I watched the History Channel's "Modern Marvels" segment on the Erie Canal
and was somewhat disappointed, not by the scholars that they interviewed
(for they are the best), but for the way it was put together and presented.

The story of canals in New York State is incredibly complex and I
understand that such shows are "dumbed down" to meet the needs of the
audience, rather than scholars who have studied the canal for years, but I
expected more from the producers of the series.  Time and time again the
chronology was twisted, reversed, or even ignored, and too many times I
they teased with interesting statements or scenes only to leave us in the
lurch in anticipation.  At least Heinz delivers.

Cases in point.

Not one mention was made of the precursor engineering accomplishments on
which state politicians and "engineers" cut their teeth and made their
mistakes (and, boy, did they learn their hard lessons and get their
education!)  I would expect that after more than a decade of research that
Phil Lord and the Durham Project's research would have had more of an
impact into the story of the engineering marvels of the canal than to
appear as a few unidentified clips of the replica bateau and a mention of a
barrel of water from the Rome Canal dumped on Clinton's (not Bill) head as
he passed by the original canal site.  The story of the Western Inland Lock
Navigation Company's works would fill more that an entire hour episode, so
maybe they shied away from it, but why ignore it all together.  The time
spent talking about canals in Egypt could have been spent discussing the
history of the early canals in the US.

The obviously had access to the best of the illustrative materials, and
perhaps due to whatever legal restrictions couldn't show some things, but
why couldn't they find at least one map that properly showed the line of
the 19th century Erie Canal??????  Every map of the state illustrating the
location and extent of the canal showed the modern Barge (now being called
Erie) Canal running through Oneida Lake and various rivers as it cut across
the state - in many cases far from the old Erie's course.  And what was
with the section of the Champlain Canal that was shown - there are hundreds
of incredible maps showing the Erie Canal structures - why not throw them
in instead of one of the lateral canals.  The photos were pretty good, and
some of the classics were shown, but there are many that would have done
better.  Also, what was the point of using such a non-descript David Vaughn
drawing to show landscape of New York?  The choice was pretty pointless
considering the many beautiful and revealing scenes that he did create.

One cannot study the canal and be aware of some sort of chronology.
Clinton's Ditch, Enlarged Erie, Barge Canal.  Simple.  How many times did
they talk about the original canal and its wonderful structures and be
showing a Barge Canal lock?  There was very little chronology presented,
except perhaps for a few dates here and there.  Each one of these eras
could be a show of their own, but to slice and dice did none of them justice.

The locks at Lockport - gee, I guess I was wrong to think that HALF OF THEM
STILL EXIST.  As extended description and old plans of the incredible
series of locks was being discussed we saw the 20th century Barge Canal
locks and no mention was ever made that the northern side of the early 19th
century locks were still very much intact and visible.  They did show a
quick snippet of the old locks near the end of the program but I sat in
dire anticipation of proper mention and camera work that could have shown
us what truly is the most amazing part of the whole system.  Some of the
views of existing old locks they did present were impressive, but they left
out many memorable structures such as the Schoharie Aqueduct and other such
wonderful "modern marvels".

While they were happy to show us a map of a segment of the Champlain Canal,
and a charter or similar of the Genesee Valley Canal, there was nary a word
spoken of the vast network of lateral canals that fed the grand Erie and
brought goods from the farthest reaches of the state.

What seems to have happened with this program is that they found themselves
entirely overwhelmed by the subject and under-prepared to carry out the
task that viewers like me had expected of them.  Granted I may know far
more about the canal that most people who watched the program, but this
type of program attracts those that know more than the average joe about
the subject and the producers know that very well.  It does not seem that
they even met the requirements for the most novice viewer, and, in fact, if
they had piqued anyone's interest in the canal they have jumbled up the
story and mixed and matched facts and images (not to mention the good raw
stuff they left out completely), that it  may be that they have given the
first wrong impression.  Programs such as this should present in a manner
which would build towards a better understanding and prove true as one
looks deeper.  What we are left with for the novice is a bunch of
mis-ordered facts and dates which will only confuse them should they follow
through with further study, and a total lack of coherence and down right
ignorance of particular pertinent subject matter for the educated canal
buff who should (presumably) find the program itself nothing but fluff and
fun.

As I have surmised several times, this is a subject that cannot be covered
in an hour, and would best be tackled over several shows which touch on the
many varied chronological and technological aspects of the canal story in
New York State.  I expected more from the show, based on other programs in
the series that I have seen, and I understand the need to address a lay
audience, but I felt that it would not have met the best needs and
interests of the layperson, and it surely did not meet my needs.  I was
left throughout the program with a sense of frustration because they called
me to dinner and then left the meat and potatoes out of the stew.  And like
any Erie Canal buff, I was starving for food for thought.  Pass the Pepto,
please.

        Dan Weiskotten

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