The growth of river travel and the success of the Canal spurred a wave of canal building throughout the country.

Erie Canal

Explanation:

The building of 'Erie Canal' in the east-west part of the Newyork city was the key reason for stimulating 'a wave of canal building across the country' as it proved to be a great source of promoting both the agricultural as well commercial development of the state by directly bringing water to the Midwest. It helped in evolving New York as the commercial city of the United States.