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How did Canvass White contribute to Erie Canal construction?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Map showing the route of the Erie Canal across New York state, running from Buffalo on Lake Erie in the west through cities including Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Albany, and ending at the Hudson River near Troy and Cohoes. The map also highlights nearby lakes, connecting canals, and major waterways in the region.
Erie Canal

Canal engineer Canvass White made a critical contribution to the construction of the Erie Canal by discovering a local source of cement that could harden underwater. This development of hydraulic cement significantly aided the construction process and reduced costs by eliminating the need to import expensive cement from Europe.1