New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-20
IT. CLAIR TUNNEL OPENED.
A RAILWAY CONNECTION WITH CANADA AT
PORT HURON.
THE CEREMONIES AT THE oPENING-A SPEECH
BIZ ERAsTUs wIMAN IN FAVOR OF CANA
DIAN REcIpRouTY-ADvANTAGE
op TIM Nrr-.v rtrN,NET
OF THE NEW TUNNEL.


OF THE NEW TUNNEL.
Port Huron, Mich, Sept. 1o.-The opening of the
srcat tunnel under the st. Clair River between the
United States and Canada, at Sarnia, ontario, ana
Port Huron Michigan, took place to-day. The tunnel
has been constructed for the purpose OF supersedng
The ferryboats which have hitherto conveyed the trains
of the Grand Trunk route across the river. 1t VIII
afford immense advantages to passengers, ana 1or
freight traffic, in avoiding the inconveniences oil a
ferry in saving two hours OF time and in shortening
the distance by about six miles. The actual tunnel
Itself under the river is 6026 feet long. II is nned
throughout with solid castiron plates, bolted together
An segments-each segment being five feet long,
eighteen inches wide, and two inches thick with
6anges five inches deep-the whole lining weighing
together $4,000 tons. The bolts and nuts for con
Meeting the segments together weigh 100000 pounds
che permanent way through the tunnel is laid WIN
steel rails. The Interior diameter Of the tunnel is
twenty feet and ample means have been provided for
thorough ventilation, and for lighting 1t throughout
when required, by the electric hight The road is
practically level under the river with approaches at
each end on gradients Of one In fifty Inc total
length Of the tunnel and approaches is n'ooS rect
AT the ends Of the approaches are functions WIN inc
Grand Trunk Railway on the Canadian sac aAu INC
chicago and Grand Trunk Railway on the American
side Of the river. In connection with these Julcons
ample ground has been levelled ana prepared ana
shuntng sdngs to the extent OF ten miles have ALREADY
been laid on each side of the river
ATE 80 Sir Henry Tyler waved his hand' ana the IN
aurural train started 1t pulled dinecuy 10 te oara
depot where number of the invited guests ana peopc
~ sarna were taken aboard. Then the trah eUedneu
ont 10 the edge of the town to reach the approach TO
a. ,rnel Here near the unfinished depot, a tri-
,rrbol arch had been erected. Here also, Mayor
watson and the officials Of the town Oh Sarhla met
.t nresldent of the Grand Trunk Railway and the
MAYOR read an address President Tyler made brief
,.ecb Of acceptance of this Address The company,
5,b the Sarnia officials, boarded the train and pro
coded on the trip through the tunnel. When they
id on the other side, they passed through another
s,,bai arch where Mayor McIwan and the PoTt
,,nron city officials were standing platform to
receive them. c, Ham
u,,or NJ p president Of the Grand Trunk system ;
y Sor,cnant-G Governor Campbell, of Ontario; I. u
IIiefer Of Ottawa; Governor Edward r. Winans ana
,,or,e,ont Governor John Strong, Of Michigan Kall-
- commissioners Charles r. Milman, OF Michigan
CONGRESSMAN Chapman, George NJ. and Charles Puii-
man Of Chicago; Erastus Wiman William a. Day, OF
washington: sir John Ross, Commandant at HaI1aA,
and senator Frank Smith, Of ottawa, Mlhls0f Oh
paIlvavs in Canada At the banquet the first toast
~ - the oueen to which Sir Henry Tyler responded
Among the numerous speeches made at the ceebra"
,,o, today was one by Erastis Wiman, who pleaded
Gov rccprocity between this country and Canada lie
said IN part -.
