The Portland daily press., 1889-03-23
our Northern NeIehbors.

Mr.. Erastus Wiman comes to Portland at
time when the commercial relations of
Maine and the Provinces are a subject of
greater interest than at any time for quar-.
ter of a century. A Canadian railroad has
been built across the Northern part of this
State. Whatever effect this line may have
upon the American railroad enterprise In
other States, the results to Maine must be
beneficial. though no one can tell to what
extent. Very soon also we may look to Cam
adam enterprise for practical results In an
other direction in which Maine is greatIyin-
terested. A glance at the map OF the neigh
boring Maritime Provinces will show that
the narrow isthmus connecting New Bruins
wick with the large, projecting peninsula of
Nova Scotia is the only obstacle to prevent
coasting vessels passing from points ON the
coast of Maine up the Bay of Fundy, and.
by the way Of the Straits OF Northumberland
into the Gulf and River of st. Lawrence.
But this obstacle intervenes, and instead of
the coasting passage the fisherman or trader
who would reach the Gulf or River of st.
Lawrence must try the stormy Atlantic in a
passage around Nova Scotia For nearly
hundred years the Canadians have been
talking of canal to connect the Fundy
waters with the waters of the Gulf of ST.
Lawrence. But the expense and the natural
obstacles deferred them. The tremendous
tides OF Fundy on the one side of the isthmus
and the moderate tides of the Gulf on the
other constituted great embarrassment.
The waters of Fundy are twenty feet high
er than those of the gulf at high tide and
eighteen feet lower at low tide; aud while
the mean sea level is the same in each case,
the spring tides oscillate above and below
this mean sea level like a pendulum, with q
stroke Of 3S feet in the Bay Of Fundy and
ten feet in the Gulf-the average rise of tide
al the head OF the Bay of Fundy being 36A
feet and in the Gulf 81. Within few years
the plan OF canal was given up, and In its
pface was substituted ship railway, which
is now under construction. The Chignecto
ship Railway 1t Is called, and its completion
seems assured within a short time.
The results that the promoters OF this an.
terprise promise are such as certainly would
be of great Importance to Maine and New
England. A vessel loaded with grain might
come direct from Chicago to Boston or Port
land without breaking bulk andiwithout yen-
turing upon an ocean voyage. The Ameri-
can mackererfeet could also reach the Gulf
quicker and more safely over the ship rail-
way. To trading vessels the saving of time
would be a large item. There is large
trade between Prince Edward Island and
the United States. 1t now takes week for
steamers to make the round trip between
Charlottetown and Boston. By the ship
railway they could make two trips week, a
saving of one half in time.
The progress Of invention and the march
OF trade are year by year bringing the United
States and Canada nearer; and Maine and
.ne great commercial city Of Maine. are vi
taiiy interested In this change. No more
appropriate time could have been selected
Tor visit from Mr. wiman. And we have
no doubt thatthe ideas which be, will bring
VIII be eagerly examined by the bushes.
men OF Portland,