With the canal, the cost of shipping a ton of flour from Buffalo to New York City fell from $120 a ton to $6 a ton, and the carrying time was reduced from three weeks to just over one. The effect on New York's fortunes was breathtaking. Its share of national exports leaped from less than 10 percent in 1800 to over 60 percent by the middle of the century; in the same period, even more dazzlingly, its population went from ten thousand to well over half a million.
The construction of the canal dramatically lowered shipping costs and time for transporting flour from Buffalo to New York City. The price plummeted from $120 to just $6 per ton, and delivery time decreased from three weeks to just over one week, revolutionizing commerce in the region.
This transformation had a significant impact on New York's economy, causing its share of the national exports to soar from under 10 percent in 1800 to more than 60 percent by the mid-19th century. During the same timeframe, the city's population experienced remarkable growth, jumping from around ten thousand to over half a million, highlighting its economic boom.
