New-York tribune., 1898-12-25
THE CANADIAN CANALS.
IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS UNDER.
TAKEN RY THE GOVERNMENT

ottawa Dec. pa matter OF the greatest i'm
portancc 10 the large business interests Of Tho
Great Lakes and ST. Lawrence is the completion
OF waterway OF fourteen feet drausht To tho
Atlantic seaboard. project which the Canadian
Government has had under way during the last
three seasons and which is to he COMPLETED in
time for through navigation next wear
Persons who have heen associated with nuhlIc
works in Europe visiting the United States and
Canada, have been frequently heard 10 COM
nent upon the successive improvements which
have been made necessary in the canal sys-
tens 1t would seem. indeed, as though the per-
manenoy which should he sought in large public
UNDERTAKINGS is rare of accomplishment on this
side of tho Atlantic. by reason chiefly Of the re-
markatle development in commerce year by
year and the constant change of conditions
generally Nowhere s this perhaps more truly
exemplified than AT the 500" where the ex-
panson has called for the building OF three
successive waterways on the American side.
The question naturally presents itself why the
locks and canals were rot built large enough 10
allow for the growth in vessels but the truth
IS that so remarkable have been the changes Of
the last quarter o: a century in the Great Lakes
craft. and in the volume Of the traffic itself
that /. may truly be considered as beyond the
Jowers OF the present generations grandfathers
to foretell.
Canada has expended in all upon her canal
in the neishborhood OF S60No,0o0, yet being
persuaded Of the need Of bringing her water
ways up 10 the requirements of the day she has
not hesitated 20 make further inroads upon the
public treasury to render these important facili-
ties what they should he. This has meant the
building Of one canal thirteen and three
fourths miles long. the Soulanges. to replace the
Reauharnos. which latter was considered UNIT
for further u5e.
Included in the scheme OF the Canadian Gov
eminent fer through waterway of fourteen
feet draught from the Great Lakes the At
lantic seaboard Is the Improvement Of existing
facilities. made up OF the deepening Of the older
canals and the building Of locks Of larger
dimensions These st. Lawrence canals. which
were opened 10 traffic in 1SiI. believed BY
Canadian public men 10 have contributed large
ly toward the development Of Canadian trade.
Their remodeng on an up-to-date plan costs
in the neighborhood OF S16.0o0.o0o. but if the
opinion Of the leaders Of both political parties
counts for anything tho undertaking is such as
will meet with the unanimous approval Of the
Canadian public.
on the Cornwall Canal, extending westward 20
the village Of Dickenson's Landing. eleven and
half miles the enlargement consists Of deepen
ire widening and Strengthening the original
channel protecting the embankments and in the
construction Of new and enlarged locks. supply
weirs and bridges The finished work has already
been accepted by the Department The approx
mate value Of these Improvements is in the
neighhorhocd Of S2.6oo0o0
on TIE Farrans Point Canal. to avoid the
Farran's Point Rapid. the enlargement. consists
in the building of entrance piers lift lock SpJ
feet lors by 20 feet wide. and the Strengthening
and charging OF the prism
The Rapide Plat Canal has been enlarged at
a cost Of 81 $50 600: this work Is finished.
on the Iroquois section Of the Gaiops Canal
new crib entrance piers new lock 500 feet
long by a. feet wide the cutting OF new
prism deepening and widening at the west end.
will cost ir the neighborhood OF SIC0.oOo
on the Cardinal section Of the Galops Canal
new cut has beer made through the village OF
Cardinal. This work will need TO be pressed in
the spring II 1t is to be ready for navigation
next season. The approximate value OF this
work is 81 100000
A new channel known az the North Channel.
is being formed through shoals reefs and an
island between the Galops Canal and Prescott.
The approximate value of work under contract
is S393, 100.
The deepening OF the Lachine Canal between
feet is practically completed. In Lake ST Louis
a channel has been cut 300 feet wide and Il feet
deep for a distance Of about four miles.
THE WORK OF IMPROVEMENT
y, NOW many years since the steady increase
OF navigation on the St Lawrence seemed ~
warrant the Improvement of the connecting canal
link between lakes 81. Francis and St Louis
one of the most dangerous stretches on the river
In 1891 the Federal Government, recognizing
this necessity recommended TO Parliament the
appropriation Of Of money toward the
construction Of a new canal on the north slde oi
the river. extending from Coteau LANDING 10
vaudreuil. a distance Of ]3& miles Inc route
of the new canal had been the subject OF pro-
Ionged vet conflicting expert testimony Ihe
existing canal on the south eide OF the st Law
renee known as the Beauhsrnois seemed 10
point 20 the superiority ~ the route on the
southern shore Of the river
!, was In 1912 tina; this Beauharnois Canal
VAC sanctioned by Parliament after extensive
surveys running over a period OF some ten years
The soulanees as it Is called on the north side'
is slightly longer than the Beauharnois nu'
was considered TO AFFORD superior natural ia'h'-
ties It's construction has cost IN IN" neis""''-
bood ~ 81 900 0OO and when completed me
c.,al will he. without doubt. one Of the best
eouinned on the continent. II passes through
rorparatively level country ot Nai'e' s''''e'"'
formation There has been on two sections tow
ard he upper end considerable rocK-cu'''ns'
The balance Of he excavation has been throuRh
b,ue clav and sand loan. Alongside inc "a"N
q road is 70 be cut and macadamized' III con-
forroity With the increasing SIZE OF ''sS,''' ''
,.-.l ,.ul no Of II feet minimum draugh' ana
ION 700, wide AT the bottom of the banks sop
ing back at the rate Of TWO 10 one Inc ~
vhich the canal accomplishes amounts 10 -
.as, This is gained by means # four locks
Ckc