, 1873-12-13

tho cxpcrlonce of tho Cannl commissioners Of
Now York aud tho Canadian Government Ia
to tho offoct TINT to enlarSo canal--i. C.,
to admit larger veaaols-is to cE'capon
freight. TliH, ihe,I, IL evidently tho moanB by
which cheap transportation, which iB without
doubt tho most urgent mood OF tho Woat, is to
DO obtained. Tho waterways to tho Hea-coaat
must DO enlarged. Tho question rcrnalns. which
waterways shall bo improved, those which giyo
outlet by tho st. Lawronco to Montreal mud to
Now York by tho Champlaiu oanal, or t1'oac
which trayorso tho Stato Of Now York. Coil-
corning this poinl, alr. yonnE quotes from ro-,
port ,nadc to him in 1858, while Chairman OF tho
11arbor Commissioners OF Montreal, by A. COM
mission of thrco nble civil ougnoorB OF tho United
States, conslatng Of tho lion. Willin1n McAlpine,
OF Now York, James ?. Kirkwood, Of Brooklyn.
N. T., md tho lato Capt. john Chldo, Of Spring.
field, hIass. III tiioir report, ass,tming that tho
Wollatt Cannl had been enlarged to admit veg
Bols Of 1000 tons, md that tllo st. Lawrouco md
Luke Clamplain woro connected by canRl Of
til samc capacity, they aaid tllat this route
undoubtedly cheaper and therefore Lottor than
TINT by tho Eric Canal. Freight sent by tho way
Of Buffalo or Oswcgo must bo transshipped from
lato vessels to cnnnt boaB, and to this oxponso
must bo addol tho oxtra cost Of canal transport
md heavy tolls. Dy tho st. Lawrence route, rs
improved, no trausalipmons ia required, mud lilo
coBt Of transport is much less. further nd
vantage Of the improved St. Lawrence and
Ohamp1ain route, tho Commission report, would
bo Tho moro economic use OF yessols OF the
largest clusB, Which could 60 from any Of tho
lakoB directly 10 Now York without breaking
bulh, and with much loss canal navigation.
Thoso conclusions, 1t will DO remembered, aro
| basod OIL the hypothesis that tho canal-connec-
| tona o. the st. Lawronco route had nll boon nt.
largotl. As matter Of fact, this Is not yot the
case. Tho Wclland and Lachino Cannls III
Canadat were opened IN 1891. with looks Of LOG
fcet in length by 20 and % foat in width. will
TX foot OF water on tlAo stills. Tho Lachluo aud
otlor St. Lawrence canals wore enlarged IT
wido; tho Woland Canal WIZ loft viii
somo locks Of only &c feet wide. and il
is this mot1oy system Of fochs which now
exists. 10 opon Il route which shall hayo the
advantages claimod by tho Commission over tht
Eric Canal, tho Canadian Government MUS
adapt tho Wolland Canal to propolcrs OF 1,oo
tons Uhis work is now going on), and must en-
lnrge Tie st. Lawrcuco canals, and the Caugh
nawaga Canal between tho st. Lawrence mi
Lake Chanptain on tho samo acato.
The enlargement Of tho Wclland Canal alon
will do much to cheapen transportation. Yes
soils Of 1000 tons will 10 ablo to paas from Ill
point on tile upper laKes through tho canal t.
Oswego, whence tue distance by canal to No'
York is but 900 mics against se2 from Buffalo
Under existing conditions, Oswego is rapidl
gaining on Buffalo as d la&o port, notwitbptaud
ing the fact that. owing to tho limited capact
Of the WelIapd Canal. no vessels OF moro tia
400 tons cau reach its harbor, Vessels Of LOO
tons roach Duffalo, but the saving Of 1853 mile
in the transportation ovor tho Erie Canal make
it moro profitable to uso tho smaller vessels IN
go through the Wo1land Canal to 0swogo. TIL
question whether tho canals from Buffalo
Troy md from Oswego to Troy can be adapto
to ycaseIa Of LOCO tons burden, drawing
feot of water, Ia one on which Nr. Young 0,
presses no opinion.