New-York tribune., 1874-06-13
INLAND COMMUNICATIONS OF AMERICA.

MEETING AT TORONTO-MEANs FOR DIMINISHING IHE
COST OF TRANSPORTATION FROM THE WEST.
TORONTO, Ont, June IA numerOusly at
tended meeting held at st. Lawrence Hall, Toronto
tonight under the presidency OF the Mayor, for the
purpose Of discussing the Inland Water Communications
OF America particularly as Affecting the Domln'
ion and proposal for connecting Lake Ontario and
tidal waters with Lake Huron and the lakes con-
nected Herewith by means Of o canal.
Col Lyman Bridges and DR.. Hoyt, In attendance as o
deputaion on behalf the United States interests in
voved and several members OF the Canadian Parlia-
ment and Toronto Corporation, occupied seats on tho
platform.
Mr. Blaine, NJ p, reviewed the question Of tsanspor-
tation remarklng that the most important point was
the vast grain trade of the West which required to be
brought the Eastern States and the Liverpool MARKET
for which existing facilities were nadequate.h He
pointed out that by the Erie Canal the cost Of ton OF
freight from New-York to Buffalo had been reduced
from &1O0 to s. so In round numbers. The Erie Canal
could not be further enlarged and the Weland Canal
even as proposed, would not be sufficient. Three
canal routes were proposed, one communicating De-
tween Lake Nipsissing and the Ottawa River, the
engineering difficulties of which would render the cost
enormous; another, with Lake Smcoe and Trent Valley.
which would only be barge canal. The third route
was from Georgian Bay by the River Noawasaga into
Lake simcoe and through Holland Marsh into River
Humber, Toronto. This last route would
727 miles IN the journey from Cni'
cago to Liverpool by water, whom COM
pared with the route via NewYork and Buffalo Engt-
neers of great experience he'd reported in favor Of It's
practicabty. The question whether it would pay was
to be considered and he considered he figures at great
length estimating everything In the least favorable
manner.
A resolution was unanimously carried to the eject
that in the opinion Of the meeting the inland water
communication OF this country should be improved so
az to admit of vessels not less than 10 feet draught.
Col. Lyman Bridges, Of the American Commission
ers In attendance apoogzed for the attendance OF
the Governors of Illinois and Indiana, who both 70.
vored the project Col. Bridges had formerly consid-
cred the French River route the BEST but now consd
cred the Huron and Ontario Canal the most feasible.
Dr. Hoyt the Commissioner from the state OF Wiscon.
sim apoOgzed for the absence Of the OF that
State who desired that his interest In every measure
for transporting Western produce to the seaboard might
be expressed
The speaker said that II necessary that Georgian
Bay and Lake Ontario should be connected Dy eanai
CAPABLE OF receiving vessels OF 1000 tons burden.
A resolution to the effect that the construction OF
Huron and Ontario ship canal one OF the great link
in the inland chain of water communication from the
cia necessity was proposed and carried. 80
The third resolution, that the meeting views with IN
qualified appreciation the energetic steps taken 10
procure the promotion and construction or the
Huron and Ontario Ship Canal aud requests that the
City Council shall, with the least possible delay
bylaw granting bonus of not less than G5 to aid
the promotion and construction OF the caua was car
ried unanimously.
The meeting broke up at late houS.