Did shipping cost for the Erie Canal rise or lower?

The cost of shipping on the Erie Canal fell sharply after it opened in 1825. Before the canal was built, it cost $100 to ship a ton of goods from Buffalo to New York City. After the canal opened, the cost fell to $5. This dramatic reduction in shipping costs was one of the main reasons why the Erie Canal was such a success. It allowed farmers and other producers in the Midwest to sell their goods to consumers in the East Coast markets at a much lower cost, and it also made it possible for Eastern manufacturers to ship their goods to the Midwest at a lower cost.