Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-10-16
Anv treaty that may be entered upon

ANY treaty that may DC eh'ereu uPo
will require ratification on the part {
the Senate of the United States, an
doubtless some legislative action on tn
part of Congress to make it effective
Although it might not be best for us +
enter upon the discussion of the detail
of exchange Of products, while these ne
gotiations are pending, we may properl,
consider the commercial and politica
aspects; and in that view no apology i
necessary for inviting your attention tc
the subject.
The questions involved are Of Vita
importance,-not only to Vermont and
New York, but to all the New England
States, and the States bordering upon
the tributary to the Northern Lakes
The annual increase of the products of
these Western States has exceeded the
capacity of transportation of all the av-
enues to the Atlantic AT recent COM
m9rcial convention in the West, it was
declared as the deliberate sense of the
large assembly, that: The canals and
various lines of railroads leading to and
from the Lakes, while they have contrib
uted vastly to develop the resources, in
crease the wealth and promote the per-
manent union of our country, are wholly
inadequate to the demands of the i'm
mense and rapidly growing commerce"
If we can secure, through the negotia-
tions now pending, the construction of a
ship canal, connecting the waters of the
st. Lawrence river and Lake Champlain,
new and desirable route would be open
ed to the great trade which passes be-
tween Underwater in the Hudson River
the railroads of New England, the West
ern States and Canada. The opening Of
this route is of vast importance to Can
ada as well as ourselves, and have rea-
son to believe that she is ready to con-
struct this work if a reciprocal treaty
cal be secured, which in its operation
would be mutually beneficial.
This project is not new. 1t has at
tracted the attention of many leading
minds, and been approved by eminent
and practical engineers. In 1854, care
ful and accurate surveys and estimates
were made under the direction of the
Canada Board of Public Works, by
Mr.. Jarvis, well known from his con-
nection with the public works of the
State of New York. The survey of sew
eral routes was made, but the preference
was given to the direct lire from Caugh-
nawaga to St Johns. The country being
very Misunderstanding but little
heavy work at any point on the line,-
with distance of but twenty-six miles,
and summit to be attained of only
twenty-five feet, and involving cost of
construction of, say three millions of dol
lars for canal that would pass vessels
of six to seven hundred tons.
As freight and tolls then stood, it was
aseertained that the cost -of tol,;as, rrap-
erty from Chicago to Troy, N, Y, with
the enlarged canals of the State of New
York, then in contemplation, would be
via Buffalo, S1,S5, via Oswego, sol, via
the st. Lawrence and Lake Champlain,
$500. Mr.. McAlpine, an engineer of
high standing, came to the same conclu-
sion He declared that, with the Caugh
nawaga Canal, the cost of transportation
by the new route from Chicago would be
less than by any other. 1t is stated as
follows by Mr.. McAlpine:
Chicago 70 Whitehall. ls51 miles, at
= two mills per mile, 40 ~ nor ton
Expenses on the Canadian canals,
o ~ eei inciuded-s6 miles.
Transfer of cargo at Whitehall 20
Iuausfer on present Champiain canal, IS 49,
Total cost. $500 -"
With connection of this character.
no other route, from the West to the tide
waters Of the Hudson, will possess any
advantages over the route via the St.
Lawrence and Lake Champlain to the
same point. And this route is greatly
superior to any other in its relations to
the trade between the West and that
portion of New England and New York
which borders upon and can be reached
from the waters of Lake Champlain. 1t
is demonstrated that produce from the
West can be delivered on Lake Cham.
plain, by the St. Lawrence route, at one
fourth less cost for transportation and in
less time than by the other routes, while
the connection with the Ottawa valley
Will be shortened ninety miles and the
rise and fall lessened one hundred and
eighteen feet, an improvement of great
Importance, as we are dependent largely
upon this source for our supply of lum-
oer' which, as an article of commerce.
stands next almost to grain. -gs ID l.
The saving upon the single article of
Hour, to the people of Vermont alone. in
opening this new line, would amount tn
nearly or quite fifty Thousand do,l,