Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-08-23
EDITORIAL CORRE-
SPONDENCE.

the st. Lawrence by railway ferry-boats,
is done away with. The season in Can
ada has been dry, and crops are not as
good as in Orleans County. Hay is
gathered, and grain is being harvested.
Montreal, the chief city of Canada, is
always point of interest to the travel
Ter. Here is the great railroad center
of the Provinces. The Grand Trunk
here branches radiating in every direc-
ton, the Quebec, Montreal, and Ottawa
run to and from the points named, with
several minor branches. The Central
Vermont, the South Eastern, the Magog
the Waterloo and Montreal, and the In
tercolOnial railways, being the chief
lines which make this city important
as railway center. The amount of
business done on these lines is immense,
reaching as they do into the far West,
and into the great lumber regions of the
North. During the navigation season,
the business done on the lakes and
rivers is greater even than that done by
rail. Of the ocean commerce, perhaps
the greater part is done by the Allan
line of ocean steamers, which leave this
port every week for Liverpool, Glasgow,
and other British ports. Sir Hugh, as
Mr.. Allan is called, is doing a great
business with these huge steamers. which
are registered at from three to five hun
bred tons burden. Several of them are
lying at the wharves, either being load
ed or unloaded. Those outward bound,
are being loaded with Canadian pro-
ducts chiefly, though considerable grain
from the West is brought here for ship
ment. A vast amount of grain is car
ried on these vessels, which are fitted
up with special reference to this trade.
Some of these ships are made for carry
ing cattle, and the cattle trade seems
large at present, temporary additions
with racks and cribs being made for
extra room.
Much ocean traffic is done from this
port on sailing ships, these being tow
ed up the river from Quebec by tugs,
the river from this port toward that
city being quite rapid. The up river
shipping is done through the canals,
and along the river where it is not too
rapid. These ship canals have been
broadened and deepened, so that large
vessels pass up into Ontario. On the
Ottawa river, which comes in on the op-
posite side of the island of Montreal.
navigation is carried on on large scale,
a world of lumber coming down, and
much merchandise being carried into
the country, up this great river. The
boats, lumber RATS, and barges from up
the st. Lawrence, come down the river
lodging the rocks, and making the rapids
in comparative safety.
This city covers a great area, and is
not densely populated the business
streets being situated along the river
line, while the northern portion of the
city is occupied by costly and beautiful
residences, many of them surrounded by
lawns and extensive grounds. A little
back of the city is the mountain, which
rises several hundred feet above the
surrounding level of the island. Car
riageways and pathways have been mad,
to the top of the mountain, and a larg,
number of visitors are seen on the sum
NIT daily.
The view from the mountain is ex
ceedingly beautiful and interesting
The island, the city, the river, the grea
bridge, and the country far to the soutl
, and east, are all taken in at one view.
We will not take the space for an
further description of this city, as 81
Leon Springs is our destination. A wor
should be said, however. in regard t
the Ottawa Hotel, one of the best in th
city, where the Vermonter will AWAY
find friends and acquaintance. JAG
Dudley, formerly OF Newport, is her
and looks after the interests of hi
friends from the States.
Taking the afternoon train on til
Quebec, new and well-equipped roa
i inst finished along the north shor
a of the river, we reached River DuLou
i at $3.50, where stage is in readiness t
/ take us six miles up the river to tn
: springs. The country from Montreal I
G. this place is poor, much of the wa
f being sandy. with little or no sol
j Some of the way, however. it is clayey
d but is wet, low, aud heavy, the grea
d crops of the country being grass an
a oats. The land is plowed in ridge
|, leaving dead furrow, even twelve I
!. twenty feet, where the surplus wat,
is may drain off, The inhabitants a.
d nearly all Canadian French their hous,
h are small and poor, their barns beir
r small, and mostly matched.
|, The farms in all this country a
10 long and narrow, the original lots ha
Is ing been sub-divided lengthwise uni
4 they are long, narrow strips. The pc
lf rle are annarently moor. though the