The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-10-07
From the Burlington Free Press.
Burlington and Chicago Ship
Canals.

Anc HIahllcSL tendency OF the age TO IN
crease the facilities for commercial inter
course between distant portions of our coun-
try, and to open new avenues of trade and
personal communication, is so great, that our
readers will hardly be surprised to learn that
an noonsiderab,e outlay of expense will
place Burlington and Chicago in direct and
easy business connection BY means of Ship
Canals it would seem that the circumnaviga-
ton Of the globe over the continents, is to be
rendered about as practicable SIS it is over
the Oceans. But about twenty miles of Ship
Canal remains to be constructed to open an
avenue through which vessels can navigate
from Chicago to Burlington, with cargoes of
from 5000 to 1000 barrels OF flour, or from
10000 to $4,000 bushels Of wheat, without
breaking bulk Indeed, we are ofthe opin-
ION that the time is near at hand, when the
shipping List Of Burlington will embrace
arrivals and departures at and from her port,
from and to the principle market towns on
the great Western Lake5-Chicago, Milwau-
tie, Detroit Cleveland, Buffalo, &c. &c. We
believe that nothing can prevent the speedy
completion ofthe only remaining link in the
magnificent series OF Ship Canals which will
render this splendid enterprise complete.
The New York papers are calling the at
tention Of their readers to what has been al
ready done, and to what remains to be fin
i5hed, in order to secure (to use the words of
an intelligent correspondent of the journal
of Commeree0 cheaper routes to the Ocean,
for freight, from the West, than by the Erie
Canal and Hudson River OF these two
points VIC propose, as briefly as possible, to
speak in this article.
The energy and sagacty of the British
Government have led them tn construct
line OF SHIP Canals to overcome the formida-
bic Rapids of the St. Lawrence, aud to con.
meet the great lakes Erie and Ontario. This
line is composed of the WeIland, the Viii
Iamsburgh, the Cornwall, and the Beauhar-
nois Canals. With the Welland, which is al
ready in successful operation, our readers are
sufficiently acquainted.
Fhe Wiliamsburgh embraces four short
canals constructed through Williamsburgh
and Matilda townships, in Dlnlos County,
and covering distance of about 80 miles
The longest Of these Canals is but four miles
in length and, together they make but nine
miles of canal They have been constructed
to avoid series Of gentle rapids, in the dis
tance named, which have velocity of about
eight miles an hour, and are navigable BY
vessels that can be propelled at the hourly
rate ften or twelve miles,
The Cornwall is twelve miles in length
and extends from the head of the Long Sault
Cor more properly SuuO to the town of Corn
wall, at the inlet of Lake St. Francis, over
coming the Long Saul rapids.
The Beauharnois extends from Lake St.
Francis to Lake St Louis, a distance of about
twelve miles, avoiding the Cotca and Cascade
Rapids
These noble public works (for our infor-
t0n rnr1ontiocr wv, A., ~,
tons to one Of the capable and intelligent
Government coatractors,J James NVorrall. Esd)
are already completed, and will be opened for
use early in the ensuing season. A glance
SIS The map will show oar readers that they
perfect the communication between Chicago
and Caughnawaga, on the St. Lawrence.
From this latter point to St. Johns, distance
Of less than 20 miles, it is now proposed to
construct a Ship Canal, which will at once
place the waters of Lake Champlain in unin-
torruptel connection with those OF the great
Western Lakes, and, consequently, will open
t. Burlington the business and the markets
OF the West The topography of the route
upon which it is contemplated to construct
this latter Canal, is similar to that travcred
by the Beauharnois-rcmarkably level, and
requiring no rock excavation. The waters
Of Lake Champlain, at St. Johns, are but 16
feet higher than the st, Lawrence at Caughn-
awaga, so that but two Locks will be required
in the entire distance. We are assured by
gentlemen ofundoubted intelligence and in
formation, that the prism of this Canal can be
completed at an expense no greater than that
Of the Beauharnois, which was $4,000, Cor
100000 per mile Estimating the cost of
the Locks at $lO,o 900 each, it will be per-
reiyed that thoentire expense of perfecting
this grand avenue Of INSTRUMENTATION,
win fall within 100000 An expenditure
that is, in view Of the immense commercial
advantages that are to flow from it, of cx-
cee'ling in2janifrancc! That the money will
b. supplied, AMI the work speedily finished,
we entertain ~ manner Of doubt mtelli-
sent Caaa !.4a geo:!cns' who perceive and