Mcgill-queen's University Press
This Great National Object
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About this book
In This Great National Object, Roberta Styran and Robert Taylor - the unparalleled experts on the subject - recount the story of the canals, with particular emphasis on the experiences of the engineers, contractors, and labourers who built the inland waterways between 1824 and 1889.
Making extensive use of the National Archives and the Archives of Ontario, Styran and Taylor unveil previously unpublished information about the construction of the canals, including technical plans and drawings from a wide variety of sources. They illustrate the technical and management intricacies of building a navigational trade and commerce lifeline while also revealing the vivid characters - from businessman William Hamilton Merritt to engineer John Page - who inspired the project and drove it to completion.
The history of the Welland Canals is a gripping tale of epic proportions. Given the ongoing importance of the Great Lakes in the North American economy, interest in the St. Lawrence Seaway - of which the Welland is "the Great Swivel Link" - and the relevance of labour history, This Great National Object will be of interest to enthusiasts and historians alike.
Author / Editor information
Topics
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Front Matter
i -
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Contents
v -
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List of Illustrations
vii -
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Introduction
xi -
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Acknowledgments
xxv -
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This Great National Object
3 -
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Choosing the Route
49 -
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Surveyors, Engineers, and Contractors
76 -
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Digging the Ditch
120 -
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Creating the Lifts
158 -
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Managing the Water
195 -
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Building Bridges
224 -
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Community Relations
244 -
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Working on the Welland
264 -
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Conflict and Survival on the Ground
289 -
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Into the Future
318 -
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Abbreviations
321 -
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Notes
323 -
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Glossary
365 -
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Bibliography
369 -
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Index
379
