The Portland daily press., 1899-01-06
CANADA'S WATERWAYS.
Visit Of Dominion Officials to Port,
land Yesterday.
MUCH DELIGHTED AT THE SIGHTS
SHOWN THEM.

Warehouse Facilities-Much Inter
ested I'm the Dry Dock-Lesve for
Boston In the Afternoon.
The train from Montreal, over the
Grand Trunk, brought to this city yester
day at 8 10 .. M, Mayor Prefontaine OF
Montreal and the Board Of HarbJr Com.
missioners Of that city, composed Of
Messrs Robert MacKay. h. Biokerdike
E II. LemaS. A. Racine. d. u. Thorn
son, l. Torrance, /. Consant. p. W. St
George. I. Kennedy and David Seath. Il
was expected that Hon. Mr.. Tarte Cam
din, Commissioner Of Public Works,
would come with the party, but
he was unable to leave. The party pro
ceeded at once to the Falmouth hotel
their headquarters while in the city, ant
brea tasted.
After breakfast they were called upor
by Mayor Randall; Mr.. Barclay, repre-
senting the Allan line of steamers; Presi
dent f. e. Boothby of the Board OF
Trade and general passenger agent of the
Maine CENTRAL Hon. John W. Deering
collector of the port; MIR. Cyrus Farley,
chairman OF the Portland Board OF Har.
Dor Commissioners; Manager Cooling Of
the Cssco Bay Steamboat Co., Mr., Smith
agent of the Grand Trunk, and others.
Under the guidance of these gentlemen
the morning was spent in examining
Portland harbor facilities, the improve
nients that are being made in the harbor,
the Grand Trunk wharves and elevators,
and other places of interest
The visit Of the gentlemen referred to
seeing what are the conditions and i'm
provements in the great harbors of Port
land, Boston, New York and perhaps
others. 1t it's we'll well known that Their,
has been much anxiety over the condition
of the Dominion water ways at Montreal
st. John and Halifax. Extensive i'm
provements of the hhrb,r Of Montreal, be
low St. Mary's current, are in contem
pIation, and before making their report
the commissioners deemed it advisable
to personally inspect some Of the harbors
in the United States. They are also
much Interested In wharf facilities.
To get some idea of the feeling in re-
gard to the improvement of the Canadian
harbors, we quote from the speech Of
Hon. Mr. Fielding of the Dominion cabi.
net at the great meeting held in Montreal
Tuesday at which Hon. Wilfrid Iaurier,
the prime minister, was present. Mr..
Fielding said:
lin Montreal, you are looking forward
MI N dayalppmanf nf the
trade of your great city. We believe there
is national sentiment in Canada today
which demands we should utilize the
great waterways, and also our great rail-
ways, for carry ing the great trade OF Can
ada largely through the ports Of Canada.
Applause Let the Government OF Can
ada see to 1t that whatever is reasonable,
fair and Just, aud in no niggardly spirit,
Is done to the harbors of Montreal. and
Halifax, and st. John, and any othe.
harbor In Canada-( loud applause -which
is going to help us in carrying out that
great national undertaking. The people
of Canada are today more than ever be
fore an independent and self-rslying PEG
pie. They are not unmindful of the good
TO be obtained by being friendly with all,
least of all could they be unmindful OF
what good might be accomplished by bet-
ter trade relations with the people to the
south. We ara sending our great chief
tain away tomorrow TO Washingto nwith
ysrmest support. knowing every interest
OF Canada is ssfe In his hands. And he
will go to these people whom he Is 70
meet and will be able to say to them, 1t
Is our desire to deal with you and to
trade with you. II you fiud it TO be to
your interest TO trade with us, we shall
welcome you and gladly make an ar.
rangement with you. But II for any req
son. 1t does not suit your convenience 10
do 1t, we shall not quarrel with you, we
shall stand firm and push forward with
more rapid speed. with double energy II
necessary, all those plans that are
going to build up Canada as an independ-
emit and self-relying country. loud
applause.
AT noon the party by the courtesy Of
Manager Cooling enjoyed a trip down the
harbor thus enabling the visitors to get
q oapiatl idea of our water ways. They
were much delighted at what they saw
and piled their Portland acquaintance
with numerous questions.
Mr.. Cooling then took the party In the
steamer up to the Dry Dock in which
they were greatly interested, and 1t was
shown how easily 1t could be made a
most valuable plant Then the visitors
were taken to where the great dredges
were ut work The commissioners wers
deeply Impressed with the great sheds of
the Grand Trunk. "Oh, If we could have
these in Montreal, they said. IL seems
that in Montreal the tide is SO high in
summer that any attempt to put up such
sheds would be attended by great loss as
the tide would sWeep them down. Thew
climbed down on to the lobster cars to
see the crustaceans and one enthusiastic
Montreaisr took one TO carry away with
him.
Then the visitors returned to the hotel,
enjoyed u good dinner and at $50 p. m.
took the train for Boston. They were
q fine looking set of men and expressed
much pleasure at their visit.
The board of Harbor Commissioners of
Montreal is composed of eleven mem bers,
of whom the Mayor Is one, ex-ofhcio. six