Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-06-06
The Ninrnra FaIIs canal.

Inc lQllUMAuk 10 AAS = tAAA p
resolution offered by Judge spalding, at
the Canal Convention, regarding a canal
around the Niagara Falls, which the Cleve-
land delegation preferred having made
the primary object to be urged upon Gov
ernment
WHEREAS, It has been sscertained by
careful survey and estimate made by Cap
lain G. W. Williams Of the United States
army. under the direction of the Topo-
graphical Bureau Of the General Govern
ment, that ship canal on the American
side. between Lakes Erie and Ontario, to
pass vessels Of from 200 to 1900 tons
burthen, can be constructed on line OF
from seven to fourteen miles in length,
and at q cost Of from two and half to
five millions of dollars, depending upon
the line adopted, and
WHERKAs, The construction Of such
| canal is demanded by the entire Northern
frontier. as a military defense, admitting,
A It will, the passage OF gunbosts OF q
capacity equal to any that can be put upon
Lake Ontario by the British Government,
through her already constructed St Law
renee canal.
WHEREAS, Through such a canal, sd
mitting, as Il will the free lake navigation
of steamers and vessels Of large class
the products Of the great West can, cheap
er than by any other channel, be poure7
out on the Atlantic coast for distribution
10 the markets Of the world, therefore
ResoLUed. That the Committee recon
mend. in connection with other measures
the immediate construction Of ship ca.
nal around the Falls Of Niagara as Gov
ernment work, and at the National ex
pense.
Mr.. Riddle, in speaking Of his own res
olution making the Fiagara Falls cana
pre-eminent, said it would be discovered
that there were two propositions reported
bv the Committee, and both were not oI
the same basis. That il regard to the Shil
Canal was placed in a subordinate posi-
ton. He desired that they should be pu
upon the same basis precisely. An intel
ligeut stranger who would first unroll tn
man of North America would be strucl
perhaps with nothing more directly thar
with the immense system OF great lnlau'
waters. He would be also struck with tn
Interruption of navigation by the Falls
Niagara. between lake Er1e and Ontario
and he would ask whether it was possibl
to secure navigable facilities from tn
great Lakes to the ocean. Even befor
constructing the Erie Canal, he Woul
query whether that great obstacle ooul'
be removed. he would contemplate ths
it was the duty of the sovereign to com
plete what nature had thus left incomplete
gSTefs0f tRg'BBSSh BBSSh RBfh IN waHldh h5pdh that sa e
had acted on that natural hint an
had for itself and for those who should b
pleased to pay tribute to it completed wha
nature, for some purpose had left uncom
plete, and had already constructed shi
canal. He would be utterly amazed that
great nation like our own, who had plsnte
its footsteps on the further shores Of thos
great lakes, was still content to crop
through that canal which the British Gov
ernment had constructed on the other side
and to pay tribute therefor. He would b
utterly amazed that the great nation on tn
south side of these now unnavigable waters
had not acted on the teachings Of nstur
herself, and followed the example of he
great rival by constructing for herself, Of
her own soil, q ship canal around the Fall
of Niagara. That was pre-eminently tn
first link in the erection of that great chaii
of lake navigation. He submitted ths
even if it was not entitled to the first plac
in the proceedings Of this Convention,
certainly was entitled 10 be placed on pre-
cisely the same basis as the other. Tha
was the proposition for the Convention I
pass upon.
He would have liked to say somethin
upon the main proposition, but he did no
propose to do so now, as the question wa
not before them. His voice had bee
raised in another place, and his vote ha
been given for the general proposition tina
underlay the first branch Of the report.