How to Use the Images

Table of
Contents

Diagram 1: A cross section of the
Ohio & Erie Canal.

Diagram 1 illustrates the required canal specifications for the depth of the river and the canal bed at both the river bottom and the surface.

Diagram 2: Parts of a lock gate.

Diagram 2: The balance beam (A) opened or closed the main gate; the sluice gate (B) and its control (C) permitted water to flow slowly into or out of a lock so a boat could be raised or lowered to the level of the water outside the exit gate; and the mitre sill (D), against which the gate was locked and sealed.

Photo 1: Peninsula lock, mid-to-late 19th century.

Questions for Diagrams 1 & 2, Photo 1
If needed, refer to Reading 1 to help answer the following questions.

1. What determined the size of a canal boat?

2. How were canal boats transported? What was the power?

3. Based on the description in the reading and the visual materials above, describe in your own words how a lock operated.

4. What do you think the most difficult part of building the canal was?

* The diagrams and photo on this screen have a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a high quality version of Diagram 1, Diagram 2, and Photo 1, but be aware that each file will take as much as 45 seconds to load with a 28.8K modem.