Meanwhile the Feeder Canal had been built from Gibson through Big Flats and joined the Chemung Canal at Horseheads, a sixteen mile waterway. This opened in 1833 bringing an immense amount of traffic through Big Flats. An estimated one eighth of all tonnage of coal, grain and lumber to or from Albany NY passed through the feeder canal. Canal boats were pulled by mules or horses and were limited to a speed of four miles an hour.