, 1873-04-02
THE st, LAWRENCE ROUTE,

as to bo almost useless.
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THE ST. LAWRENCE ROUTE.
Tho fact that tho railroads Of tho WcBt can
bring moro grain to tho lako ports than can And
transportation to the East is woll understood.
There are 100000 OF bushels Of grain in store
in Chicago, md several millions moro at other
tion. In tho warehouses along tho railways in
all directions wost and northwest from Chicago,
and In tho corn-cribs upon tho farms, arc many
othor millions Of bushels waiting tho opening
Of navigation, to bo forwarded to tho lakcs. and
t1onco by water to tho Eaat and to Europe.
But right hero aro two obstacles: Tho railways
to the East, suppoHing the ratcawero reasonable,
oannot mogo the wheat alone corn and oats can
not afford transportation by rail ut al1; thoy
must 10 moved by water. Tie principal water
to tho East. Tho Eric Canal Is not equal to tho
movement Of ono-fourth Of the Western cropa
4 portion, Intended for foreign shipment, finds
Its way to Montreal. Here wo layo tho re1nark-
able fact TINT tho Northwest is provided with
abundance Of transportation, arliicially croatod,
from every locality to the lakes, but no menus Of
moving tho grain cast Of Buffalo. At TINT place,
the only water 1outo ia gorgod. Even Of tho
wheat sent BY lake to Buffalo, very
large percentage is put on cars at TINT
place and sont Eaat. It ia q mistake
to suppose that the grain sent henco to
Now York is shipped thonco to Europe or is
consumed there. New York is only distribute
ing point 4 largo portion Of 1t never reaches
that city at ALL but is takon from tho canal aud
from the rail at various points, to bo sent THENCE
to the interior and to al parts Of Now England.
The producers Of corn arc, therefore, almost
as helpless az thoy would bo II thero wero no
railways from tho interior to tho lakos, and this
helplcsencss must continue until tue wator route
is made continuous to market and adequate to
moyo every bushcl TINT is offered. Tho great
rise in tho prico OF iron last year in Europe,
and, consequently, in this country, produced an
extraordinary dcmand for Lako Superior oro
and, to transport this, large numbers OF ycsHols
werc Withdrawn from tho ordinary lake traffic
and engaged in that business. One result WAS that
tho reduced number OF vessels ongngod In carry
ing grain doubled their rates to Buffalo. Not
wthstanding largo increase in tho MI mber Of
vessels to be put adoat this season, tho amount
of grain in store is so great. and the anxiety to
move it early 80 strong, that lake froights have
openod At 10 to Is cents per busltel from Chicago
to Buffalo, whereas conts would afford fai1
profit.
There can bo no romedy for this until there is
direct, continuous, and sufficient water route
from Lako Michigan to tho East. The Dominion
OF Cauadn has already made m appropriation te
enlarge tho st. Lawrence canals so as to admit
tho passage Of vessels and steamers OF 1000 tons
from the Upper Lakos to Montreal. From Mon
troal tho grain thus transported can be takop b!
water into Like Ohamplain, and thus into th'
very heart Of Now England. This route has th'
advantage Of unlimited capacity. There can b
| no auch thing as gorge, aB ia tho case On tn
| il needed, pass from Chicago to Montreal, All
| e7ery bushol Of grain reaehing the lake port
| may be moved without delay. Tie contracts 70
| tho work on these St. Lawrence canals hay
| boon let, and work will actually be in progress
i by the opening of navigation. When this rout
| is thus opened, whom the. navigation OF Link
| Michigan is extended to Montreal and New Eng
| land there will bo but ONO difficulty In the WI
Of cheap freights from Chicago to tho Eas
Every vessel going to Montreal with corn MI
wheat must have return cargo, c
the. freight both waya will be charge
upon tho down cargo. Tho Canadian
have barloy, lumbor, hph, coal, and yariou
kinds of building material. aud othor products
raw and manufactured, Which thoy would bo gla
to exchange for our produotH. They ask tim
our law be 80 amended that our yessela takin
down cargoos OF wheat, corn, pork, and loul
i may be allowed to roturn with oargooa of Cam
| dim products which wo mood, and which do nc
compete with anything produced on the farm
/ of tho West. They asl reciprocity in trade
They hayo many hundreds Of vessels which the
can aend hither to carry of our grain, but the
cannot Bend them here empty without makii,
tho American producers of corn pay froights bot
ways. They open their ports and waters to a
our yoasels on tho aamo termp "a tho
own; but in order to mako froighta rc
sonable thoy ask for that reciprocity
trade which will enable theBe voaacls, America
and Canadian, to have full froights each way
The farmers OF tho Weat must unioratan
that corn cannot DO transported by rail 1000
1900 milea and leave anything to tho produce
Corn must DO moved by wator. Tho opening
| the St. Lawroneo and enlargement Of tho We
land Canal gives unlimited capacity for wat
communication from Chicago to Montreal n1
| to Burlington, Vermont. It will furnnh Il
means for moving every buslel OF grain pr
| duoed In tho West, even If tho aggroga
amount ho four times what Is now produce
Tho Erie Canal was, twenty yoars ago, unable
| movo all the grain offered to 1t; that canal ct
! moyo but little moro grain now than It did tic
| Tho rates Of freight on It ara increaB
| oyerY wear. and tue raljroads aot,la