"1825. The Erie Canal extended from Albany to Lake Erie and was
constructed chiefly because DeWitt Clinton worked for it with
might and main from 1817 to 1825."

"Good for you!" laughed George, "It's pretty hard to trip up old
Soc when it comes to figures. Now, I myself happen to know how
long the canal is and so I shall be able to tell whether you
reeled off your figures, depending upon our ignorance or whether
you gave them because you knew what they are. How long is the
Erie Canal?" he added slowly.

"Three hundred and fifty and one-half miles, though I find some
authorities give it as three hundred and fifty-two miles,"
laughed Grant.

"Splendid! Splendid!" retorted George solemnly. "I suppose you
know all about all the other great canals too."

"I have looked them up," replied Grant simply. "I don't believe
in starting off on a trip like ours without finding out some of
the facts connected with it."

"Don't ask me! Don't ask me!" protested John quickly. "I haven't
been looking them up, so I don't know."

"I didn't say I was going to ask you," retorted Grant. "I told
you I was going to inform you. I looked them up for the benefit
of my benighted companions. Now there's the Cape Cod Canal," he
added. "I don't believe there's one of you that knows anything