The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-20
.botchn Of it, Let the people 20 they want TO- and are
trying - and al will out IN far better shape than
nodded with by Europe generally.


The Transit Trade with the Western
States OF Americas - -
IRON the Liverpool Journal, Sept. 81
When Sir j. PakiDgton announced that the navy would
have 70 be reconstructed the term was considered Il the
time far fetched and exaggeraon subsequent revcla
tons, however, prove that he correctly appreciated tho
changes which required to be made 10 the wants Of
the age, arising from the Improvement in steam gunnery
and naval construction similar reconstruction Of our
ocean mail routes must shortly follow and also Of geeds
and passenger transit between Europe and tho great
Western States Of America To understand the question
IN all It's bearings will be necessary to go back quarter
Of century 70 trace the changes that have taken place
since the establishment OF steamships and railways Prior
10 the opening OF the Erie canal in 1928 the produce OF
inc states bordering on the lakes passed down
canal opened although Oily having depth of Of four
verted the Hudson New York this mort beng omen
all the year round while the ports Of the ST. lawrence
closed for six months The rapid rise Of the com
mcrce Of New York dates from this period and which.
afterwards greatly accelerated by the progress Of
railways towards the western States The whole Of the
imports then went TO New York. ready 10 be forwarded
the opening OF the canal and lake navigation The New
York packet ships, celebrated carried all before
them the ocean, and the floating palaces on the Hud
and Lake Erie the admiration Of all, until he
ocean steamers and railways took away their traffic. and
hey now no longer exist. ING Erie canal mas Oeen anna
was done the Of the Philadelphia State canals.
The repeal Of the corn laws and subsequently the ma
vigaton laws, gave impetus to the New York Central
Railway and TO the shipping OF New York, which wae the
final blow to the s. Lawrence route Great discomfort
prevailed in Canada consequence, and conceded
by all that the only way regain the trade Of
West was to construct trunk railway from Sarnia TO-
ment contributes f3 III 500 and in November next s
expected the ne with the Victoria Bridge will be
ed from Portland to Detroit and Chicago, without a.
break-a distance OF 1873 milcs-wth weekly line Of
mail steamers TO Quebec and Portland from Liverpool
The geographical advantages of the route APPARENT
Quebec being 500 miles than New York, with
the railway connecting with shipping at Quebec Portland
and S9Tnia, which saves carriage and time a& re
At Three Rivers about ninety miles above Quebec, the
tidal flow and steamers have TO contend against
strong CURRENT requiring the aid Of great 10
come the resistance especially at the rapids below Mon
real above Montreal the St. Lawrence canals have 10 be
passed before entering Lake Ontario and the Weand
nal before reaching lake Erie in all sixty nine miles Of
canal and detention in the passage Of fifty four locks in
volvng heavy tolls goods, marine insurance, &c. &c.
from Lake Erie the transit the shoal water Of the St.
Clair river to Lake Huron is attended with considerable
danger, shown by the annual casualties. At Sarna the
entrance TO Lake Huron the current at the Of
the propellers arc compelled 10 be equipped with power
full machinery and as the season barely lasts six months
the forwarding companies have been one by one retiring
from the unequal competition and next year the fine pas
senger steamers which still running between Toronto
and Montreal will become matter of history like the SIS
| ter vessels on the Hudson and Lake Erie.
| We among those who consider steam yet in it's in
fancy We believe that steamships Of 10 900 tons win be-
come common that iron sailing ships Of 600 tons will
persede wooden and that the principle the construction
| Of the Great Eastern will become general
We have thus briefly given history Of the artificial
by which great trade has been diverted from
natural channel and the means adopted TO restore 70 it's
old Portland and Quebec admit the Great East
ern Goa at Tie iodre ci'e Nec York barely affords the
required depth Of ,er the Persia. ,0u be curious
trace the effects Of steam shipping and trade connected uit
Canada and the Western States The financial operations
Of merchants and contractors in the Western States
conducted at New York Montreal; these again
correspondence with Liverpool and London The question
Of transit 5000 tons Of iron to Chicago from Lii
verpoo depends therefore, on the ocean freight nsu
rance and railway, or railway and water transit COM
bined, whether New York Quebec is scected and
the tonnage from the lakes exceeds 00O there is
ample scope for enterprises the part OF the shpowners
and the managers of the Grand Trunk Railway especially
Quebec always loading port, which New York 70
not excepting when breadstu1s command high price in