St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-21
Chicago Board Of Trade on Vel
land Canal Abuses.


CHICAGO, Nov. 20.-Secretary Stone.
of the Chicago board OF trade, has adj
dressed the following letter to Secretary
of State Blaine: The board of direct
ors of the board of trade of the city of
Chicago is advised by Communication
from the organized vessel owners OF
the Great Lakes that great injustice Is
done TO the citizens of the United
States with respect TO tonnage passing
through the Nelland canal in clear VIC
latiOn of the terms Of article q of the
treaty of Washington This dlscrimina-
uion Is specially griey0us 10 American
citizens ia view of the fact that the
American canals connecting the Great
Lakes are enjoyed by Canadian citizens.
on absolutely equal terms with the eiti
Zens of this country.
As the grain crops of this country
constitute in a prominent sense factor
IN the national prosperity. and as grain
constitutes the major part Of Amerieai
commerce passing through the Nellaad
canal this injustice is an emphatic
sense burden upon American COM
merce. Again, this violation OF the
treaty of Washington enhances the cost
OF coal 10 the great West. or dimiaisheS
the earnings of the trans D0rta.Ion lines
carrying the ccal. by imposing a toll OF
10 cents per ton ia excess of the toll
upon coal passing through the same
canal destined for Canadian territory.
Here IS canal w:lose privileges are
guaranteed 10y treaty to American and
Canadian commerce upon equal terms.
so controlled and operated that Ameri-
can lake transportation lines are CON-
PEELED TO reduce their revenues in cider
10 connteract the effect OF Cana
dian rebates on freight passing
through the same canal, but des-
lined TO Canadian ports. Our grain
must be as adyantageouSiy placed for
export az American seaDo-tS as, bv Can
adian Injustice and evasion of treaty
obligations, IL Is placed IN Montreal and
other Canadian ports for ocean snip
ment.
A further effect OF this discrimination.
10 which, have the honor TO call your
attention, is the building up OF Mont
real and other Canadian ports, TO the
neglect of the developments of American
ports, as ii is manIfeStly TO the adFan-
tage Of the lake carriers TO induce ship
mentS OF grain destined for European
markets 10 be made via Kingston and
Montreal. so that they. the carriers can
OBTAIN the substantial rebate paid by
the dominion OF Canada on grain
shipped through the Wenand canal.
provided such grain is transshipped at
Canadian intermediate port, in ac-
cordance with new order of the Cana
dian government, issued i'll March, 1891.
This board cannot believe that the
United States government Viii tolerate
the Interpretation put upon the treaty
of Washington BY the government of
the Dominion Of Canada. aud considers
the approaching reciprocity conference
most oDD0rtnne occasion and the at
utude of the people of the United States
upon the grt at policy of reciprocity a
most fortunate one, for the presentation
OF these grievances. The board of di-
rectoTs OF the board OF trade OF the city
OF Chicago would. therefore, respect
fal1y request of the honorable secretary
OF state that at the approaching confer
ence between this government and that
OF the Dominion OF Canada, the citizens
OF the United States and those of the
Dominion of Canada be placed upon
terms OF equality with reference to con-
meree passing through the Weilaid
canal.