New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-04-14
Written for The Tribur
A WINTER JOURNEY
THROUGH THE CANADAS.
NUMBER ONE


After an absence of nearly twelve years,
availed myself of the provisions Of an Act of
Amnesty, passed in February ls49, to visit Cana
ia, accompanied by one Of my sons, boy in his
eleventh year. We took the railroad conveyance
from New-York to Whitehall-thence to High
gate by stage-seighs and wagons-and entered
Canada from Vermont near a small Canadian
village called Philipsburg near the foot Of Lake
Champlain, where there is Custom House. to
which all the packages conveyed by the Express
from New York had to be carried there opened
and the duties assessed. ! went across from the
inn to see the process, and found the officers very
civil and unassuming. On the frontier, and all
through Canada, English shillings, considerably
worn, pass current at % cents, and sixpences at
l2l cents which is above their intrinsic value,
while In many parts of New.York State they are only
taken for 20 and 10 cents respectively. From the st.
Lawrence below Cornwall to the Connecticut river
near its source distance Of about $50 miles the line
45o, north latitude divides Canada from NewYork and
yermont and as we journeyed from Highsas TO
PhiHpsburg neither stage driver passengers were
able to tell when the road le the land Of Washington
and entered those vast countries OF which the hrtt
British Governor the elder Pitt while bis successor
at distance of more than four years s llnes
descendant of scotlsnd's patriot Monarch,
"- the Bruce Of Bsnnoetburn."
We left ST. Adams Vermont early on the morning
Of Saturday, Feb %, and crossed the st. Lawrence
from the village OF La Prairie upon the Ice, to
Montreal, which we rescued abouthve in the after
noon. The seighng was very Indifferent and the
weather warmer than II was In New York few days
previous To my surprise found that Buffalo, by the
oil Ia tha favn iaffr
route between the upper parts of Western Canada
and Montreal 1t 10 as cheap. more expeditions and
infinitely more comfortable, &c the jolting In open
seighs and wagons and the cold and wearisome night
riding, are in great measure avoided. During tns
season of navigation, passengers are conveyed Win
great expedition and comfort from Buffalo 10 Montreal
via the river and lakes for about $ or perhaps less
expected to have travelled IA miles on Canada rail
road from ST. Johns to La Prairie, but Ike the La
Chine railway of nine miles, III only in use In Summer
Farming near Montreal.
The country south of Montreal, In Canada through
which travelled consists Of level aluvia bottom land
tina, was once covered by the waters of the ST. Law
renee the soil IL excellent; the taxes light. the
climate very suitable for root and grass crops and
the city affords good market yet am afraid that tne
Canadian farmers, az body are not nearly so wealthy
as when Charles Carroll of Carrolton expressed Q
well grounded astonlshment at their boards, 10 years
since They are said to be deficient In general educs
ton, uniformed of recent Improvements In aerlcui
draining and working their fertile lands TO great
depth The air breathe contains all the elements OF
solid mstter and II cannot be too strongly Impressed
on the possessors OF such farms as saw near montreal
that by perfect drainage they would admit its free pas
sage through their sodden soils. thus rendering neh
more available toward vegetable production IL Is
made objection 10 the paying OF more attention 20
sheep and cattle raising that the Winters are long and
severe and that cattle must be housefed Tor msny
months In New-York City and near IT, and in many
other dairy peghborhoods cattle are oftentmes mouse
x.fn.l MIA ell M
How far the fsudsl by which these lands are
held may DO said TO operate az bar to improvement
and the Increase Of capital among the farmers, may
endeavor 70 show hereafter. The troubles 10 1887
and 1898 doubtless affected the farmers south OF
the ST. Lawrence very unfavoraby At the time out me
subsequent great increase OF naval and military sx
penditure may have partly msde up their losses Inc
farm houses that saw Indicated comfort and compe-
tence the portion OF their occupants
Mining in the West.
At the Exchange Coffee House, Montreal where
lodged found on the evening of my arrival two
friends gravely discussing the question how far u
would be prudent invest spare capital In shares
of copper mines on the north shores Of Lakes Superior
and Huron Companies have been organized to work
these mines but capital 10 said 10 be scarce Perhaps
the many rich men hereabout desire additional evil
dsnce Of the productivenes OF me mines ana sns sA
company at Montreal who work the Bruce Mines
expended sl50O00 lAst year. sold some copper ore at
Baltimore, more IMAM nail inc procccus VI ~n4SH
sunk 10 freight and charges and are nov erecting ar
naces for smelling at the mines. with seemingly
lust expectation that the saving In freight alone tns
wear will more than double their extra expenditure
No doubt they will do well enough they u1ei"
.onRd discretion IN The selection Of those 70 Dc eFfrssbd
rci;k fks maaSemsnf Til. manufacture OF the ores OF
copper ike that of gold AZ California needs no pro
,ec,pg tariff 70 foster IL When the Canadian Govern
,nent gets mint erected, somewhere short oil London
and Philadelphia IL can coin its own pence and nhi
pence of Lake Huron copper instead OF leaving that
,nanufsctre In the hands of the Montreal BARK and
Ns,srs LessNe Il soma through perpetual default
The Bruce Company had 6oo tons OF ore on the mine
lsst Fall which when smelted. will yield about OV
tons of pure copper-so they say Nearly Jo persons
reside on their location, up west
While q resident in Csnsds. continued Tor many
years through the Press urge upon Government the
sxpedency OF an inquiry the mineral resources OF
the country Ga the LIST OF February, 1880 wrote 70
Gen. Dix. ~ Albany. for copy OF bis Report 10 tne
Legislature, in relation to geological survey OF tne
State Of New-York which found devoted principally
hsy had BEEN disclosed BY partial Investigations That
Report and the Generals letter accompanying II
aid ON the table Of the House OF Assembly moved Tor
Special COMMITTEES 70 report plan for the geoogica
survey of Upper Cansda with tbs late Capt Dunlop a.
ia Chairman and dweit upon the mineral riches In the
80, ~ conner ores then said 10 exist near Lake
Hurou on The iron Of hness quality and almost IL
6itshle In uuansity talked OF BY seenti1c travellers
ana ON the expedency Of setting AZ rest the doubts then
existing A. 10 coal formations and OF obtaining gen
eral view Of a country larger than Sss Ensl.na ner
York Ohio and Pennsylvsnis a. TO its mineraosics,
geological and agricultural qualities TIMBER, nc. ne
Committee was appointed, beard testimony sne IA
three weeks produced strong report IN iavor oil An
immediate survey. -,
sources OF the province. through legislative enact
msns and amer ~ Interval Of aaEssen JEAN -