Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-24
THE GREAT CANADIAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THE ST. LAWRENCE.
ooRnEspoNpEScE OF rnE rRoyIpnScr younxAI.


In taking the fashionable tour from the Falls to Que
bee, stopped few days this place the purpose Of
visiting some interesting spots the St. Lawrence
account Oh winch may be acceptable to you Ia
with my visit to Canada.
just now the people Of Canada are exulting as it is
natural they should ct the prospect of ha wing grand
railroad which shall pass from point the Gulf 81 8,
Lawrence about hundred and fifty miles below Que
bee, to point opposite Detroit distance of eleven
hundred miles. This is gigantic work indeed, and for
these provinces much greater undertaking than for the
United States to construct railroad to the Pacific.
not quite certain what the population Of the Canadas
IS but under the impression that the State Of New
York is popuous than both Inmoneyed wealth they
inferior to the State Of Rhode Island Yet this gga-
tic work is not project Its stock has oil been
taken, instalment has been paid the has
been given out and large corps of engineers with the
contractors, are the ground selecting the
actcable and eligible route that all PARTS of Canada
may enjoy its benefits.
This road viii pass through or near Quebec, Montreal
Kingston Belleyie, Cobourg, Toronto, and Hamilton
terminating at the waters Of Lake Huron, Detroit
1t be constructed with the wide guage and every
respect TO be made in the substantial manner
There portion of North America better adapted for
the construction of railway than Canada. The
try is exceedingly fiat and with few hills consequently
there will be but little ascent The waters
of Lake Ontario but $50 feet above the level of
the ocean, which gives about four hundred miles over
this elevation in The principal towns Kingston,
BelleYile Toronto, and Hamilton scarcely elevated
above the lake There is then distance of two hundred
miles to reach the level Of Lake Erie have travelled
by land the entire distance, and without any nten
ton 10 select level route, do not hesitate to say that
never in the United States along the Mississippi
valley, travelled great distance level country.
But though this country presents admirable route for
railway, there is great obstacle overcome which
to ordinary minds, or, may say the scientific,
would ten years ago. have been considered nsurmounta
be- This IS the great river st. Lawrence which it is
proposed span with tubular iron bridge similar to
q IF yvhieh
attracted much attention in England few years since
If you have visited Montreal you will remember what
tremendous rushing Of the there is directly op-
posite the city 1t is here that is proposed place
the bridge which, from shore shore, viii be less
than two and half miles in length; but when the ma
ture Of the plan is taken into consideration the under
taking is stupendous one and will put into the shade
every bridge in the world The project is by many be-
heyed to be impracticablc, while others think even if
practicable, that there is nothing enor-
nous outlay necessary to construct the bridge which
estimated to cost from two to three millions of dollars
In the construction Of this bridge the engineers viii
take advantage OF the ice which makes there in sngu
lar manner Below the city between two and three miles
distant, is small Island In the winter the ice being
brought down in the broader channel above becomes
chokcd in the narrow passage between the island and
the main land. The floating masses continue rush
down, and forced upon this barrier until dam Of
ice is formed to the height Of forty feet thereby raising
the whole river level opposite the city During the
winter the engineers would have the advantage this
icy bridge TO lay the piers for the iron structure
Mr. STEPHENSON, the distinguished English engineer
lately come to Canada for the purpose Of examining
the st Lawrence and giving his opinion the FEAST
bity of spanning its waters with such bridge as have
mentioned He has already declared the project feasible
and that lie overcome all the difficulties. Yet this
eminent engineer has very prudeny expressed wish
visit Montreal during the winter and see the working
of the ice before he decides where to place the bridge
Much respect the opinion Of Mr. Stephenson, and Of
several American engineers who have expressed them
selves favorable to this work, believe them too
gune Those who have witnessed the mighty power of
torrent loaded with masses ofic will entertain different
opinion Ibeeve the bridge be constructed and that
mechanical be the first wonder Of the world
but very much fear that the first rise in the St Law
renee when unusual quantity Of ice borne down by
its swollen and rushing waters will sweep every pier
away and the gigantic structure with them How many
engineers have been disappointed with us and had their
elegant and substantial bridges swept away by reshets
with floating ice? Such events common throughout
New England and the Northern States where the
utmost skill has been employed in their construction
ct the streams which these bridges were built are
as Insignificant, when compared to the mighty ST. Law
renceras Pawtucket Falls to Niagara would re-
loce to see this noble river spanued by tubular iron
bridge with locomotives and long trains Of passenger
and freight passing through it. bearing the products
of the great West the shores Of the Atlantic II would
be triumph Of une9ualled in the world but believe
that ere two winters had elapsed the whole viii be swept
away.
You viii ask why the Canadian people have SO readily
taken up the stock in this gigantic railway, and about
to surpass every similar work in the United States when
up to this time they have been entirely behind us IL
is with English capital that the road 10 be built the
stock having been taken in England, without any effort
the part Of Canada The contract for the entire
strucon and equipment Of the road has also been taken
in England by firm, of which Mr.. Jackson is the prin-
cipal. This firm the propretors Of large iron
foundry where railway iron is made that they furnish
all this material themselves The locomotives cars and
other equipments to be made in Canada for the build
ng Of which works 10 be established at different
points the line which present the greatest advantages
The contract for the entire work. including the right Of
way, bridges, construction, rails, locomotives cars
station houses warehouses; &c., is 60 900 mile, amount
ing altogether from forty to forty five millions Of dol
lars The precise amount is not known, the route has
not yet been determined on and may vary from the FIRST
estimate from twenty TO fifty miles.
PREnIuHs At MosrGoMrRY CouSTY FAiR.-The