According to this article, why does "the fate of the aliens [remain] up in the air"?

the completion of the erie canal spurred the first great westward movement of american settlers, gave access to the rich land and resources west of the appalachians and made new york the preeminent commercial city in the united states.

c 3 branches because idk why they had 3 well when:

you think of it there are still contrys with 3