gravitated to Chicago and lived in slum areas with others of their ethnicity. Others took jobs working in the coal mines along the canal. Others gravitated to jobs in railroad construction. A sizable group stayed in areas around the canal . They took jobs in canal maintenance. Some worked in the canal boats as deck hands and ultimately captains.
Author: canalman
The Canaller’ s Life
Although the canallers came from many ethnic groups, their life in America shared many similarities. Most of these workers were young single males. Most were uneducated. As a group, they were looked down by American citizens. Irish in particular were resented about their Catholic religion. These workers lived in substandard housing. Some of the housing consisted of wooden dwellings with multiple people in a large room. Tents and shacks were other forms of dwellings For the most part, the housing was separated from the rest of the community usually located near the canal.
The life of the workers was hard. They worked long hours in less than optimal working conditions. Many were working in an almost intoxicated state. This resulted in dehydration and work injuries due to ther less than attentive state. Explosive were used frequently during canal construction. Many of the workers using the explosives were not trained in their use. They took the job because it paid more than a common laborer. As a result of their inexperience,there were many serious and fatal injuries to the explosive workers and the laborers. Workers injured in this way were basically out of luck. The contractors felt that they were under no obligation to compensate the injured workers The legal system backed them up in this regard. These workers had to depend on charity
Added to this was the unsanitary work conditions. Workers were sickened and many died of m infectious diseases. Included in this list were typhoid, cholera, and malaria. Many died due to the lack of health care and the rudimentary state of Medicine at this time. The exact number of deaths is not known due to poor record keeping.
The Irish Canallers
The Irish made up a substantial portion of the canal work force in the United States and Canada in the 18th and 19fh centuries. This was certainly true for the Illinois Michigan canal. The Irish work force while all originally from the same country was not a homogenous group. Intersectional rivalries were not uncommon. These no doubt were traditional and rooted in old feuding. However, this was aggravated by competition of a large labor force for a smaller pool of jobs in the United States and Canada. Probably, the best known rivalry was between the Corkites from southern Ireland and the Fardowners from the north of Ireland. The feuds between these two groups often erupted in serious violence and deaths
The Beginning
After many long years, the Illinois Michigan Canal had its official start on July 4, 1836. The official ground breaking ceremony took place at the Chicago River. The steam boat Chicago transported dignitaries and pleasure seakers from Lake Michigan to the site of the ceremony. The Declaration of Independence was read. Speeches were given by dignitaries. Toasts were made. The ceremonial turning of the sod was done. Absent from this official ceremony were any of the laborers who would perform any of the work on the canal. After the completion of the festivities, the Chicago steamed back to Lake Michigan and was pelted with rocks by a group of Irish workers stationed in a quarry on the bank of the Chicago River. 12 of these workers were ultimately arrested. A definite clear motivation for the attack was never made clear. Perhaps it was due in part to their lack of inclusion in the celebration.
Channahon State Park
Between Morris and Joliet,Illinois,lies Channahon State Park. The name Channahon means joining of the waters and refers to the merging of the Des Plaines, Kankakee, and the DuPage Rivers to form the Illinois River. The state park contains along segment of the Illinois and Michigan Canal where it intersects the DuPage River. There is a dam here. Locks 6 and 7 of the canal were restored by the CCC during the depression. At the lock 6 site, there is a restored lock keeper’s house. The drive is well worth the time.
Canal Construction
The system used in construction of the Illinois Michigan Canal was one developed over the years in the construction of other canals in the United States and Canada.
The overall supervision of the canal was by a board. Beneath the board was a canal engineer. The engineer issued guild lines and inspected the work. The actual work was done by contractors. The individual contractors would bid for work on half mile sections of the canal and work on the locks. Generally, the bid accepted would be the cheapest.
The contractor would be required to purchase a bond assuring the work be done. In addition, the canal commission would hold back a certain percentage of payment to insure completion.
The contractor would hire workers and pay them wages and also provide for shelter and food.
Because of the small profit margin and the uncertainty of payment from the canal commission, many contractors, would fail to complete the work. Their laborers would suffer the most with lack of wages.
Canalers
Canalers was the generic name given to the men who did the bulk of the work on the canals in the 1700 and1800’s. The ethnic make up of these workers changed with time. Early on, they were slaves or indentures servants. With time, the majority were free men. They were low skilled workers. Many were immigrants. Wages were traditionally low. Due to the excess immigrant population,they were at the mercy of their bosses. They could not unionize or strike. Their work day was long. Their housing was substandard. They were not accepted by the local population of the area inwhich they worked.
Early history of the Illinois Valley
The Illinois Valley which is the region through which a large area of the Illinois Michigan Canal traverses has a long history. During the era of the glaciers, the Illinois Valley was the large drainage site for the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. This phenomenon occurred over multiple eras. The indigenous native population inhabited this site for thousands of years. There were a series of multiple tribes in this region. These native populations were predominately hunters. They were familiar with the geography of the area and the waterways. They were familiar with the courses of the Mississippi River, the Illinois River, and the Des Plaines River in their course towards Lake Michigan. This waterway was not complete and required a portage between the Des Plaines River and the Chicago River.
A brief history
The Illinois Michigan Canal was a waterway extending from the south branch of the Chicago River to the Illinois River at LaSalle. Cities and towns along the course of the canal include: Chicago, Willow Springs, Lemont, Romeoville, Lockport, Joliet, Channahan, Aux Sable, Morris, Marseilles, Seneca, Ottawa, Utica, and LaSalle. The length of the canal was approximately 96 miles. There were multiple locks along the course of the canal. There were also aqueducts at aux Sable, Fox River, Little Vermilion River and the Nettle Creek.
After multiple abortive attempts due to financial issues, work on the canal was begun in 1836. Work was completed in 1848.. The long time for construction was due in large part to financial issues with interruption of the work for years. The canal was dug by hand and use of explosives. Canal workers were of multiple nationalities such as Polish, German, and Irish. The bulk of the workers were Irish. Wages were approximately $1 day. Hours were long and work was difficult.
Welcome
I am a I and M canal nut. I have read multiple books on the subject. I have also visited multiple sites along the canal.
I am hoping to spread some of this enthusiasm to other readers.
Each posting will be on a different subject.
raddoc1947 