New-York tribune., 1874-06-24
RECIPROCITY IND CHEAP 1RANSPORTA-
TION

THE ADVANTAGES TO DE GAINED BY CANAL FROM
ST. LAWRENCE TO LAKE CHAMPLAIN-A COM
PARIsOS OF DISTANCES BY DIFFERENT ROUTES.
IRON AN oCCAsIOSAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUsEl
WASHINGTON, June 2O.-Perhaps the most mate
rial advantage to be gained by the adoption of
Reciprocity Treaty will be the free navigation of the
ST. Lawrence, coupled with the stipulation the
part of the Canadian Governmental an enlargement
of the canals at the expense of the Dominion. These
canals pass boats of from 400 to 600 tons burden
but when enlarged, as provided by the Treaty. the
minimum will be 900 tons. The fall between Lakes
Ellie and Ontario is overcome by the Welland Canal.
This is n miles long, and has ~ locks, and total
lockage Of $50 feet.
From Lake Ontario there is no obstruction to the
navigation of the st. Lawrence until the Galops
Rapids are reached ~ miles below Prescott and Og
densburg. Between this point and the head of the
Lachine Rapids, just above Montreal canals of
different lengths in the aggregate amounting to 35t
miles pass vessels around the various rapids which,
however, are most of them passed over in descend
ing the river. The total lockage is 1907 feet. From
the foot of Lake st. Louis and head of the Lachne
Rapids, vessels destined for Montreal descend the
rapids, either by the chute or through the canal,
overcoming a fall of Az feet. But to vessels con-
strncted for Lake Champlain, the Caughnawaga
Canal, which Is to be constructed. will afford
passage by canal of 80 miles, with three locks
coming q rise of only 20 feet Once on Lake Cham
plain vessel may discharge her cargo, il intended
for New England, at any of the lake ports; or, if
bound for New York. an enlargement Of the North
ern Canal will give her free passage to the Hudson,
and thence to New-York.
The whole distance from Chicago TO Lake Cham
plain, by this route is 1916 miles, of which only 81
are canal The whole distance to New-York Is 1,643
b.
New-York, by Buffalo and the Erie Canal, is 1,4l9
miles, of which S52 are canal. The distance from
Chicago to York, via Welland Canal and Os-
wego, is !, ,403 miles, of which 24 are canal The
enlargement of the Erie Canal through its S52 miles,
IN caucity to admit vessels of 900 TONS is too ex-
pensiye to be considered. The present capacity is 20
tons.
When tho Canadian canals are enlarged, and the
connection with Lake Champlan secured, all
New England will be connected with the great
grain fields of the West by the shortest possible
route of water carriage with less than 100 miles of
canal, the other Loo being lake and river; while
New-York, by enlarging her Champlain Canal for
only 81 miles can carry vessels of 1000 tons through
to New-York without breaking bulk. Whereas, to
gain the same end by way of Oswego would require
the enlargement of 197 miles Of canal from Oswego
to Troy-three times as much as by the other route.
1t seems obvious. therefore. that upon the compile
ton of these Canadian canals upon the scale pro-
posed the great water route from the West will be
via the St. Lawrence, for three reasons: First, the
greatly diminished cost of transportation in large
over small vessels; second the Of steam through
ont the route and third there will be transship-
ment from lake vessels to canal-boats.
Ii needs pr0tracted argument to show how
greatly the cost of transportation will be reduced by
the use of vessels of double the dimensions pos
sibie Ii is enough to say that at this time with the
small locks of the Canadian canals, the freight on
wheat from Chicago to Montreal is but little more
than half that to New-iork by the Oswcgo OF Erie
canals. With the enlarged canals and tho direct
communication with Lake Champain, the freight
10 any point on that lake will not differ materially
from the price TO Montreal When to this advantage
the grain producing States of the Northwest are
invited, as well as to a competing market at Mon
trea for their products it would seem thai long
argument would DO required to convince them that
the Treaty would be . great boon 70 them.