Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-01-05

We have read with interest a report of
paper on the subject Of the Reciprocity Treaty
and our commercial relations with the Cana
das, which was read before the American
Historical and Statistical Society Of New
York City, on the Dist ult. by Mr.. f. II.
Derby, of Boston. The abstract Of it before
us is a meagre one tut it contains facts and
figures Of some consequence.
The lecturer took the ground that while
the Reciprocity Treaty has been boon Of
immense service to Canada, it has also bene-
fitted US greatly and that it il our policy
to renew a treaty, with the improvements
and notifications in our favor which we can
readily secure. Under that treaty, said Mr..
Derby. our commerce with the British
Provinces, has increased in ten years to Jffty
millions of dollars a year. Canada has 2s7,-
600 miles Of fine timber, almost untouched,
which we need. We have taken O0,OOO, 900
Of Der lumber last year, $1,000 600 bushels
of wheat; 3S 100000 bushels Of oats 3d.
600 horses, and & ,000, 200 pounds Of long
eombing wool, very essential article for
our manufacturers, in single year. Nova
Scotia has mines, largely owned by Yankee
capital, of indispensable gas coal, which
costs but 81 tun IN gold, to transport here
Qess. than it costs from our mines Prince Ed
wards Island is fertile, and has a consider
able trade with New England Newiound-
land has sold US 81 500 600 worth OF Goldfish
year. The privileges accorded to US by
the Treaty in the Fisheries have been of great
advantage to US. They were an important
naval school employing $500 vessels and
$4,000 seamen, and their products are
worth fifteen millions. While such have
been the benefits of the Treaty t. n~. tt,y
aaye douhtltss been grea'rr t.,.r o. tfr .. p
1t was doubtless INTENDED {. hcn,ia i.,..
more than u. At my rae ~ N
thrivei immensely under il
BY the time we are le pie d 4e.u'n.t'o
the Canadas will have LOCO 900 col g.,i
English, Irish, Scotch and FlencI oii-.1.
Ther land has doubled in value. Tie he
turer admitted that while il 1861 our I'M
ports from the Provinces had amounted to
$50, 100000, our exports were only
SIS, 900. goo, the rest no doubt being made
up largely in specie. Bui then be urgel,
We are 8 gold producing country, and we
are gamers for what We bought. Eng
land had imported in the last ten years
$3.50, 100000 more than she had exported,
which was no doubt land up in added wealth.
In fine, asked Mr.. Derby, " Now, why can
We not put small duty On their lumber,
their Ssh and their coal, and renew treaty
They came to US now offering better terms
than before, They say they are willing to
extend the free list, to raise their duty on
spirits, to give US copyr ghts and patent
rights, by which we now lose greatly; in
fact, whatever is reasonable. At Detroit
they promise to deepen and enlarge their
canals, so as TO give passage to the Western
products, for which all our means are in
adequate now, and must soon be chokei up.
We should improve the St. Clair Flats while
they enlarge the Welland Canal. The pro-
ducts Of the great West must be taken cheap
ly TO the Eastern and European markets.
But BY far the most important Of all these
works is the making Of the ship canal from
the ST. Lawrence to Lake Champlain. and
thence to the Hudson. By this the vast
.rafic from all the great lakes could be
made to pass by New York, and thus direct
shipment be made in vessels Of 900 tuns
from New York to Chicago" lie believed
that thus, by the roads and canals now COM
plei,d aud IN course Of construction cur
trade with Canada might be liner ased to
5000 600 600 as well as it had been to
5O,OO0, 900 year.
Such considerations as these have weight,
and are attracting much attention among
our public men. While entirely in favor
Of the abrogation Of the treaty in its pres
ent form, We doubt not that a new treaty,
with the improvements which may be formed
in il. and with the bonus winch Canada
can well afford to offer for it in the con-
struciion of the Cbamplain and ST. Law
,erce SHIN Canal. will be for our advantage.