, 1863-02-25

Tho Committee have thus endeayorcd to
prtsrnt come f;.cts as to the magnitude Of the
productions and commerce OF tue Northwest,
but where these figures ascend ~ the ftgion
Of millions, the m{nd forms very vague ideas
rs to he bulk and extension For instance,
to borrow m illustration OF a contemporary,
the cereals which last year went out OF tue
lakes, if placed in barrels and arranged chime
to chime, Would not simply grid tue Amerl-
can continent from New York to San Fran
cisco, bnt would bridge the Pacific and term
mate in the Celestial Empire. The hogs re-
ceiyed at Chicago alone, during the past sea.
son, If masshaled in 4 continuous line, would
stretch eastward rs far rs Portland, while the
cattle would form an appendasc stretching to
the city Of saints. These illustrations convey
4 visible idea Of the great mass Of vegetable
and animal food which yearly passes from The
West to The East. For the past two years
the warehouses Of the lakes have been,
even during the active period Of navigation,
gorged with freight; the rolling stock Of the
railways has been worked to Its full capacity;
every craft that could float upon the likes has
been put under steam OF canvas; and the locks
Of the New York and Erie Canal have proved
Inadequate to pass the throng Of boats expo
have been performed in nine days was pro-
tracted to fourteen.
It is the opinion Of your Committee that, if
at this time the project were entered upon Of
doubling the transporting capacity Of the eN-
listing channels of communication, that, after
the lapse Of single decade, the glut would be
as great as ever What Is essential to the fu-
tnfe growth and development Of the North
west is the opening Of broad, tlttp AMI COM
nsodions sip-chdnnel bstH<tH The lakxs and the
inaHtfc, edpdetoHs as to enabs our largest res
sels to pass direct from CAiedgo to Montreal, aud
etrn Lire1ToN.
Such route your Committee believe, eau
be obtained through Canada
l. By the construction Of the Ottawa Ship
Canal, with depth Of twelve feet Of water,
and at 4 cost Of $12, ,057, $50, by which route
Montreal Is brought five hundred miles nearer
Chicago than New York city. The time con-
sumed In the voyage need not exceed ten
days, tile cereals, partaking Of the tempera-
ture Of the cool waters Of tue Ottawa, instead
would be far less liable to be marked as t're-
jected,' and the cost Of transportation on
each bushel, at q Modcratc estimate, would be
reduced fifteen cents. This canal, When CON
structed, would at once secure large pro-
portion Of the corn trade Of the lakes, aud at
route for the introduction Of railroad iron
and salt into the Northwest.
2. By the enlargement Of the existing locks
of the st. Lawrence canals SO as to pass our
largest craft to the Gulf of st. Lawrence, The
total distance from Chicago to Montreal By
LAIe !uuaE ~ A3-Ou AA11E-s LIZ u14lCs SlutlEl
than BY the New York and Erie canal to New
York city, besides dispensing with the labor
Of transshipmcnt.
In view OF these facts, your Committee can
not but commend, as wise and polite, the re-
cent action Of the Legislature Of Illinois in
directing the Governor to appoint a commits
sion to visit the Canadian authorities and to
represent to them the importance of either
enlarging tho existing channels Of communi-
cation, or opening new ones, between the great
lakes and the Gulf Of st. Lawrence.
In conclusion, the Committee would sub.
nit for adoption the subjoined resolutions.
GEORGE STEELE,
GEO. ARMOUR,
N. G. STEARSs,
W. D. HouGurELL1SG,
IRA 7. MUSS,
Committee Of the Board Of Trade.
NELSON TUTTLE,
4. BENEDICT.
JOHN TrKRELL,
Com. Of the Mercantile Association.