The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-11-15
Direct Trade Between Great Brirain and
the Far West Of America.


1t is only within the last week that mos
important question has been solved, on
which has dsservedly received great after
ton on the other side of the Atlant C
namely, whether it is practicable to carr
on direct trade between Chicago, the utt
ma Thule of the American lakes, and thi
country, without transsAiprnent or forward
ing ria Buffalo and New York, the cours
hitherto generally adopted. Expericne
proves not only the feasibility but the bcne
/ fits of this thorough traffic. There is nov
in tho Queens Dock vessel Of 3S7 ton
6ur,hen, Che Dean Richmond, which La
not only made the passage from Quebec. bu
has travcrsed 2, 400 miles of inland water
bearing cargo Of 400 tons Of grain. th'
first vessel and the first carg, which ever ar
rived here direct from Chicago, opening q
| new field for commercial enterprise, markin
/ an important epoch in the annals OF the Far
1 West. Nor is it matter Of local import
ance, or likely to result in the benefit o
/ American Interests only, else we should no
refer to it, Worldwide advantages may
/ follow. Great benefits mnst arise from tht
success Of this plan. Whatever conduces t.
/ cheaper food, facilitate its delivery. and in
crease its supply, must be to the goncra
! good and the arrival of the Dean Rich
mond gives promise Of being the forcrunnei
and opener oi u trade which viii praducC
the above results. That we may not Ll
supposed to have overrated the importance
of Chicago, it may be as well to state a few
facts with reference TO the trade with that
port. The population in 1850 was 29,0G0,
in 1886 1t was increased to lOi, 900. The
shipments OF grain in lSjJ was , 200, 900
quarters, being the largest quantity shipped
from any one port i'll the " orld pd,!:, H.
600 barrels beef, 81, ,0G0 barrels imports,
10, coo tons of iron, 10000 tons OF coal
lumber, 325, ,00oo0 superficial feet arri.
vals, G,6l0 vessels Of l,G0s. s.Si5 tons. The
port possesses storage in warehouses for
500, 900 quarters OF grain, at which 400 ton
vessels have been loaded in four hours. We
are indebted to Mr.. Richmond and Captain
Pierse, the owners of the Dean Richmond
for these statistics. 1t should not be iurgot.
ten that all this trade was carried on under
the disadvantageous circumstances already
referred to, all these vessels laden merely to
be discharged into others, not one having
come direct to Great Britain but the .,caG
Richmond, to what vast proportions may
no, such trade be extended, when pro-
vid>d d with greater facilitesi Have we not
all cause to hope that the experiment, SO
successfully brought to close, may ,ventu-
ate in constant communication. 10 the mu-
tual benefits Of all, The northwestern
states, with their great railway and canal IA
cilities, can lay down at the lake ports
larger quantities of grain, at less cost, and
deliver the same in England in q shorter
time than the countries on the Black Sea-
Hitherto. as we have stated, the trade has
been carried on ria New York, the goods
passing through three or four different
hands ere they reached England, each
change entailing a commission besides loss
Of time, and three several frcights-in the
aggregate amounting this scaSon t. lbs. : !.
per quarter, with an unusually low rate Of
carriage 10 Buffalo. The Black Sea freghtS
at present are I-.. per quarter, and the
usual voyage from Galatz 80 to 100 days
The Dean Richmond has made the entire
passsge in GO days, including y DAYS lcten-
tion in the - Lawrence which would not
he k5Jr to, Qccgr a.,aIoc-YfsScIs- therefor.
days, while vast saving in expense will be
gained, the freight anu charges bein. less by
several sl,i.ings than by way Of New York
or the Black Sea. The canal dues on cargo
of 400 ions and ship amount to 3OL, and
steam tugs 3Ut more there are no port
charges, light ones, or pilotage on the
Lake, and therefore the saving Of commits
sons and freight is not counterbalanced by
other iInposts. Another important matter 10
the improved condition Of the grain which q
direct trade wonld secure, At present the
Liverpool merchants complain with Justice
of the state Of Western grain when receives
ria New York and Montreal, in large ships.
That now disch:rsHg from the Dean Rich
mOnd is in as good condition az when ship
ped, thus showing the advantage of tbs diz
rect trade in vessels Of 800 or 100 tons
Nor should it be forgotten that the west re-
quires the manufactures Of Great lSiitain.-
our iron, hardware, carthenware, &C, are
imported ria New York-inports, like ex
ports, passing through several hands, in
creasing cost, and occasioning delay. These
goods could be imported direct, to the bene-
tit Ct sill concerned. And now for few
words respecting the vessel, wEica, with the
cargo came consigned to Messrs Bigland,
Athys < Co., of this port. The Dean Rich
mond is fore and aft schooner of $50 tons
register; her length is l4j feet over all d;
beam 2G feet depth Of hold II feet She
drew 9 J feet, with 100 tons Of wheat in her,
and has beaten many vessels from Quebec by
two and three weeks. The Dean Richmond
is built entirely Of oak, except the decks,
and is fitted with new centre board, which
in deep water gives her draught of Is feet.
She has immense spars for her size, and al
together has very rakish appearance. At
present she is the largest vessel which can
come through the canals; but by moderate
outlay upon them we are given to under
stand ships Of 500 to 600 tons could easily
be admittcd.-Lirerpool Daily Past.
DIE ScHGNE WIrrwE.--A Song for the
Guitar.-Zat pooty little vidder, vat We
doshent wish to name, is sthi!l leben on zat
leetle sdrect, doing shuss de zane. Die