Thanks Chuck, that was an interesting article.
In the mid 70s I worked for a fellow who had lots of records for Paterson NJ and the surrounding area. We surveyed a few properties where the Morris Canal was one of the calls, but there was no physical evidence by then.
We also did some of old mill buildings in Paterson, as well as the raceways off the Passaic: the Upper, Middle and Lower Races all carried water, dropping it over wheels to power the mills, and it finally was carried back to the river by the Tail Race. Had not seen a reference to SUM (Society of Useful Manufactures) in a long time. It was a pretty ingenious system.
Thanks
Ken
Another 'thanks' for that. Surveying aside, the sheer genius of tangible engineering impresses all hell out of me.
No gas/ no steam. Water.
Ken
I surveyed in Paterson for some 12 years but that was 20 years ago now.
Also the SUM group actually existed into the 1970's. I?ÿknew a lawyer who was there counsel from time to time. Their charter stated that the City of Paterson could never tax the group. The city tried, the SUM group sued and they won. Again and again.
They are now defunct but had a tremendous influence on the city.
Over the years I have worked on subdivisions and surveys against the Morris Canal. They used some substantial irons for some of the monumentation. A canal gate spike is about twice the size of a RR spike.
Paul in PA