ðə kənˈæl wʌz dɹˈɛdʒd ɪnðə wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti z wɪð fˈʌndɪŋ fɹʌm sˈɛvɹəl kˈɑːpɚ mˈaɪnɪŋ kˈʌmpəniz, fɔːɹ jˈuːs baɪ lˈeɪk fɹˈeɪɾɚz, kˈæɹiɪŋ kˈɑːpɚɹ ˈoːɹ.
The canal was dredged in the 1860s with funding from several copper mining companies, for use by lake freighters, carrying copper ore.