Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-15

The Caughnawaga and Champlain Ship Canals.
The Scientific american, known to many
of our readers as very widely circulated
and influential journal. gave the other day
an extended description OF the proposed
shin canals from the St. Lawrence to Lake
Champlain. and from the lake to the Hud-
son River. accompanied by clear and ex-
cellent map, showing the canals with their
connections. In an editorial calling atten-
ton to the subject. the AmericGn said
The work, it will be seen, includes the
deepening of the Hudson River from Troy
to Fort Edward, and the excavation OF
canal from the latter point to Whitehall on
the lake. the entire length of the improve
ment being about sixty-three and three
teuths miles. The advantages TO be gained
/ by the work are of such immense lmpor-
/ lance that its cost is rendered a matter al
most insignificant. BY an outlay OF Il sum
which al the highest is estimated at SlO,-
| OOO. 900. water communication from the
| Missouri and Mississippi rivers, and from
all the ports and navigable inlets of the
treat lakes, to tide water at the cities of
| Troy. Albany and New York, for vessels of
a burden up to , 900 tons, is to be secured.
In view of the strenuous endeavOrs which
are being made by Boston, Philadelphia.
and otter cities of the Atlantic sea board TO
] bring TO their markets the enormous COM
merce OF the West and Northwest. the ne
! cessity which exists for the people OF New
! York. and more especially oil the metrOpO-
! lis. to put forth counter efforts to maintain
the most feasible highways through their
/ own State l. becoming more and more APP
J. R,a-,r hui i1rnaH enra
nectl1ns, claims TO have gained, over the
Erie Canal, six days in time from Chicago
and fifty per cent Of transportation while
it Is a fact that the grain receipts of the city
have trehled during the past three years
Burlington within ten Years has risen 10
/ position to rival Albany in her great lumber
/ trade. On the other hand the Comptroller Of
I this State IN a late report shows that New
/ York does not keep pace with the commerce
/ OF the West, and that the ratio OF increase
| of tonnage l. far from " hat it should be.
/ We need not refer 10 the high cost of
/ transportation of Western produce per rail
road, or the immense waste Of crops, which
| has taken place during several years past,
/ owing 10 the inability OF the present iacil-
/ Ities to carry of the excess. No facts. We
/ believe. are more generally understood.
/ Hence 1t l. certain that, not a. rival.
/ but a. an addition, TO the Erie canal and
other great highways now taxed beyond
I their limit. some other grand outlet must
| be opened. We cannot have too many
such and that their construction will be
/ forced by the constantly Increasing amount
/ Of western productions which must find
markets in the East, we believe to be only
/ question OF time while the State first in the
field to offer the best facilities will find in the
| great consequent augmentation OF its com
merce and revenues, the richest rewards for
[ it, enterprise.
I The work contemplated, in the bill be-
I fore the Legislature, Is nothing. either in
point OF labor, time, and expense, beside
the construction of the Erie Canal. Ii
could be entirely completed, it l. stated,
within four years. and estimating the
transportation carried over it for the next
twenty years at FIVE million tons per an
nun. a toll of forty cents per ton would
within decade repay its entire cost The
latter l. within the means Of many indi-
yldual citizens of the State, and when dl--
tribuied by taxation would be scarcely felt.
/ 1t l. small enough for the merchants OF New
/ York city to raise it by subscription, a pro-
ject which appears worthy of consideration,
# another session OF the Legislature pass by
and no provision be made for Initiating
/ operations.