While discussing the Erie Canal on the VA HIST list (Virginia) it was commented that a lot of Irish died while building the canal and that if they had been slaves they would have been taken better care of. Since the canal was built through regions that had pretty much given up the slaves by the time of its conception, and any Irish or foreign-born laborers would have been brought into the work areas My question is: Were there any blacks who worked on the canal in the initial construction or during any subsiquent enlargements? and if so (very likely) were they treated differently than the other laborers? Dan Weiskotten (formerly of Cazenovia, NY, now of Richmond, VA) ________________________________________________ Don't forget to check out DAN WEISKOTTEN'S HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY HOME PAGE at: http://www.erols.com/weiskotten/weiskotten.html Since I'm STILL desperate for work in the Richmond/Penninsula area, take a look at my resume at http://www.erols.com/weiskotten/resume.html or my more detailed CV at http://www.erols.com/weiskotten/dansvita.html also note that I have a new e-mail address: [log in to unmask]