Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-02-21

| trlnlng, as all tnal WOulu DE nece>sdfy
would be to raise the dam one foot higher,
and increase the size of the locks. lie had,
however, conyersed with engineers on the
subject, and on talking the matter over they
were of the opinion that the cost of the
work would not exceed eight millions Of dol
lars. That would be all that would be
necessary to secure one of the greatest I'M
provements ever made, and although he did
not mean to assert that the proposed i'm
provement would materially benefit or bs
absolutely necessary for the local traffic
along the Champlain Canal, or even on
Lake Champaign, they should look to the
future, and if they only secured it by the
trade of the Canadas, it would be good in
vestment for the State of New York to build
it, The speaker then alluded to the Caugh-
nawaga canal, which was shortly to be COM
menced, and argued that if this improve
ment were carried out it would bring the
whole trade of the Western states this way.
lie then touched on the elevation between
New York and Montreal, which he said was
one hundred and fOrty-seven feet. Of this
one hundred and seventeen feet occurred in
the river, which 1t was proposed TO over
come with eleven dams, and from where
they left the river to the apex the elevation
was thirty-one feet, and that it was proposed
to overcome by two locks in the canal
making thirteen locks in all, between New
York and Lake Ontario in addition to this
there would be a descent of fifty feet to 90
into Lake Champaign. He was aware that
some of the papers had said ''What is the
use OF building that canal when you have no
communication with the river St. Lawrence?
He would answer that by saying the
| Caughnawaga canal would bring them into
communication with the Weland canal,
which was about to be enlarged considerably
| by the Canadian government; that would
bring them to Lake Superior, and with the
| Fox river and Wisconsin river improve
ments. the waters of the Mississippi would
be reached, 50 that it would then be practi-
cable for vessels of thousand tons to come
from either Lakes Superior, Erie. Ontario.
or Michigan, right through to New York
The bill provided for the expenditure of
| 5000, 900 this year, as it would probably
take the whole Of next Summer to get the
ground surveyed and plans and estimates
prepared, and then upon their approval the
work could go on. The next year it was
proposed to spend 81 500, 900 in the work,
and then further appropriations could be
left to future legislatures,
HON. JOHN YoUNG's SPEECH.
Hon.J ohm Young of Canada then addressed
the committee, and having prefaced his re-
marks by stating the deep interest he took
in the commercial relations of the two cOun-
tries, proceeded to describe The vast tracts
of country both in the Northwestern states
and Canadathat were Improbable for settle
ment because of the difficulties experienced
by farmers in getting their products to
market Between the Saskatchewan and
Rocky mountains there were 16O, 900 square
miles of land occupied by II 200 900 Of
people, that would well sustain 200 900 600
if there were only adequate outlets for their
products. The great mistake made by the
Canadians in building their canals was that
they were quite inadequate 10 the present
wants, let alone the future but that was
being somewhat remedied now by the en-
largement Of the Welland canal lfthe plans
suggested We're carried out, there would
be no impediment in the way Ct vessels
of a thousand tons coming right through
from Lake Superior and Buffalo 10
New York without breaking bulk The
saving i'll time consumed alone would in Il
few years pay the cost of the improvement,
tCsay nOhingt of the immense advantages
that would accrue to shippers and pro-
ducers froa the reduction Of the cost of
transit. Mr.. Young then read extracts
from the opinion given Of the practicability
of the scheme by Mr. Jarvis, 80 long back as
1855. and said the cost of freight now from
Buffalo to Troy was S460 per ton, whereas
if those canals and Improvements were
made the cost would not exceed s. g. per
ton. thereby showing clear saving in cost
Of freightage of Sl9j per ton. Even if
they put the saving at $50 per ton. there /
would be clear net gain on the tonnage
now of about 50, 700. 200 year. The most |
eminent engineers, both in Canada and the I
United States, agreed that those results |
would be obtained, and the time was now |
fast coming when they could choose the /
best routes for the transit of freight. As the .
Treaty Of Washington had given the cit- /
zens Of the United States rs much right 10 I
the waters of the St Lawrence forever a.
States had also the right to navigate the
Canadian canals, and therefore the time had .
arrived when jealousie~ between the two
countries should be sunk, and the question
alone Of the best means of promoting the
commerce between the West and East con-
sidered Mr.. Young then produced map.
showing the route of the proposed canal and
the advantages 10 DE derived from its con-
struction, alike by the United States and
Canada.
Mr. Weed remarked that Sir Francis
Hincks, the financial minister of the Cana
dian government, had said that if the State
Of New York decided To build that ship
canal, the Canadian government would see
that the Caughnawaga canal was con
structed Of the same capacity, and he be-
ieyed the work would pay its entire cost
inside of ten wears.