, 1862-04-17

Proposed Enlargement Of the
Erie Canal.
Report to the Hew. York Legislature.

Report to the New. York Legislature.
The measure proposed in the New York
Chamber Of Commerce, On the Sd inst, by
Mr. S.B. Rueglee, late Canal Commissioner,
for enlargfDg the locks Of the canals Of that
State to eize sufficient TO- pass var vessels
adequate to the defense Of the lakes, seems to
have met the approbatIon If tile Leglslatnre.
The bill suggested by the COMMITTEES of the
Chamber VAS promptly introduced BY: seaator
Smith, Chairman Of the Military Committee,
and fayorab1y reported without delay BY the
Standing Committee On Canals. Their Report
Will be found Of more than usual interest, as
clearly and succinctly stating the merits Of the
measure, both in its military and commercial
aspects. As this subject is one Of much int.
rest to the Lake region, we give most Of the
Committees report. They saE:
The aggregate length Of the canals Of this
Stnte is sos miles, and they have been con-
constructed at cost of SIS, ,31l ,TD0, exclusive
Of interest, without aid Of any kind from the
government Of the United States. The Au-
ditor Of the Canal Department, reports that
the commercial tonnage borne upon the Va
terB Of these canals in 1850 WIS more thin
seventy per cent. Of the whole import and ex-
port tonnage Of the United States
These works are supposed to be adequate
to meet the requirements Of tue immense
commerce, and all its ordinary Increase for
yPars to come.
While the enlarged Erie Canal, with dep,h
of ater Of seven feet, aud width Of seventy
feet, is scarcely completed, tile bill referred to
your committee proposes further immedi-
ate enlare1nent OF its locks, and the enlarge
ment Of the Champlain Canal and its locks, as
well as those Of the Oswego Canal; not
National Government. Such q proposition
ought not to be sanctioned, at the time when
the expenditures Of the Government, for
selfpreeervation, are reported ut three mil
lions Of dollars per day; nor should any ad-,
dition be made to tile heavy taxes which are
to be imposed upon our people, unless the
proposed enlargement is required as military
The frontier Of the line between the United
States and the British possessions in North
America, from its commencement in the St,
Lawrence river, westerly through the great
lakes, forme length Of water boundary Of
about fifteen hundred miles; to this should
be added a thousand miles OF coast on Lake
Michigan, Of which one harbor, Green Bay, is
large as Long Island Sound
The American shore line Of northern lakes.
included in bays, sounds aud islands, is $500
miles. The British shore line, including bays,
etc, is s, ,629 miles:
Our coast is studded with f1ourishinr cities
and yillages, sui rounded with fields rich in
harTests Of grain, and these great lakes, well
termed inland seas, are crossed in every direc-
ton, on both sides Of the boundary line, by
large but unprotected fleets Of steam and sail
vessels, bearing freights already nearly equal
to those of our seaboa1d.
Here follows IN extract from the treaty OF
Ghent, limiting the naval forces Of the United
States and Great Britain to the wants ol
revenue service only. The report then goes
on:]
Not only does this treaty prevent our p1ac-
ing On the Lakes all vessels Of war save those
enumerated, but in case Of unexpected hos.
tiliEes, there is no channel East, or West, OF
South, from the scaboa7d or the Mississippi,
through which gunboats could be taken I'd
ton Of their cities, yillages, haryests, fleets
and commerce On the other hand, Grea:
Britain has secured herself against this danger
on her part, by constructing canals and locks
Of sufficient: capacity to pass gunboats o
ample size for the protection Of the cities,
property and vessels Of her subjects.
The canals around the rapids Of the st. Law
renee are built to pass vessels from that rive,
to Lake Ontario l86 feet long, forty-four and
half feet beam, and nine feet draught.
The Wel]and canal around the Falls of Ming
ara, connecting Lakes Ontario and Eric, viii
pass vessels l42 feet long, twenty-Bix feel
bt am, and ten oraught.
