The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-05-31
NO. so.

ho" iui"isi vs. iit'IS anu III SuluiHg us W
satisfactory results.
The country is sufficiently extensive and
fertile 10 be capable of furnishing vas.
amount of products for transportation, but
lis resOuases are too imperfectly develop
ed TO constitute "A basis for reliable esli.
mates Of its future business.
The canal must depend very much up
on The productive power and the wants
Of the territory on each side of it, and or
each side of the river from Chicago TO ST.
Louis, which may be considered for ma.
ny purposes its commercial termini. ST.
Louis is most favorably situated near the
Junction of the great water-highways of
the valley Of the Mississippi, and from
lis central position must become great
commercial point Chicago, though en-
joyng less natural advantages, stands at
The point where the lake and river naviga-
ton are to be united. in country of great
capabilities, and will soon becom city
of great trade. This entire district Of four
hundred miles in extent, with some I'M
importan. exceptions, has been open to
settlement within few years, and its
power of production is only beginning to
be disclosed, while the history of the
west proves that the increase Of population
is rapid and certain ; yet this circum-
stance is manllesty surrounded with other
considerations and contingencies which
render II an unsuitable basis for estimates
OF business, which may be relied upon.
We can distinctly see that the time will
soon come when this inland line Of COM
will become the channel
OF a vast trade, and that such period is
not remote; but We cannot with equal con-
iidence declare what resulf the progress
OF improvement will mature IN three or
five years.
There other facts, however, besides the
extent and fertility Of the country in the
vicinity OF the canal, which have bearing
upon the question. The canal is stua-
ted upon the summit, between the tide
water ct the Mississippi uver at the
SOUTH and the tide water OF the st. Law
renee and Hudson rivers at the northeast
and east. The union OF these several
points is now, or will be fully completed
before The Illinois and Michigan work is
mshcd' THIS is a fac! OF singular and
striking interest Produce may be placed
upon this canal descend by lakes Mich
lgan and Ere, pass through the WeIland
canal and lake Ontario, and then descend
ing the kideau canal or the Tlver ~. Law
reno enter the markets OF Canada; or en-
ter Hswego on lake Ontario 1t may pass
to Underwater at Albany on the Hudson NV
er; or may at TIE foot oil lake Erie be
transferred to the Erie canal, and reach
the Hudson through this channal.
canada is evidently preparing at great
eXpence to he the competitor of the
northern cites OF lhe United States for
The trade oil NE lakes The "eliand ca
"aI uniting lakes Ontario and Erie as
well as the works round the rapids Of the
''' Lawrence arc "I'o" great scale, oe-
signed to pass vessels Of large class and
to accommodate great trade. If the pol
icy, which has for some time been gradu-
ally developing itself Of obtaining, through
this channel, provisions and bread siuils
Tor the supply OF England, grown in the
United States, but assuming IN their tram
sit the character of colonial products,
shall be SO maIured, as TO open market
IN Canada for such agricultural commod-
tiles, that circumstance may have a mate
rial influence on The interests OF this canal,
as such trade may penetrate the valley
ct the Mississippi and attracts its pro-
ducts through this avenue, from points
that are now considered too remote TO