The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-05-29
WORCESTER,
WEDNESDAY, MAY go, 1899.
PROVIDENCE CANAL.

iee-House, in Worcester; and after
wards, on the same day, by adjourn
me1t, at the Court-House-th consider
alton OF the sabject of a CANAL from
Worcester 10 Providence was resumed.
The Committee, appointed at the
Former Meeting, (thcir Chairman, Hor
Levi Lincoln, being absent,) made the.
following Report -
Thn Committee appointed to inquire into the
expectancy and practicabity of opening n
lanai from this town to The tide waters
near Providence, have attended 10 The du-
ties assigned them, as far as time and cir.
cumstances would allow, and beg leave to-
submit the following
REPORT
The Committee took the earl; .. onnort,,ri-
ty to address a circular to individuals liv;tp
m such towns as will probably be affected IN,
tneir Trade, by opening Il water communica-
ti"n,' with a view to ascertain the amount of
tonnage III imports and exports, which il an
nhaily transported 10 and from the sen-board.
and what articles. and TO what amount, would
ana market, which now find none. or n very
ii'niteu one, J! the expense of Transportation
should be reduced one half or two thirds.
Ihis circular has served 10 direct rubick at
tention to the contemplated enterprise. and
mas brought US many valuable conmunica-
tons, from intelligent individuals. full of use-
iul information. These papers arc on Gle.
and open to the inspection OF all who have
the curiosity TO examine them. If any one
has hitherto doubted the e2pedicncy of the
proposed measure, such an examination. to-
gether with other facts, whah must be ap-
parent to all, would not only remove those
doubts, but quicken him into jealous en-
Payment OF those means, which will soonest
accomplish this great desidcratum. TLey
mold out very encouraging prospect, by
nanhestlnS warm and decided Appreciation
OF The plan, by exhibiting an amount of busi-
ness which surpasses expectation, and By
bringing; TO our view great variety Of prod
uc,s OF the soil, which would, upon such a
reduction OF the expense of Transportation. find
toeiF way 10 a market, and give powerful inn
palse To agriculture. They also strengthen our
belief that many kinds of business, closely al
ilfa 70 agriculture, Gas, for example, packing
Provisions) might be pursued TO great profit
and advantage, and renderit certain. that
the influence Of such a facility in transporta-
: ton, will be felt at very considerable dis
lance. We have indeed no doub. that t+e
landholder will find ready market for
Wood, Ship-timber, Slaves, Boards. Shingles.
&c IN exchange for Salt, Lime, Iron, Plaster.
I! or goods OF any other description, most of
| Winch Will be afforded at prices much reduccu.
willie his own commodities Will probably COM
mand an increased price. Grain of all kinds
| and descriptions, adapted to our soil, will
meet with sale in the same way, or may
wnhou! Inconvenience be shipped by the
J holder to distant market, and it will DOUBT
less become source OF profit to cultivate
many Kinds of grain and other products,
| which are now mhch neglected, owing to
! the limited demand in the country and the
| great expense OF land transportation We
are told il this last obstacle should be remov--
| ed, that the quantity of Hay, Barley, Oats,
Beans, Peas, Cider, Vinegar, Potatoes, and
! Fruit Of ali kinds, would he greatly increased
and that Brewing, Distil!ing, Matchmaking.
Rolling and Sitting Iron, Packing Provisions,
and many other kinds Of business, which have
hitherto failed, would hold out a fattering
invitation to the industrious and enterprizing.
The information and estimates which we
have received, enable US to conjecture, with
some degree OF certainty, the probable resule
OF opening the proposed Canal. In our esti-
mates, we have placed the tonnage transport
ell below what we believe to be the actual
amount and endeavoured to place our calcu-
| lation on basis that Will stand the test Of
the strictest scrutiny. We have heard from
twenty-ioW towns in this County, whose ton
mage annually transported is, ACCORDING to
the estimates Of those from whom we derive
our information, IL 1872 tons, averaging a.,
bout 489 tons to a town. exclusive of Beef.
Mutton, and many other articles Of which
large quantities are seat into the market. Wo
i are persuaded by referenceto the geography
OF this County, that the towns at the north
and west OF this, within the compass Of 20 or
n ~ miles, and for many miles on each size OF
the Blackstone river, win find it much for
their interest to do their transportation on the
proposed Canal. The precise limits of the.
territory to be affected, we do not attempt t.
| ascertain, but we believe we may safely as
sumo the number Of towns, SO benefited in
( this County, to be 80 at least. If we ass.rme
! the average amount transported to and from
each, to be. $50 tons, (Which is considerably
| below the estimates made by Intelligent indi-
VidHals on the spot, who are acquainted with
| the amount of busi0css) the gross annual "a
mount Of tonnage is H,.t00 tons. A large por-
ton of This territory is more remote than
| Worcester from Boston. We have, therefore.
| thought il safe to assume the expense of
| transportation to Worcester, which is ten dol
! lars per ton, as the basis of calculation. II.
then, the transportation can be done for one
half this sum, there would be an annual sax~
ing to these 80 towns of S72,O0o Wedor,
| however, contemplate a saving to tSis extent
! on the business n0ao done, for it is not pyoba-
| bic all articles of trade would pass on a Ca