Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-01-17

Governor Dix, Of New York, in his first
message. recommends the widening and
deepen ing Of the Erie canal to admit the
passage of vessels OF SIX hundred tons. The
New York Chamber of Commerce has re-
Gently passed resolutions 10 the same effect,
and also in favor Of memoralizing Congress
10 aic in the enterprise. The controller OF
canals in New York sets forth the fact that
the expense, Of the canal last year were
S3I4. 313 in excess of its receipts. He rec
ommends prompt legislation for enlarging
the Erie canal. in order 10 compete with
the Canadian canals. The oI ginal width of
the Erie was y feet on the bottom. 40 on
the surface, and four feet deep. It's en-
iargement made it Sc feet wide on the -
tom. 20 on the surIace. No seven feet deeTS
and large enough 10 float boat carrying
20 tons The total COS; Of construction
and enlargement was sac, 0OO, 600. and
there have been expended for repairs Sl2,-
900 600, making "a total Of SIS, 900 900
The State Of New York has received from
tolls, in all. Ssl ,O57 los up TO Iol.
The Welland canal now pa S-es vessels OF
four hundred tons from Lake Erie 10 On
tari0. and it j. soon to be enlarged to over
double it. present capacity The short
canals along the St. Lawrence between Og-
densburg and Montreal are also to be ell
larged. - that vessels Of 800 or 1000 tons
may load AT Duluth. and proceed. without
di-chsrging any portion Of their cargo, 10
Montroal Il j. Of course the threatened d.
version Of trade in that direction that has
stirred up the people of New York To enlarge
the Erie canal The cost Of the Welland
oanal and IL onlargem snt, with the en-
larsSment of the canals along the 81. Law
renee will amount 70 s0tal Of s. 1000, 900.
The Caughnawaga canal added, at a cost OF
-. 00O, 900. will give far more available
channel for the products Of the West than
the Erie can ever offer, at an outlay of enc
tenth Of the capital which must be absorbed
before the Erie can be made 10 answer the
demand, of the great and growing West.
We are glad TO see the Eost on Gl0be calling
the attention Of capitalists to this subject.
The Gio5, SAYS
BY the Treaty Of Washington the Nelland
and the st. Lawrence canals are made free
10 American vessels, and the St. Clair and
81. Mary canals are made free TO Canadian
vessels. upon the acceptance Of the provis-
ions by the two governments The Canadian
Parliament. We believe. has already acted
upon the question. and II only remains Tor
Congress TO do its part 10 give free navlga-
tion from the lakes 10 Montreal 1t must
he evident 10 every one who examines the
subject that the cheapest water route
between the East and the West Is not by the
Erie canal, but by The -. Lawrence and
Lake Champaign, thr ough the Caughnawaga
canal. The Erie ca MAJ, If enlarged 10 h0at !
vessels Of 600 tonS--nearly three times IL
present capacity involve an OUTLAY IN f.
all Of nearly one hundred and fifty millions I
certainly not less than one hundred and |
twenty-five millions, whereas the St. Law
renee and eau ghnawagr canals Will involve
an outlay Of eleven millions, and will float
vessels of double the capacity OF the Ere /
canal after it. enlargement. The 1t. Law
renee will be the quickest route. \ canal
boat drawn by horses ma ses the trip from
Buffalo TO Albany in eight or nine DAYS, and
twelve days TO New York Ii i proposed /.
to use steam on the enlarged canal. but I
as vet all experiments III that line have /
been failures. Even if speed Of four 1
miles an hour can be obtained by steam
il will take four days from Buffalo |
TO Albany, and FIVE to New York. The time /
between Lake Erie and Montreal by propel /
lers is about fifty hours With the Caugh /
nawaga canal constru cited. the time he I
tween Lake Erie and Burlington would be /
about 60 hours From Burlington 10 Bos- 1
ton, by rail. Is 24O miles, or - hours for |
freight train, OF - hours from Lake Erie.
With the Caughnawaga canal and the /
Champlain canal enlarged TO float vessels of
1900 tons, vessel may ma Ike the trip from
Lake Erie down the st. l awrence through /
Lake Champlain 10 New York nearly u
quick as by the Erie cana :, provided steam
IAN be used upon 1t, and speed of four
miles an hour can be Obts med, all Of which
Is predetermined.
favoring as we do all reasonable projects
for promoting internal facilities for trans
portation. we have no objection whatever 10
the enlargement Of ne Erie canal by the
State Of New York. but for the nited
States to undertake the matter would be
quite another thing The Caughnawaga l.
to priyilt e company, and if con-
-tructcd II must be done by private capital
That such canal w0uld be good invest
ment o. capital csnnot he doubted We
know of no project in or out Of New Eng
land that promises 10 contribute so much TO
our welfare a. that and We trust that the
movement winch was started year OF two
ago for it, construction NAV be revived.
W. commend the subject 90 the earnest and
careful attention Of our business men and
capitalists.