Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-08-10
VESSELS CLEARED

Champlan 1921 G1,O92 4.O2S leJi
Forcign.
Vermont $40 1874 l,l3o ls5l
Champlain -335 2l,70S Lass 1851
The great increase is exhibited in the az
gregatc of the American and foreign vessels
and tunnage
have referred to the valuable and rapidly
increasing intercourse which now exists be-
tween Northern New York and the States
bordering on the island seas Of the West -
These States are large purchasers of the iron
fabrics of Essex County, while the manuac-
turers Of that county consume an immense
amount of their pork, flour and wheat. This
Interchange of commodities is of the highest
importance to both sections Of the Union and
untettered hy the existing embarrassments
would rapidly expand. The nails and ma
chncry Of Essex County are subjected to a
Canal transportation in New York alone of
more than 400 miles or if carried by the
Ogiensburgh Railroad they are exposed to
the expense, risk and delay of repeated re-
shipment, before they reach the western nav
igablc waters. The same restrictions weigh
upon the transit of the products of that re-
gion to Champlain All these impediments
will be essentially obyiated by the proposed
ship canal The consummation Of this gigan-
tic scheme is deemed inevitable and approach
ing.
The limited sphere Of this report will not
allow any extended exposition Of this inter
resting subject. | only refer to it as it di-
rcctly affects the interests and advancement
Of Essex County, No false ard contracted
jealousies ex tied BY alarm for the prosperity
of other public works should resist or re-
tard this great purpose. A commerce such
as floats upon the Western Lakes, that in
creases at the rate of II per cent. each year,
and which thrOngs by its eXcesscs, every ave-
nue. that is formed, demands, and will sus-
tain all the facilities for its accommodation
that human energy or enterprise can create
The space Of twenty miles intervening be-
tween Caughnawaga and Lake Champlain is
the only remaining obstacle to direct com
munication between that lake and the great
thorough ghiarcs of the West.
The construction of ship canal, which
shall form this link, may be pronounced u
fixed and unalterable purpose in the policy of
the Canadian Government, that public senIi-
ment has initiated and strongly iorttes. \
charter has been granted by the Provincial
Parliament to q company to be organized for
this object surveys and estimates have been
completed, and it is computed that the work
may be accomplished at IA cost not exceeding
five hundred thousand pounds.
\ measure connected with the proposed
canal is cOntem plated, which demands earnest
consideration from its bearing upon the tu-
ture commerce Of Lake Champlan. A sur
yey of the rapids and distractions Of the St.
, Lawrence above Montreal is in progress I'M
der the auspices Of the Canadian Govern
Inent, and is SO far matured that the ablest
engineers assume its entire practicability.
| 1t is computed that an expenditure of SO coo
in erecting dams and blasting rocks which
now obstruct the channel, will enable vessels
4 Of 900 tuns , pass down the river to Mon
treal with perfect ease and safety,
1t is estimated that steamer descending
the st, Lawrence, and passing through the
projected canal from Caughnawaga, might
reach any port ON Lake Champl9in in foul
and hall days from Cleveland, and deliver
coal less than 4 IL, and -four at one shilling
sterling per barrel. Coal might thus be laid
down ut the mouth of u furnace upon the
lake, in large quantities, with celebrity, pre-
cision and economy. The vessels which i'm
port it would bear in their return freight the
| iron fabrics and crude ore OF New York
The only delay and charges incident to cana
| transit to which these vessels must be sub
,jcctcd would be that of the W leland Canal o
twenty-cight miles and the twenty miles O
the Caughnawaga Canal. In the return yoy
age these expenses would be increased by tic
passage of the short canals around the rapid.
Of the st. Lawrence.
Nor do these well defined and tangihl,
visions rest here, In the words Of an em
nent evil engineer of Canada, this Cana
will shortly be built 1t will make LAX,
Champlain the great highway between til,
Hudson River aud the Western Lakes, til,
quickest and cheapest route by water
will enforce the enlargement of the Northern
Canal at the Whitehall gates. at which W
shall be laundering with vessels 500 tun
for admission. Falling here we shall Civ
their ireights to the Railroads on each sid
of Champlain.' The eventual enlargement
of the Chnmplain Canal will thus secur
another magnificent result to the industrial
pursuits of Essex County, which will ho,
from this project
Another proposed Improvement intimatcl
blended with this subject, is entitled to tn
tribute of a notice, although pronounced i'm
practicable by thos" whose science and intel
lisrnce enable them to speak with high au
thority. This plan proposes a communica
tlon to conmtnca at Lake Huron, traversu
, Lakes Mdtouine and Slmcoe, and the Seye
Rivers, To enter Ontario at the City of Tu
ronto. II is asserted that this route Will
1t shOrteus the distance between Lake IIuro
} and the Atlantic five hundred miles, can h
perfected by an artificial navigation of oul
iorty-eight miles.
The canal, at the Sault of St NIarvs,
another link in this stupendous island navigi
ton. Penetrating still deeper into futurlt,
! we may contemplate Michigan united to III
waters of the Mississippi. An internal con
munication thus created, connecting Me-
, Orleans and the Far West with the Fast an
) North, would bind together the Union in th
triple chain Of proximity, commerce and =,
! al .t...,