Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-12-02
.MAUMEE EXPRESS.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1887.

THE TRADE OF THE CANAL.-We endea-
vored, last week, to show, in the light of the
previous history of the navigation of the
Maumee river, the claims of the towns of
Maumee and Perrysburg, lying at the foot of
the rapids of that stream, to the trade of the
Wabash and Erie canal at its eastern terml-
nation. There is another view of the subject,
taken in relation to the manner in which the
transportation business of the lake is hereaf-
ter to be transacted, which may not be unin-
teresting, and which may throw further light
upon the subject.
Most persons, who have resided for several
years upon the shores of Lake Erie, have had
occasion to remark the rapid change, which is
taking place, in the minds of men engaged in
the transportation of merchandise upon the
western lakes, in favor of steam vessels. The
rapid increase of steamboats,, the avidty with
which stock in these vessels is taken, the sue
cess which has attended the experiments OF
building and fitting up boats for freighting,
the destructive competition which such boats
drive, against the sail vessels, and the great
falling off in the building of briggs and schoon-
ers, especially for the lake Erie trade, all tend
to show that well directed, and judicious
public opinion, is setting strongly and power
fully in favor of transportation by steam.
This change, which is so rapidly taking place,
both in opinion and practice, cannot fail to
have direct and favorable influence upon the
upper towns of the Maumee. tits we'll known
that during the prevalence of adverse winds,
the navigation of all rivers, by vessels pro-
PEELED by sails, is more or less impeded; and
it is doing no injustice to the Maumee river,
to acknowledge, that, like other navigable
streams, it is subject to the influences of. the
superseded sails in the business of the lake,
the channel of the river will be navigated with
the same ease as the broader waters of the
lake, and with much less danger, and no de-
tention need ever take place on account of ad-
verse winds or strong currents in the river, so
that goods may be transported to the upper
towns, with the same ease as to the lower,
and within one hour of the same length of
time. Besides, the kind of steam vessels now
building, and hereafter to be built, are destined
to be better fitted for river navigation, than
those which nave been heretofore constructed.
Experien has proved, that in order to OBJ
tain the great desideratum in steam naviga-
ton-speed-it is necessary that the vessels
should possess as light draught of water as
is consistent with their safety upon the lake,
and accordingly, the ingenuity of the most
scientific of naval architects is dailystaxed,
so to combine strength and lightness, as to
secure rapid rate of travelling with safety,
to those who avail themselves of it. Thus
every improvement in that species of naviga-
tion, to perfect which, many men of the bright
est genius, and the most profound attainments,
have bent the whole of their gigantic intel
ects, is brought directlyt to bear upon the in
terests Of the towns at the foot of the rapids,
as extending their trade, adding to its cer-
taiuty, breaking down the hopes of competi-
tors, and realizing the claims of those who
believe that the navigation of the largest tri-
butary of the great lakes, and the finest stream
of the northwest, is of more value than that
of any artificial channel that may be construct
ed from bluff to bluff, and from ravne to ra-
vine along its banks.