,hue the English capitalist has been pouring ont his
cy N make trade between these two countries, While
bs railway promoter engineer have sought by every
aas in their power facilitate intecommunicaton so
that there might most perfect and free exchange oil
r4ues and merchandise the politician has been at Work
sreetlpc barriers which elective to ret0fd IL
oreration as mountain ranges wide deserts or deep
p,s,a.ses For selfish political ends barrier has been
erected athwart the continent which completely lsoatcs
one section OF the EngishsIeakine race from the oher
s which even great tunnels and great railway arteries
gpap I'm In ms
itveon the Two people concerned. 1t is true mat
sroduets and merchandise originating in one part Oh e
Halted States are carried the advantage OF al con-
armed through Canadian soil b. Canadian railroads, built
win British money IL IS true that expenditures up
troaeeina a eoupe of millions for hole in the ground,
Underneath great river, is cheendy undertaken Ia the
expectation portion Of the vast traffic when tIOps
and pusa;es between the sections Of the United
Etates may that direction; but that such
IN undertaking would be animated for the purpose oil
accommodating the trade existing between the TWO
countries impossible TO conceive NO trade between
Tie two countries will exist 70 justify 50 large an
expenditure 80 long as the policies OF both actuated
b. reciprocity tariffs rather than reciprocity III Udue
impending negotiations IN Canada IN october DeV"c'
te United States and Canada are therefore 1uH OIL inc
deepest significance real reciprocity OF interests
might follow the discussion Of subject Of better rea
tons even though Tory Government found 1t hpossiOe
10 Yield all Republican Government might demand,
II might be necessary 70 nave sun more piohouhceu
EXPRESSION OF opinion Canada and the Inauguration OF
Liberal Government to 20 the length demanded by the
American people Where diplomacy controlled In Eng
land mgrt fail, legislation originating in Canada and
he United might succeed, because working from
the bottom q broader basis will be laid than tho
operations were carried forward from the top.
whole policy Of commercial beigerency between the
two countries is fun Of absur1y, and what worse,
full danger such vast interests involved in tho
ercat tunnel whose opening is celebrated to-day The
usefulness nay existence. Of the great highways be-
tween the and the West Canada is constantly
nenaccd by the unsettled relations between the two
Countries British capital, Canadian transportation |
sRene and American transportation facilities OF the most
unncant character are oil involved in great gift Of
The United states Of bonding privileges These privileges
once restricted withheld has been threatened would
be most serious and fatal matter, although this was
Done in order 70 put additional screw upon the
c.dians IL would be but responding Teprslls invited
BY a pollcy that their statesmen have pursued Of
Character just a. narrow
Let US hope that the great tunnel that we now lnaugu
rats VIII illustrate blessed advantage OF unrestricted
TO such degree that, before long, the perfect
,.einrci,v which exists between the States Of the
Union and the Provinces Dominion Will be created
between the nations. To obbtelate the commercial
barrier that like barbed wire fence, now runs 0th"ait
the Continent would be 10 inaugurate movement the
consequences Of which would take rank second only TO
those which followed the Declaration Of independence, or
TIE Emanep patton OF the slaves, setting the South free W
pursue her marvellous Of prosperity. The great
INLAND needs only similar freedom Of intercourse TO
se1trbute In a greater degree the prosperity Of
series Of comparisons which he uttered preceding
his sudden DEATH startled the world with the statement
that the internal Of his section Of this
country in tonnage that floats upon the river that
flows this tlnncl, equac0 that Of Liverpool and
London combined further that the tonnage Of the Saut
Canal between inland lakes in the northern part OF
North America surpassed IN months the OF
the suez Canal entire year. This TOO spite Of
competition Of railroad systems perfect than else.
where In the world.
lew OF those who heard these comparisons realized
mat from only Oae-hai the continent had originated a
commerce Of this magnitude The greater half Of the
continent remains untouched far it, contribution
eoneefne 70 this internal traffic. The southern OF
Lake Superior have yielced enormous wealth. con.
reutng greatly 70 this internal commerce. because
axe In the United states. The northern shores OF the
sane lake arc equally rich weath-giy1ng power. but
are silent dormant and dead they in Canada
The wheat areas Of Minnesota and Dakota contributing
10 the traffic Of the lakes and railways
occupied TO the fullest extent lend hunger exists that
must remain unapDeaScd across is