I'm wondering if the lyrics to this canal song - - particularly in the second verse - - could point to the Black River Canal? It was taken down by NY folklorist Sam Eskin in 1946 from a man named Des Powell who was living at the time in Arizona, and at the bottom of Eskin's notes, he scribbled the words "Black River Canal". O! it's nine miles to my darlin', nine miles to go, Nine miles on the old Rome haul Gee this boat is slow O! if ever I get back to my darlin I ain't gonna leave her no more Gonna Settle down in old Rome town and open up a country story First you pass a foundry and then you pass a mill Then you pass Walt Waterbery's place the other side of the hill Then you pass a graveyard and then a bridge that's low Then it's 9 more miles to my darling O when last I saw my darlin, she was standin in the toll-house door The tears run down her pretty little cheeks and they fell with a splash on the floor O, if ever I get back to my darlin I ain't gonna leave her no more gonna settle down in old Rome town and open up a country store By God and open up a country store.