, 1859-01-12
Canada and the Trade of the West.


Oar Canadian ne'ghbors are earnestly ditcus.
sing :ho subject Of. Western trade, with d view
not only Of securing its outlet to the ocean
through their own canals md the st. Lawrence
River, but also Of participating more largely
than heretofore in it themselves. Foremos.
among those who are engaged in this discussion
are Mr.. Young and Nr. Fraatwine. Tbs former
holds that with increased facilities for trade,
provided in the form of public works, Montreal
and the ST. Lawrence must secure large pre-
portion Of the export trade Of the grain pro-
duclng districts of the West. Ar. Frantaiue,
on the other hand. Assumes that Canada will
never be cbie to eecure any large proportion of
the export trads Of the West, until in position
to do its import trade also. Ar. Young adyo-
Gates ship canal from the ST. Lawrence to
Lake Champlain 30 that the vessel from the in
terror, whether from the Western States or
from C.nadu West could deliver her cargo On
Lake Champlaiu without breaking bulk. This
rer route Re th1nks would have tie advantage
both in time and cost o7er the Osuego and BUFF
fa!o routes, nnd it would remove the great
stream oftrade in its passage from the West to
the East, $50 miles lower down than vhere II,
exit from the st. Lawrence is at present, and
would inevitably result IN securing through
Lower Canada the quickest ard cheapest u,eana
Of transport to the Eastern United S;otes. But
this view Of tbs case does not gire genera. sat-
istactlon- The Montreal Gl=et.4 replies to it a.
follows:
Now It would be very well to argue as Mr.
1ouug does, If the Western merchant alTays
did ship his grain, e.. whittier be chose as bis
own vensure-h the direction Of the travel OF
the produce we're not determined By tie capital.
holding and the imPort-sellrg cltics. II people
10 Chicago did not require to remit to New
lolk IN payment for the imported goods ther
had bought there. 1fthe demand thus created
dld not exist there, the supply would not seek
the artificial route through New York; mad ,ha,
sort OF demand is unfortunately almost nece.sa,
rlfv coincldeat with the lower freightq, which
arhe out Of the profit given ships on carcoes
| brought out The Atlantic voyage consis,s of
two tripB-oue out bound, the other home ward.
and If the vessel comes out in ballast, she can.
not t1ord to carry freight home 50 cheaply 4,
the ressel which brought cargo out This st
present Il the case on the S.. Lawrence: the
great bulk Of the ships come io ballast, and The
voyage home has to make 1t up. At New York
the vessel arrives in csrgo, and cau f1ord to
carTT back at a low rate. The remedy Sir.
Young proposes, then, is cheap water commu-
nleas;on botveen the mouth Of the St, Lawrence
Canal aud New ! ork. making our canals com
pe.ltors With the Erie tor the New York trade
aud the object 10 be obtained, he states "to be
TO place Montreal exactly in the position which
Os"e ego and Buffalo hold in being the best out
let's from the 81. Lawrence route on Lakes Eric
and Ontario to New York and England But
Tint is not the summit Of our ambition nor WAS
it once Of Ar. Young's. We do not seek to eu-
ter on rivalry With 0sweeo sud Buffalo a.
feeders Of New York s1e dekir< to 1e ii, 1}t,c
1nrG of tAt NORTH oursttr4, end sn1ks lHac1gc.
-4i!ndults aud Other f1r-,cfst to,:ns. If not BIZ
1dlo dn4 01rt1o A-ws4lru, f~x11 - IL,
fret2hts are cheaper now to and from New York
than to and from Aontre1l. The Caughnswaas
Eanal would Lessen the freight between New
York and the Lakes and st. Lawrence, and thus
might make New York ths port of import Of
Lower Canada, as veil as Upper Canada and the
western States Il il to create d new artificial
- Lawrence, with its mouth ut the city of New
York, to coupets with the old 1t. Lawrence.
having its mouth at Gnspe. Assused!v this il
not coneummauon which ne desire: nor, Ne
think does Mr.. Young. True We might restrict
the trade through this channel By means Of pro.
tectlyo dotlet, auch ~ now prevent the use OF
the St Lawrence by the Western States. Bat
IT we are going to shut Canadian trade ont OF ii.
Why Guild III To chenpea freight to New York
from the West, and 50 enable men TO lsy n7ain
down there cheaper, and ship it at less price,
70 undeEsell The Gra:n We a!so ship, ria ahe St
Lawrence 70 LiEerpool1 Surely thin would be
arrange Canadian policy. We arc not prepar.
cd to deny that there would b chxuce Of max.
lnR the other cana4s then psy the interes. on
ihe cost OF construction; but 1t we're surely bet
ter to endure this i'll than venture On The other.
Ne shall See what answer Lit. Young has to shis
statement Of the easA