New-York tribune., 1899-04-30
CANADIAN GRAIN ROUTES.
EXPECTED RESULTS OF DEEPENING THE
CANALS.
wrpE.REAcHING SCHEMES TO DIVERT TRAFFIC
TO THE ST. LAWRENCE AMBITIONS OF
RIVAL TOWNS AND PORTS.


Toronto. April q (specaD.--on Monday the Wei
land Canal was opened to traffic for the season OF
1899 Before midsummer II is expected that the
largest vessels locked through II VIII be able TO
make their way to Montreal The work OF deepen
ing the st. Lawrence canals far advanced by the
late Government when II resigned Office, nearly
three years ago, continued by its successor.
and will be completed In two months. Traffic and
industry II is quite generally believed. will be
revoutionIxed By the improved waterway which Is
10 usher In a new era OF low freights through
transportation and internal trade. Everything
seems to be realgning and getting adjusted TO the
new gauge Of the canals--craft. harbors. railway
terminals. industry. the ambitions of towns, etc.
The deepened waterway is likely to prove quite an
inspiration to enterprise When 1t is considered
that after ALL tits to be but fourteen feet all this
ado snay seem exaggerated. But It is TO be re-
membered that that depth is FIVE feet more than
the former depth OF the canals. or, rather than the
depth of the shallowest of them, Heretofore ves-
sells OF fourteen feet draught could bring their
cargoes from the head of the lakes no further than
Kingston Prescott where the St Lawrence
raves Lake Ontario. During the season of nayiga-
ton of 1897 1H Canadian steam vessels 80 Canadian
sail vessels ll American steam vessels and 56
American sail vessels brought to Kingston and
Prescott cargoes of grain aggregatng nS'll2 tons
Transferred elevators there the grain was turned
10 barges and shipped on 10 Montreal
A NEW TRANSPORTATION LINE.
One OF the first results OF the deepening OF the
canals the formation OF what is to be called the
Inland Transportation Company. II is made up for
the most part OF Toronto men, The capital STOCK
Is to be 100000. Ten steel steamships are TO be
built for the grain trade Of the lakes and the ST.
Lawrence Each is to have capacity OF 5000
bushels through the canals or 10S0O bushels on the
deeper water OF the lakes. An adjunct OF the line
Is TO be floating elevator at Port Cooorne at the
Lake Erie end OF the Welland Canal To this each
a Ghnto ~ rQn if
IS supposed be loaded with in OF the canal
limit and pass through with the rest. 1t Is be-
lieved by the promoters OF the line that they can
carry grain from Port William at Duluth 10 Mon
treal for less than the six cents bushel 1t now
costs to move grain from the head of Lake
Superior 10 New-York large business In return
freghts from Montreal and other points is reckoned
upon.
But though the number of vessels carrying from
1000 to 10000 bushels from the head of naviga-
tion TO tidewater is expected TO be greatly In
creased they will be only secondary factor in
the reconstructed transportation system Vessels
OF this tonnage can scarcely more than supplement
the huge steel carriers OF two and half times
their capacity that operate on the upper side OF
the Welland Canal 1t is calculated that the ad-
vantages OF these big vessels be Joined with
the advantages OF the deepened st. Lawrence sys-
tenn in such a way as TO make the Canadian route
the cheapest Of all lines OF transit from the West.
OF course if there is to be cooperation between
the largest grain-carriers Of the upper lakes and
the lower canals transshipment Will be necessary.
for such vessels never get within 80 miles OF
the ST. Lawrence. the Welland Canal must re-
main closed to them long as 1t affords only a
fourteen-foot passage.
GEORGIAN BAY OR LAKE ERIE?
But where shall the stage OF transshpment be?
The balance OF probabilities nclines 10 port or
ports on Georgian Bay, but the eastern end of Lake
Erie has also strong attractions. Elevator enter
prise is putting forth at both places. The Georgian
Bay route would be the least deviative from
straight line between the head Of navigation and
tidewater the st. Lawrence. Already traffic
fas taken a strong set in that direction. Through
Parry Sound, the Georgian Bay terminus Of the
Booth system OF railways there were transshipped
last 100000 bushels Of grain to Montreal.
Through Midland, Georgian Bay terminus OF a
Grand Trunk line. there were transshipped 6'0OOO0
bushels 10 Montreal The grain was received by
these roads from some of the largest grain car
rers ahoat on the lakes, Though 1t has to be
hauled three hundred miles by rail. the grain
Is nearly two days less time in transit between
the head OF navigation and the seaboard.
CoLLNGwoOD AIR LINE
. On this developing grain trade other Georgian
Bay ports-C -Collngwood owen Sound and Medford
look with Jealous eye. Collingwood is press
ing the Government the desirabeness OF having
its harbor improvements completed at once and
has received a reply that is not unfavorable. Col
lngwood. Georgian Bay. and Toronto. on Lake
Ontario are points at which these two bodies of
water most closely approach each other. The
neck Of land between, seventy miles broad, may
we'll be called isthmus. Across this divide
the Collingwood people propose that air line be
built for the purpose OF carrying grain from the
big steel vessels OF the upper lakes 10 the smaller
vessels running in the St. Lawrence canals. To-
ronto caught at the idea, and joint deputaons have
waited on the Government 10 have the harbors OF
deepene0 q
construction of an Independent air line. A sum
has just been placed in the estimates for the
purpose
ELEVATORS AT PORT COLBoRNE.
But those who argue for the eastern end Of Lake
Erie as the bourne OF the great grain-carriers
not Idle company. in which Buffalo men OF cap
itsl and enterprise figure, is being formed to build
elevators at Port Colborne. These men, along
with many citizens Of towns the Weland Canal
waited on the Government some days ago with
petitions for the deepening OF Port Colborne Har-
Dor for the reception OF big craft. non-commit-
tai answer given. but Sir Wilfrid Laur1er vol
unteered the statement that he had under consid
then. on the 24th inst. the main estimates have
been submitted to Parliament In them there Is
an Item OF $S5O0 600 for deepening the Welland Canal
approaches at Port Colborne
MoNTREATs INTEREST
Though Montreal is on a segment Of the Cana
dian route that is common TO all the others 1t
IS by OF being the point of transfer
20 the ocean steamers. The larger craft now able
to navigate the upper ST. Lawrence may prefer
10 carry their cargoes on to Quebec Quebec has
suddenly become strong rival for the position OF
the chief ST. Lawrence seaport. The 100 miles Of
river channel with Its shadows and difficulties Of
plotting. which have to be traversed by ocean
steamers to reach Montreal is telling more and
more against that city Then Quebec is reaching
out back OF Montreal by means OF a railway which
10 10 connect with the Booth system. and thus
with Georgian Bay. There are only eighty-eight
miles OF the railway remaining to be built Ar
rangements have been made for the running Of
q line Of ocean steamships from Quebec, in con-
nection with this grain-carrylng road Montreal,
too lacks elevators. A Buffalo syndicate, how
ever is trying to get the franchise to build ele-
vators there. also is Prescott company. and
the idea OF Government elevator is broached.
million dollars is TO be spent on the harbor.
On the 24th the following resolution, bearing
this subject was passed at meeting OF Winnipeg
business men interested In the grain trade
"Whereas, II Is anticipated that there will be