The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-20

western Traos and Travel.
We have Intended for some time to cal the stten'
ton Of our readers to the rapid increase that TAX
ing place in the modes Of transport by means OF the
great lakes, railroads in Canada, and the WeIand
and 81 Lawrence canals and those Of the State OF
New York, and more recently to the seaboard az
Portland and Boston. The subject Is one Of import
ance, particularly to this city, and we propose TO
describe, Arst the route from the foot Of Lake Su
perior through Canada, and subsequently the differ
ent lines connecting with Lakes Erie, Ontario, and
the st. Lawrence, and ultimately terminating at New
York, Boston, and Portland
The two lines nearest completion in Upper Canada
are the Great Western, commencing immediately
opposite Detroit, and extending, via Hamilton, at
the head Of Lake Ontario, to the Niagara river,
where piers have been laid; and q bridge is being
constructed 70 connect with the lines Of internal
communication through this State, the object OF
the projectors Of this railroad originally being to
draw the trade to Hamilton and thence through
Lake Ontario, either down the st. Lawrence or 70
Rochester, Oswego, or Ogdensourg' opposate
Prescott.
For the purpose OF diverting . portion Of this
traffic to the port Of Buffalo line has been coma
menced from Brantford, about thirty miles from
Hamilton, in the vicinity Of Grand river, the ter
minus of which win be at point Immediately oppo-
site that city; and another is projected from Wood
stock, five and twenty miles nearer Lake Huron
which will have its termini at Port Burwell and Port
Jones, immediately opposite Erie and Dunkirk, in
this State; and, by an extension of the charter re-
Gently granted by the Legislature, branch ia per-
mitted to be extended to Dunnesvile near the mouth
Of Grand river opposite Buffalo, thus opening line
from the interior of Car ada to the seaboard.
While these efforts are making to secure portion
Of the Western trade in this direction, the people Of
Toronto have not been inactive, and line of railroad
has been commenced, and win soon be in operation
connecting that city with Georgian Bay, at the head
Of Lake Huron, whence . steamer plies to the SauN
Ste. Marie at the foot Of Lake Superior, around
which ship canal is being constructed capable Of
passing vessel Of FIVE hundred tons burthen, which,
however. 1t may be proper here to state, cannot
reach Lake Erie or the terminus Of the Great West
en Railroad opposite Detroit unless the channel Of
the St Clair fats, at the foot Of Lake Huron, shall
have been deepened. Until that Is effected consi-
derabe amount of the traffic Of Lake Superior, and
the country bordering on that immense inland sea,
must be attracted to Toronto by the railroad from
Georgian Bay.
simultaneously with the opening of the lines Ne.
fered TO- it is proposed to construct two others from
Toronto termin ating at Port Sarna at the foot Of
Lake Huron, above the st. Clair fats, and at Code
rich, on the eastern side Of that akethe distance,
in direct line, from the former place to Toronto,
being less than one hundred and twenty miles, and
49, r.. nAcr< o<~ aTcac - ;v~
these lines must be to draw to Lake Ontario con-
siderable amount Of the trade Of Lake Michigan
passing through the straits Of Macknaw as well as
that Of Lake Superior, the large steamers, when
laden, frequently grounding on the st. Clair fats
railroad is about being commenced from Mon.
treal to Bytown, on the Ottawa, which will before
long be extended to Lake Superor-the dista nee
from Bytown TO that lake being about four hundred
miles-which would have the effect Of bringing down
to Montreal portion Of the commerce Of the lake.
In the meantime, line Of railroad is in progress of
construction from Bytown to Prescott, immediately
opposite Ogdensburg; and the people Of Brockville,
some ten or fifteen miles from Prescott have raised
loan Of $500 0O0about three dollars out of four Of
the rental Of the place-for the purpose Of opening
railway communication with the Ottawa, to connect
with Ogdensburg or the Cape Vincent line to New
York.
Not only win the railroads converging at Toronto
and Hamilton at the foot Of Lake Erie and the Mag
ara, attract in those directions vast amount of the
trade and travel Of the northwest but they will pass
through the best settled and most fertile portion of
Western Canada-the garden Of the Province, and
fine wheat growing Countrywide inhabitants Of
which are chiefly supplied with European and Anne
rican manufactures and West India produce by
means Of the Erie canal and the railroads divergng
from New York to Oswego, Rochester, Buffalo, Erie
and Dunkirk.
The Cape Vincent Railroad extends through Rome
TO Troy, where it connects with the Hudson river
and Harlem and Albany lines to New York; and the
line, which was constructed to draw of
the Canadian trade towards Boston, is tapped ut
Burlington by the Rutland and Western Vermont
Railroads, also having its terminus at Troy.
At Caughnawauga, Immediately opposite Lachine,
about nine miles above Montreal, line of railroad
has been opened, ntersecting the Ogdensburg line,
and terminating at Plattsburg, whence 1t will be
on the western side of Lake Champlain,
till it forms junction with the Saratoga and Wash
ngon Railroad, near Saratoga thirtyone miles from
Troy Then there is the railroad from Montreal to
Rouses Point, which connects with the cars running
o New York, by which that city may be reached In
.welve hours.
The railroad from Montreal to Portland was open
ID on the fifteenth of July, and we notice shipment
# -four from Ohio was recently made by this line
rom Montreal to the seaboard, and it is likely
hat the supply Of that article for the consumption
If the Eastern States win probably take that drec
lion, or via the Ogdensburg line to Boston. A rail-
way from Quebec is in progress-which it is thought,
will be completed during the present yearinterscct
ing the Portland line at Richmond, seventy miles
from Montreal; and as this has been merged in the