The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-29

same to the government in the end.
Western Trade and Travel.
It. viii have been seen from what we stated q week
or two ago on this subject that although the terminus
Of the Great Western Railroad from the
head of Lake Ontario and connecting at Dunkirk with
the Central Michigan Railroad which has its terminus
at Chicago, and the lines from Woodstock and Brant
ford, terminating on Lake Erie--will attract cons
derabe portion of the trade through the State Of New
York; yet other competing lines and the Welland
canal must evidently divert the remainder through
Lake Ontario, and down she st. Lawrence either to
Ogdensburg or Montreal, and, to some extent, by
that route to the ocean.
Although the Canadian government have wisely
withdrawn their threat Of closing the Welland canal
against American vessels, yet they have relieved all
-four, wheat and salt, from the payment Of tolls on
the st. Lawrence and Chambly canals, when they
have been already paid on the Welland. They have
also entered into contract for running line Of
steamers between Quebec and Liverpool, which ex.
tend their trips to Montreal during the summer
months, and to Portland in the winter; and from
the passages these vessels have made there cannot
be doubt that before long superior class of steam
ers will be employed, which Will make the voyage,
The attention Of the people of Upper Canada, who
have been ncessant in their applications recipro
city, with the view Of receiving their imports and
making their shipments to Europe thr ugh the
United States is being turned to the route by the
ST. Lawrence, and a vessel has recently been built
on Lake Ontario, and there loaded for England with
very satisfactory results. The imports inland"
says Mr.. Andrews, in his able report, laid be-
-
increased into Canada by the route Of the United
States but Of exports by the st. Lawrence"
During the present year, however, the imports ap-
pear to have increased materially, the receipts at
the custom house Of Montreal during last April hav
ing risen from $1s6,s76, in 1852, to $685.
The construction Of a ship canal at Caughnawau-
Ga, nine miles above Montreal, was brought under
the notice of the Canadian Legislature, during
the last session, by the Hon. Mr.. Young an en-.
terprising merchant of that city !; and although
not discountenanccd by the provincial gov
eminent, was met by the expression of a
desire to enter into an arrangement with that
Of the State Of New York, which might be
opposed to the enlargement Of the canal between
Whitehall and Troy lest it should conflict with the
Erie canal; and it intimated that, could no salts
factory arrangement be made with reference to the
former, the construction Of the proposed ship canal
would be imperative.
We are not aware that anything was done to ascer-
tain the views OF our State government on the sub
jest but we are confident that the adop ion OF an en-
larged and enlightened policy is the only course
that should be pursued This is not the age for mo
nopoly, and even if the enlargement of the White.
hall canal should have an injurious effect upon the
Erie, yet its adoption should be decided upon. To
our mind there is no such danger. The rapidly in
creasing population of the Western States, and the
vast amount Of agricultural produce which must
find its way to The seaboard through that channel
will always furnish sufficient employment for the
EIie canal; and the opening Of another in the To-
cality indicated is essential to enable cur mer hants
to compete with the Ogdensburg Railroad.
Lake Champlain is at present connected with the
st. Lawrence by means Of the Chambly canal, at the
month Of the Sorel or Richelcu river, forty.fye
miles below Montreal, through which large amount
OF lumber is annually imported. What is required is
a means of communication above Montreal, by which
the flour and wheat Of the Western country, and the
lumber Of the Ottawa. may be brought to our mar
ket and the propeers OF Chicago will be enabled to
discharge their cargoes the vlarVes of New York.
The effect Of such canal as has been proposed at
Caughnawauaa would be to direct vast n lunt Of
trade from Montreal 10 this city. This has arcady
been perceived, and consequently an effort will be
made TO substitute the enlargement OF the Chambly
canal for the opening OF the other: and in any ar
rangemsnt that may be made between the govern.
ments, the locality Of Caughnawauga should be made
a sine gun non, as it cannot be expected that yes
sells wonli proceed through the Lachine canal, and
upwards OF forty miles below Montreal, an then
ascend the Chamby which would also require to be
enlarged, for the purpose Of entering Lake Cham.
plain. There cannot be q doubt, however, that if
the proposition meets with favorable reception on
the part OF the authorities Of the State of New York
the work will be promptly undertaken AMI com
plete1, the entire cost OF which, it Is estimated,
would not exceed from fifteen hundred thousand TO
two millions Of dollars.
With reference 70 the canal at Lake Superior,
which when finished viii open up the most splendid
line Of inland water communication in the world, il
is to be regretted that the Canadian have
hitherto opposed every effort on the part Of ndiyl
duals, and have done nothing themselves, to con
struct canal on the British side, which seems to
have been intended by nature for that purpose,
the distance being shorter there than on the Ameri
can side, and deep aud well sheltered cove, pr,
tectiDg any works in that direction from fbeing
opspttueu ny Tue urlit zee, ana rendering ngfess
and egress free from shose whirlpools and currents
which viii have TO be guarded agaios. by piers and
breakwaicrs where the canal is about to be located.
Onc q tic principal obstacles 20 the construction
Of canal around the Falls OF the Sault Ste.
Marie" .ays D. Jackson, "will be found in the |
winters ice against viii ID the locks az the entrance
must lie guarded, or the work, however strong, viii
be overturned and destroyed. The canal must be |
carried ont into the water a distance Of hall mile,
and The form Of the ice-breakers, guards or mole,
must be such az to allow the ice to rise over them,
and not To press AGAINST the pernen dcuIar vvaIIe