, 1872-10-22

composed Of commercial men, to assume that
| the State OF New York is not interested in the
trade Of the Erie Canal, and that if the people
OF the West want an enlarged canal they must
pay for it, Apart from the fact that the country
mas paid for thepreseht canal twice over, if New
YORK wants the trade of-the West, it is as much
her duty. to furnish highway for that purpose
as 1t ls for the City OF New York to provide
paved streets for the convenience of those doing
business therein. There is no more reason for
taxing the country $2o, 1000, 600 to enlarge the
Erie Canal : than there is for taxing
it $40,00o,000 to enlarge the Pennsyl-
vania or the James River Canals, If New
York does not want the trade of the Vest.
aud therefore, refuses the means Of reaching
that city, then the West must seek market by
that route which offers the best facilities.
The natural outlet Of the Northwest is By the
St. Lawrence. That river is within a foreign
Jurisdiction. It's navigation is interrupted for
certain distance by natural distractions. Years
ago, the Canadians oEercame those obstructions
in great part by canals which, like the Erie, were
adequate at the time for the commerce that then
existed. But trade is no longer to be carried on
in the small craft that hoated thirty years
ago. Larger canals, adapted to steam navi-
CATION, are now needed, nnd Canada, with
an enterprise and public spirit which
must eventually succeed, is about to widen and
deepen her canals that the steamers and pro-
pellers which leave Chicago may make continuous
voyage to Montreal or into Lake Champlain,
thus furnishing New England with breadstuffs
direct, and filling all orders for expectation at
Montreal. The fact that this will increase the
volume OF receipts and shipments at Montreal
is OF the least possible concern. Corn, which
sells at s21k cents i'll Liverpool brings the pro-
ducer Is cents at the railway station in Iowa.
The II cents difference is the cost Of transporta-
tion. If Canada gives us continuous steam nari~
cation from Chicagoto Montreal, thereby reducing
the cost Of transportation 20 cents per buahel
and adding that sum to the value Of the corn in
the hands Of the producer, then the Canadian
Government Performs benefaction to thetwenty
millions Of grain producers in the country and
have the least significance.
five can get twenty cents or one cent more
per bushel for corn and wheat sont Enst by way
Of the st. Lawrence than We can for the same
grain sent by the Erie Canal, can New York City
expect that the Western States will not avail |
themselves Of the more profitable route ? Grain |
At Montreal is as near Liverpool as grain |
1t New York, and every cent taken off tho cost !
Of getting it to either Of these places is cent
added to the value Of the article on the farm. |
The Canadians ask a renewalof the Reciprocity !
Treaty-a treaty which was beneficial to Us IS
we'll aB to them while it remained in force What
is 30 easily granted as this? How email price
it is to pay for so great boon. The National !
Board OF Trade is to be congratulated that, after
so many years Of discussion, it has been able to
overcome old prejudices and all sel6ahness, and
non give this measure q strong and nearly
unanimous approval