Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-22
why Vermont Eemains "Inland&


The agricultural editor of the Watch
man makes the following sensible remarks
and pertinent inquiry regard to q sub
ject which has been frequently agitatsd by
the FREE PRESS:
speaking of Nermont's great interests and
opportunities, il seems strange, when ii cat be
done at comparatively small cost, that Lake
Champlaln remains unimproved as channel
Of continental commerce. 4 ship canal be-
tween the st. Lawrence river and Chalnplan,
and between Champlain and the Hudson
would give to Vermont immense advantages.
AS she now is, she is side-tracked in the
worlds commerce. She is an interior state.
But few millions expended in that work
would put her into the very current OF the
worlds traffic Her advantages would be
equal to those of Maine, and the whole state
would be romodeled and exalted bv the flow
of that great tide OF business passing by her
territory. Why not? WIN anybody tellt'
We think can answer our contem-
porary's inquiry In this matter. The rea-
son why Vermont capital is not devoted to
the project of making our State tributary
to a channel of continental commerce is
owing to the fact that the right man or set
of men to push the enterprise has not APP
peared and taken hold of the matter.
Moreover the chances are that if the
most able, energetic and popular
business man in Vermont at the present
time or number OF our best men were to
unite to undertake such project as an in
vestment, Vermont capital would not be
Forthcoming, although a good profit might
be practically guaranteed. II stranger or
set OF strangers were to undertake the work !;
or II the canals were to be built in the South
or West there would be no difficulty in rails
ing money for the purpose in this State.
In short it seems to be human nature to
take stock in people whom we do not know;
but Vermonters have been taking a sort OF
'gold cure" for this habit, and we cont
IDENTIFY expect that in the near future it will
be possible to make improvements like that
suggested i otlbrs in the nature of large
home inve tments with Vermont capital.
{ Another reason, in addition to those nj
ready mentioned, why Lake Champlain II
not connected with the st. Lawrence by q
ship canal, is that the line on which such G
canal must, and some time will be, con
structsd, lies in foreign country.
| charter for its construction was oncI
granted, many years ago, by the PROVING,
of Quebec, but it lapsed, and there has beer
no time since the abrogation of the rec
procity treaty with Canada whsz
a new charter could DO obtained. Tn,
Dominion has spent vast sums on improvln,
| Its own water ways, ''' ITO West to tn,
Atlantic by tho ri. i.,"4-aco route, and i
would not willingly permit that line to b'
tapped by ship canal to Lake Chsmplaln
If Canada should ever become part Of tn
United States the ship canal would speedil,
become fact. Commercial union or sbso
lutte reciprocity between the two countrle
would make it a possibility. But it cauno
bo built without charter and we think /
would puzzle the agricultural editor of tn
Waterman to suggest any plan upon whic
a charter could bs obtained in the presen
condition OF affairs.