b'FOGHORN FOCUSHuzzah!THE ERIE CANAL CELEBRATES 200 YEARSL imited.Slow.Expensive.ThatwastransportationacrosstheAppalachianMountains through the early 1800s. The mountains were a major obstacle to Americas westward expansion and trade. Goods were carried from the interior overland by pack animals or wagons, both costly and time consuming. The young nation was looking to unify its vast and growing territory and increase trade routes. The Erie Canal changed all of that, connecting Lake Erie and the Hudson River, opening a route to the west. This year celebrates the bicentennial of this engineering marvel that brought significant change to a rapidly growing country.PHOTO: COLONIAL BELLEFOGHORN 28'