Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-08-30
The Caughnawsga Canal.


The recent report of congressional COM
mittoe upon the most feasible routes of freight
transportation from the great West to the
Atlantic seaboard relates to n subject in which
every citizen of the United States is or ought
to be Interested. and which has most impor-
taut and special bearing upon the interests of
the State of New York and New England.
Stretching from the ocean northward we find
first the Hudson river, and secondly Lake
Champlain. these constituting two natural
links in the desired water way between the
St. Lawrence and the ocean, upon which the
largest vessels can float. The Hudson river
and Lake Champlan are already connected
by canal, and the project of enlarging that
canal to size admitting the passage Of the
largest vessels has been shown to be entirely
practicable. There remains then one more
link between the foot of Lake Champlain and
the St. Lawrence. Here also we find river
and canal, the river being nnvigable to st.
Johns But the canal, like the Champlain
canal only admits The passage of small bonts,
past the rapids Of the Richelieu or Sorcl river,
and in addition to this the river runs nearly
parallel to the st. Lawrence for some GO miles
before reaching it, while the distance across
from St Johns to Montreal is less than 30
miles This, then, in short, is what makes
the Caughnawaga canal desirable The dis
lance from Lachine (Which it is admitted is
the most desirable point ON the st. Lawrence
for the northern terminus of the proposed
canal to ST. Johns by the present water route
is by canal q miles, and river (St Lawrence
and SorcD ~ miles total, ~ miles. Total
distance Uid the proposed canal between st.
Johns and Lachine, 29l miles. Lockage,
etc. between Inchinc rid Sorel to st. Johns,
l29 feet; lockage by proposed Caughnawaga
canal from Iachine to st. Johns, % feet.
Difference in distance in favor of Caughnawaga
canal, so miles difference in lockagc, lOi
feet These figures tell significant story
ship canal pa miles long, with only % feet
of lockagc is all that is now lacking, or will
be when the Welloud canal enlargement is
completed to enable ocean-going vessels to
pass through the entire length Of Lake Cham
plain into the st. Lawrence, and through the
great western lakes and corresponding en-
largement of the Champaign canal is all that
will then be lacking to enable the same YES
sells to go to New York harbor and from
thence to any seaport in the world without
freight traushipmcnt These ARE some Of the
salient points bearing on the question of n
great national highway between the East and
West, which need to be kept constantly be
fore the people, and which also need to be
pressed upon the attention of Congress. The
time is undoubtedly near at hand when ma
tional aid will be granted towards opening
with regard to the preference is given, 1t is to
he hoped that the claims of the Champlain
route will be forcibly urged upon the atten-
ton Of Congress. It will be recollected that
the first report Of the Window congressional
committee upon this subject some two years
ago was decidedly favorable to this route,
aud IT, when the time for final action comes
the great natural advantages of our route over
all others are properly laid before Congress
and it's claims duly considered and pushed,
we need not fear the result. SO apparent are
these natural advantages that even the first
settlers Of the country were struck with their
| importance, notwithstanding their attention
was TO n great extent absorbed in the business
| of defending their homes from the incursions
of both civilized and savage foes. The plan
of uniting the waters of the St. Lawrence and
Lake Champlain by a ship canal was favor
| tie one with many Of the leading men Of those
stirring times. including the great Green
Mountain patriot Ethan Allen, who actually,
about century ago, partly matured plan
| for carrying out this great enterprise. There
is no question to-day which more nearly con-
Germs the people Of this whole section than
this let it not be lost sight of for a moment.
| -Phtt,btrgh RSpu5licaH.