The Rideau Canal, ayowed1y constructed fol
military purposes, occupies an interior line
comparatively remote from the frontier ane
connecting Montreal with Kingston through
the Ottawa river.
Of these works We do not complain, nor cal
Great Britain justly complain Of us, or view
it as IN act Of hostility, if the United State'
government takes Immediate measures tt
place itself Oh an equal footing. We shall bu
follow her example.
The mere statement of the above facts re
spectiDg the northern frontiers, the magnitude
Of the interest and commerce at stake, ant
their defence1ess position through the exist
ing treaty, is sufficient to show that the open
ing to the great lakes Of some channel Of in
tcrnal communication larger tlan any We not
have, is strictly national work, and plainl
required By prudence as measure Of milftar
necessity.
The idea that our canals could be speedily
enlarged to pass vessels of war, OF su1ficien
power to be useful in the defense Of ou
northern and western frontier, would hav
seemed visionary short time since but i
our efforts to enlarge our canals, solely to NEE
the requirements Of commerce, Wc hay
brought them almost to q size to pass sue
iron-c1ad steamers as the astonishing lesso
just taught by the Monitor are demonstrated
are to be our chief reliance, not only on on
seaboard but also on all our northern qn
western water frontiers.
It is also matter Of national interest. thf
in conjunction with the proposed enlargemer
Of the channels Of navigation between the 4
1antic and great lakes, an increased commerc
| will be turned toward the sea board throug
| from the Mississippi river to the Iakes.
One is the Improvement Of the Fox and Wi
! consin rivers through the State Of Wisconsin
| from Green Bay to Prairie du CHEN, no
nearly completed. THIS will be the outlet ,
the Upper Mississippi.
| The other is a proposed ship canal fro
| Chicago through the State of Illinois, By c'
largiDg the present canal and improving tt
| Illinois river. This will be the outlet Of Il
| Lower Mississippi. Both will form gre
branches of a water route, Of which the enlar
ed Erie canal must be the main trunk. Bo
are worthy Of national and State encourlg
ment: They are quite distinct and not anita
onjstic,
The ship canal from Chicago is one Of gre
magnitude, the locks of which are to be 8
feet long by 70 feet wide. It involves an e
and can be completed in FIVE years. The PR
ent canal transports large quantities Of graf
and yields handsome revenue over ordina
repairs and expenses.
The improvement of the Fox and Wiscous
rivers is 2o5 miles in length, Of which a5o
! 175 miles are in successful operation. Its loo
| are 1G0 feet long by IS feet vide.
The harbor Of Green Bay is protected agair
storms and inyas!ons By numerous bold a
rocky islands. The lower Fox has had al y
interrupted navigation for the last two yea
passing steamboats, and barges capable Of c
1ying from eight to ten thousand bushels
wheat: The upper Fox is not yet fully i
I proved, nevertheless it passes boats and baTg
; Of greater capacity than those of the old E
canal.
By these two important routes, there Il
| be, in few years, an unbroken nayiElti
between the harbor Of New Tork and the III
sissippi river. They will give safe passe
TO cur commercial and naval ycssels throu
a fertile and populous region, and one, tt
which has always been loyal to the Union.
l necessity Of such outlets has been demonst
. ted By an unnatural rebellion, which EiHu
{ closed the lower Mississippi against
: richest sources OF her prosperity.
: The commercial and agricultural interests
Z the valley Of the Mississippi. of the Ct
8 lakes, and Of the Eric canal, will ever be
most important in our country. They
q surely entitled to the same military prot
9 ton that is given to smaller commerce
l our Atlantic coast.
+ This can only be provided under OUT tire
! with Great Britain, bg opening channels #
D the east and west, through which Ton-c
, vessels can be moved without delay VIII
d ever the occasion may demand. Tue E
!, Cbamplain, and Oswego canals arc the 0
: possible channels for this purpose east Of
I lukes.
|, According to the recent report Of the 81
a Engineer (Assembly document II, these
|, nails can be adapted to the passage Of iron-e