The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-13
CANADIAN TRANSPORTATION.


Influent1.i Meeting I'm Toronto in Favor
of Improving tho Means OF Inland
Water Communica tion-The Canal
Routes ProPosed-Dfstfngu ished Speak,
ers from tho United states.
TORONTO, June IL. 1874
A numerously attended meeting was held at st.
Lawrence Hall. Toronto. tonight, under the
presidency Of the Mayor. Who convened the meet
ing In compliance with requisition, bearing the
signatures OF many OF the most influential citizens,
for the purpose OF discussing the inland water
communications OF America, more particularly as
Affecting the Dominion; and the proposal for con-
Meeting Lake Ontano and the tidal waters with
Lake Huron and the lakes connected Herewith by
means of canal
Colonel Lyman Bridges and Dr. Hoyt, in at
tendance as a deputatton, on behalf of the United
States interests involved, and several members or
the Canadian Pal Lament and Toronto Cor
p0ratlon occupied seats on the platform.
THE WESTERN GRAIN TRADE.
Mr.. Blaine, M. p, in opening the proceedings,
reviewed at some length. the question OF tran
sportation, remarking that the most important
Which required TO be Brought Ad to the Eastern
States and the Liverpool market, for which
existing facilities were inadequate. He pointed
out the great changes introduced by the Erie
Canal, whereby the cost OF a ton OF freight from
New York 60 Buffalo had been reduced rom 500
to So so in round numbers The Erie Canal could
not be further enlarged, and the Welland Canal.
even as proposed would not be sufficient.
THRER PROPOSED ROUTES
Three canal routes were proposed; one communl-
eating between Lake NipslssinR and the Ottawa
River the engineering difficulties OF which would
simcoe aud Trent Valley, which would only be
barge canal and the third route was from Georgian
s.iScoe and through Holland marsh into the river
Humber, near Toronto. This last route would
save 727 miles in the Journey from Chicago to
route VIA New YORK and Buffalo. Engineers OF
great experience had reported in favor OF Its
pay was to be considered, and he considered the
figures at great length, estimating everything IN
the least favorable manner. The speaker claimed
as to render the canal paying one
RESOLUTION.
effect that IN the opinion OF this meeting the In
land water communication Of this country should
be improved so as to admit OF vessels OF not less
Colonel Lyman Bridges, one of the American
Commissioners in attendance, apologized for the
Indiana, who botn favored the project The subject
was one which commanded much interest IN tue
Trade had requested him to impress on the meet
ing the absolute necessity OF accommodation
for orrteee eases colonel Bridges afa haa for
mery considered the French River route
the best, but now considered the Huron and On
tario Canal the most feasible. He concluded by
reading letter from Ex-Governor Bross, of Chi
ca0o, who mad advocated the proposed canal IN
the Chicago Tribune, and regretted his inability to
attend.
NECESSITY FOR CANALS.
DR.. HOyt, the Commissioner from the state or
Wisconsin, apologized for the absence OF the Gov
ernor OF that state, who desired him to express
his interest in every measure for transporting
Western produce TO the seaboardv to which he
would contribute to the utmost OF HIS ability. The
railroad communication must be improved. The
speaker tnstanceu the rapid progress OF his own
State to show what was gong on IN the West
1t was necessary That Georgian Bay and Lake On
vin vaaao nj ~
come. He also instanced the steps taken In canal
making in his own State, where they mad done
much to procure canal communication with the
Mississippi RIVER. A resolution, to the effect that
the construction OF Huron and Ontario ship
canal as one OF the great links in inland
cnaln OF water communication rom the tldal
water banks to the head Of the great lakes Is
comm ercial necessity, as by the construction OF
this canal and this alone, OF all the proposed
means or transportation between the west ana
the East, can adequate facilities be obtained Tor
the carriage OF the surplus freights or the West,
aud return ireights from the East, was proposed
by Warning Kennedy and seconded by j. O'Donaghue.
THE HURON AND ONTARIO SHIP CANAL.
The third resolution. moved by 7. Lewis MoYat
and seconded by d. B. Reed, that the meet
energetic steps now being taken to procure the
promotion and construction OF the Huron ana
Ontario Snip Canal, and requests that the City
Council shall with the least possible delay, prepare
q bylaw granting bonus OF not less than $4,000
to aid in the promotion and construction OF the
canal was carried unanimously.
1t Was here stated that the county OF Simcoc had
promised a bonus OF $SO0.OOO.
The fourth resolution was That work which
was calculated to benefit to so large an extent the
whole Dominion ought to receive the encourage
ment OF the government OF the Dominion.
This resolution, as also the others regarding
land grants, &C., were carried, and the meeting
broke up at q late hour.