New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-14
A CANADIAN CANAL PLAN.
FRESH CONSIDERATION OF THE GEOR-
GIAN BAY ROUTE FOR FREIGHT
FROM THE GREAT NORTHWEST
TO THE ATLANTIC.

l
a very small proportion or will they through a
heretofore undeveloped route endeavor to grasp
large portion of the whole? This IS quest'ol
which is before the members Of the Caolhet
at Ottawa. the route under discussion being what
is known the Georgian Bay Canal scheme,
which, by the way. has been more or less prominent
for many years, but which has never recelNeu 81
much consideration is row being given H.
The Georgian Bay Canal project is. IN a "oru'
for the utilization of the old voyageurs route De
tween Montreal and the Great Lakes-up the %.
Lawrence to Ottawa, up the Ottawa TO Lake t>'p'S
sing. across that stretch Of water to the FIeHol
River and SO on to the Georgian Bay ana Lake
Huron The present movement in favor OF 'l1e ue
veopment of this route. which IT is asserted "ouo
practically draw all the foreign grain TRACE away
from Buffalo, the railways, the American "d'e'
ways and the American seaports. has been CAUSED caused
by the presence in Canada of Ernest l.. o'"SS''
civil engineer. of London. England MI sawyer
represents a strong English syndicate, whlch Is
ready and willing TO take up the building anu
operation of the route, provided the DOMINION
Government will do what is considered to De us
fair share.
Mr.. SAWYER. who was chief engineer in the build
ing of the Manchester Ship Canal the harbor
works Buenos Ayres and the Delagoa bay 1tsill-
way. comes 70 Canada with the best Of recon-
mendatiors. He brings letters of introduction from
Lord StrathcOna. the Canadian High Commissioner
in London. and is well known to Lord Mimic the
Governor General Back of Mr.. Sawyer In England
are the Walkers. builders of the Manchester snip
Canal ana other men or almost equal
In speech last Tuesday before the members Of the
Montreal Board of Trade, Mr.. Sawyer said that
after careful investigation he had come to the
conclusion that the present St. Lawrence Canal
system. with its fourteen foot waterway from the
Great Lakes TO Montreal would never control the
trade expected of it, The reason for this was made
clear 10 him when he went TO Chicago In the course
OF his Investigations He found that ships OF from
1000 TO 1000 tons were passing through the Sault
Ste. Marie Canal The ST. Lawrence canals were
projected thirty for vessels not exceed
ing 1000 tons. The present Great Lake carriers
could not go through the locks Of the St Lawrence
canals. was fourteen feet of water sufficient
for them. These were the reasons why the present
canal system had fulfilled its mission and
also the reasons why Montreal was not getting
more than per cent OF the export grain trade OF
the continent.
While in Chicago Mr. Sawyer had interviewed the
Armours regarding the Georgian Bay project and
its relation 10 the grain trade Of the continent.
They had told him that the railways had about
reached the limit OF cheap fTeights and no great
reductions could be expected from them for many
years come. Tie present lowest tariff quoted
from Chicago east 70 the seaboard from Kan
City south. nine cents a bushel on grain;
bit at 10 cents the profit 10 the railways was
only nominal The advantage tho Atlantic railways
had over the Gulf railways the cheapness OF
the water carriage from Chicago 10 BuTdlo-only
and one-eighth cents Lake Superior iron ore
carried thousand miles for one and one
eighth cents. and the railways could not carry II
for five cents
WOULD Cheaper GRAIN RATES.
The fulflment Of the Georgian Ray Canal project
would enable grain 20 reach Montreal from Chicago
al three cents bushel as against four and a half
cents from Chicago 70 Buffalo. The Armours had
told him that eighth. on at most quarter of
a cent under the present prevailing rate would
divert all the traffic that could be put through the
Georgian Bay Canal and. further. there
reason fear competition from other routes. In
the district tributary 10 the proposed Georgian
Bay Canal is grown two billion bushels Of grain
yearly. OF which amount u per cent is ex
ported. Then again, the iron OF the Lake Su-
peror region and the prospect Of It's sti more ex-
tenslve means the expectation Of thousands OF
annually by the cheapest route.
Mr.. sawyer's proposition is that this inland
waterway have depth of at least twenty feet from
the Georgian Bay through 10 Montreal in this
manner the lake craft could be accommodated and
vessels OF from 400 to 1000 tons capacity could
be brought straight through from, say Chicago TO
Montreal without a change OF bottom. and even
straight on to Liverpool with no detention The
English engineer says that the whole system could
be completed in five years. and at cost of not
more than SCI 10000 The locks would be so feet
long 60 feet wide and % feet the sills. II would
require fifty locks TO complete the system.
Mr.. Sawyer's calculation is that the trade would
not be less than eight million tons the first year
after completion. and that within ten years this
would increase by perhaps 50 per cent.
comparison Of the distances by the Georgian
Bay Canal system with the present circuitous
route by way OF the Great Lakes is strkingly in
favor Of the former The distance. according to
surveys by government engineers. from Georgian
Bay TO Montreal is $50 miles. and the water route
from Montreal 10 Liverpool. most people are
aware IS 40 miles shorter than from New-YOTk
10 Liverpool The distance from Chicago to Mon
by the Georgian Bay route is nearly 40 miles
less than from Chicago to New-YOrk by way OF
Georgian Bay route OF a little short OF nine hun
dred miles the through trip TO Liverpool Prac-
=
for there arc $50 miles Of canal on the Erie route
and only tive ty-nine miles on the other supposSs
route TIE for New-York has journey of 800
Frsnch river TO reach NeweYork the former YES
sci. II the Erie Canal were to be enlarged 10
that route possible. would have to pass through
Ra m 0 ea ia ana While e vessel 81 IS
by the northerly route would have only twenty
lake to traverse before reaching Montreal Finally
the northern vessel discharges her cargo on ship
the southern one. This shows a marked advantage
in every section of the Journey in favor Of the
Georgian Bay route.
CHARACTER OF THE ROUTE.
As early as 1915 young Frenchman assembled the
Ottawa from where the city of Montreal
stands. ard with his Indian guides, followed the
Identical course which II is proposed TO follow
with the Georgian Bay Canal The distance from
Montreal to Ottawa 800 miles is covered with
This part of the work is clear sailing as the re,
Gured extra six feet could be easily obtained. In
this 100 miles of navigable water between Mon
treaI and Ottawa fifteen is by canal the remainder
being in open stretches through the Ottawa and
rel Rye Ab ST river s4e
amounting 10 $50 miles leaving the total canal
nine miles in order to have clear stretch through
to the Georgian Bay. The character OF this route
OF one of the most perfect systems of inland navi
sn2r in the %e6 and s wae b
rapids and falls. which are easily overcome by
getting from lake to another. For the most