The Portland daily press., 1869-01-16
The niagara Ship Canal

There is city of considerable size at the
eastern end of Lake Erie that has grown, as
one of the termini of the Erie canal. into con
siderable prominence. All the freight coming
from the West by way of these lakes, except
that which gets further lake transportation by
passing through the Welland canal and pay
ing toll to the Canadian government, must be
transhipped at Buffalo and passes over the ca
nal that makes Buffalo commercial metrop-
OILS. Millions Of dollars go into the Canadian
treasury by reason of the efforts of western
producers and Eastern shippers and merchants
to get freight to the seaboard by the longest
water routes without transhipping. A ship
canal around Niagara Falls, built and owned
by the United States would save this payment
of tribute to Great Britain, and be in all re-
spects incomparab.y the most important and
remunerative OF all the enterprises projected
for the solution of the commercial problem Of
the day-how to get Western freight to the
seaboard most economically. This Sanal
would remove Buffalo to Ogdensburg, com.
mercially speaking, and the Erie canal would
cease to have that monopoly of the transport
alton business which it now enjoys.
1t is hardly to be wondered at, under these
circumstances, that when public spirited
Congressman, having in view the general pros
perity of the country takes hold of the often
pushed, but never successfully pushed, Mag
ara canal project, Buffalo goes into state o.
distress that approaches to asphyxia. 1t is es
timated that it costs Buffalo from eighty te
one hundred thousand dollars annually tt
keep matters right at Washington. The Buff
falo lobby is the first ON the ground and thu
last 10 leave.
This is the case of Buffalo and other limited
interests against the United States. The sub
iect of the Niagara canal is now before Con
gress, and there was a sharp debate concern
ing it Thursday. The proposition is to plac
S120O0,000 in the hands of the Secretary 9
War for the construction of this great nation
al work. In the debate referred to, Mr.. Va
Horn of Lockport, N. Y, spoke in favor of tn
bill, but Mr.. Humphrey, the Buffalo member
opposed it. Indeed he was elected for that ex
press purpose. Mr.. Paine of Wisconsin spok
of the immense advantage to be derived fron
it by the West. When the Northern Pacifi
Road is built it will become an absolute nece.
sity, if indeed it is not SO already. So far a
Maine IS concerned there are not two sides I
the question. When our Western railroa
connections are completed, even more tina
now, it is desirable that freight should reac
Ogdensburg by water. 1t is satisfactory
know that our Senators and Representative
are doing everything in their power to hei
the project along. There is determination i
the House to have vote on the subject at tn
earliest possible day, and as seen from this dis
lance the prospect looks at present quite favor
able. No one in requiring of the government
the most rigid economy at this important CT
sis in our financial affairs will for one momen
confound the Niagara ship canal with thos
schemes to create railroad and other monopc
lies which are kept in the background with s
much difficulty. ......