The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-05-19
A SHIP CANAL.

A Ship Canal is proposed around the Falls
OF Niagara on the American side, connec-
ting the waters of lakes Erie and Ontario,
and aid has been asked OF Congress, by q
New York company with capital oil So
O00,0 900; for constructing the work. The
American continent is of peculiar formation,
having several great valleys with inland seas
and large rivers to drain them and bear bear
the produce of the virgin soil to the sea.
board. One of these valleys, fertile, and
expansive, lying midway the continent, and
by its water courses dividing it Tor near hall
its width, is that containing the great lakes
and the river st. Lawrence. The only OBJ
structions to navigation from the Atlantic
to lake Superior, are the Falls Of Niagara
between lakes Ontario and Erie, and the
Sault dc st. Marie, about thirty miles below
lake Superior, between that and Huron.
Around the latter canal is already proyi.
ded for, and in process of construction and
another around Niagara would afford high
way, without going out of the States, from
the very center of the continent TO lake Erie.
The British have seen the importance Of this
work and have already built the Welland
Canal, from Sherbrokc on Lake Erie to porl
Dalhousie on Ontario, between 20 and 30
miles long. This canal is not only three
times US long as would be necessary on the
American side, (Which would be niue miles,
subjecting tie commerce of the Lakes 10
long and injurious delays, but in all respects
is poorly built; yet its business las, season
amounted to more than $500, 900, mostly
levied upon American Iessels passing from
Ontario to Oswego, Cape Vincent, and o..
dcnsburg, and is rapidly increasing. In 1850
its tonnage was 100000; in 1852, 7S2, 900
in 1853, $4,000.
1t is proposed to make the American CO.
nal several hundred feet wide, fourteen deep,
and OF sufficient capacity to take vessels OF
800 tons burden. For various reasons the
government might grant aid to this work.
First it is all important Us o means OF de-
fence in times Of war. In q war with Great
Britain the supremacy Of the lakes would be
even more fiercely contested than in tho last
war; but while our opponents would have
the Welland Canal at their service, we
should have no pass for vessels from one
lake to another. Secondly, we possess I'M
mensc tracts Of unsold lands to which the
lakes and river have been furnished by ma
ture to an outlet, that would advance in val.
ue by the construction OF this work. We
have often granted lands to railway compa'
nies from this consideration. Third, II
would tend to the settlement Of the country,
which has always been an object with all
governments, and to promote which they
have always granted lands. The Homestead
bill now before Congress is urged for no
other purpose.
So vast is our country and extensive its
capacities that we do not always perceive
them, and they are to DO Influenced by n
measure like this. Upon the chain Of wa
teIs that this canal would render navigabls
we have seven Of the largest, most produc.
tive, and to DO the most populous States in
the Union, with 1000 miles of navigable
coast. They have % commerce employing
so, 600 tons of steam and l40 900 tons Of
soil vessels. that in 1850 transported 1000.
600 barrels -four, 5000, 900 bushels wheat,
1000 900 bushels corn, and 9, 1000 900 of oats
and barley-eqnal to q 100000 bushels of
grain. Around these waters we have nj.
ready population Of five million people,
and the district that has It's trade concentra.
ted on lake Erie Is equal to $50, 900 square
miles. Within the United States we have
two main arteries by which this produce
comes TO market-the Erie Canal, whose
tonnage in one season has amounted to A..
OO0, 900, and when enlarged may be double
that and the Erie Railroad that transported
in 1852, 4O6, AGO tons bu, these and all
other avenues which are now literally Y cbokcd
with business, cannot relieve the pressure,
and we have before us this fact, that tho
population and agricultural produce of the
lake region is doubling in every twelve wears.
What therefore, is to be done twenty-five
years to-day, unless such canal be cuti
Our domestic trade is outrunninr a,l cal.
culations, and beside il our foreign C. co nmerce
is sinking into insignifcance. The coal and
minerals, the grains and other products from
the West, and tho manufactures returned
from the East, are keeping all busy and
the means Of transportation should be eoual
to the demand. This forms the basis, Too.
Of our foreign trade. The Atlantic slopo is
barren compared with the fields Of the West,
and it could rely upon no valuable commerce
Of its own. Whatit would do in exchange