Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-07-28
The Caughnawaga Canal.

MEETING or CITIZENS oY BURLINGTON.
Under an informal invitation, number of
citizens Of Burlington. representing various
business interests, met il the City Court room
| Thursday evening, to take measures towards Sc
curing the speedy commencement Of the Caugh-
uawaga Canal The meeting was called to order
by Mayor Dodge, and organized bg the appoint
ment of Hon. L E Wales as Chairman, and G.
G. Benedict as Secretary.
Lawrence Barnes, Of the Board Of Directors of
the Caughnswags Canal Company, stated the
object OF the meeting. The time had come when
Burlington should move in earnest, towards the
accomplishment of the enterprise The charter
Of the canal required a subscription of $500, 900
to the capital stock Of the company, before next
May. Some $4,000 had beea subscribed to
the stock in Ottawa, and from 100000 to
$780, 900 was pledged from that city. He he
ieved that subscription Of $780, 900 to the
stock from this city, would now secure the canal.
Mr.. Barnes explained the immense advantages
to the lumber interest of the Ottawa region, by
opening cheaper transit to market, anu bring
ing into use and value the quantities Of waste
lumber, now vslaeless fer want Of cheap trans
portstion Reliable statistics slso showed thst
the water route by the st. Lawrence, was the
natural outlet for fourteen millions Of tons Of
western freight. But third Of that amount
would make the canal most profitable invest
ment. Five millions of tons brought to the port
Of Burlington would require the loading Of
three hundred ears day for every day in the
year to take it away and al hslf cent per ton
per mile, for the water carriage of thousand
miles, and a cent ton per mile for the railroad
transportation to Boston, it would make most
profitable and prosperous business for all con-
cerned. 1t would be a route with which no
other could begin to compete.
More grain wac loading for expectation from
the ST. Lawrence, to-day, than from both New
York and Boston put together. Il was for US TO
say if this immense business should be brought
to our doors. He believed that such sn oppor-
tunity as this, was seldom offered to any town.
The canal. he confidently believed, would make
Burlington a city Of 900 inhabitants in ten
or fifteen years. and would make double tracks
necessary on all railroads leading from Lake
Champaign If this city should pay the entire
cost Of building the canal it would be the ric her for
it in ten years The stock books Of the co npany
has been sent on here, for the subscriptions Of
the citizens of Burlington, and on their Action,
the further progress of the enterprise depends.
For one he WAS ready to put money and time
end eort into this enterprise. the best invest
ment be could mske.
Col lie Grand B. Cannon being invited to
speak. said that with the completion Of this canal
and enlargement of the Nelland Canal, (Which
he considered as necessary as the construction
Of the Ctughnswags), he had no doubt that all
the anticipations expressed by MIR Barnes would
be fully realized. He WAS persuaded that no
other American enterprise Of our day, possesses
the merit Of this. With all the Improvements
and economies in the transportation of freight
by rail. it was still true that water carriage was
by far tine cheapest English statistics show that
cosl is now transported by steam golfers, at half
the price by rail. This route, with but 20
miles of ship canal, on which steam towsge
would be available, would have immense advar-
tsges over all others. 0fthe great benefits to be
derived from its construction, this town. he
had no doubt Burlington has more than dou
bled its population, in the last ten years, because
it has been the depot for great product, which
has called population and manufactures here.
The construction of this canal would continue
and immensely increase this process. lie had
no doubt that it would qusdruple the value of
the property in this city in ten year,. Nor were
its benefits to be confined to this vicinity 1t was
project large enough to enlist the interest and
aid of the whole State.
Mr.. Henry Rolfe said he believed the future
prosperity of Burlington depended on this canal.
He had predicted when the lumber business was
started here, that we should see the dsy when
fifty millions Of feet would be sold here in year