The Ohio and Erie Canal received water through feeder canals from a nearby river, and boats moved along it pulled by mules or horses. It was built by manual labor using picks and shovels. Construction began in 1825 and was completed in 1834. The canal's northern port was Cleveland and its southern port was Portsmouth. It extended 308 miles, and the entire trip took 80 hours by non-stop express or 5 days or more by regular trip. The big stones here were part of the locks used in the canal system.