The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-22
Via Montreal Via Erie Canal

over all Of these routes, it will be OBJ
served, there is a saving of actual travel
ling distance of 452 miles. And that this
advantage is worth considering is proved
to the Canadian mind by the fact that the
United States steel corporation is building
q fleet of ten steamers for exporting their
products by way OF Montreal. 1t is hardly
conceivable that the steel trust would
Select any but the cheapest route.
AS To Montreal's designs upon the grain
carrying business, here is her printed
boast:
THE Montreal Harbor Commissioners
have approved the proposals of a syndi-
cate TO erect elevators and warehouses of
large capacity at the port of Montreal for
the hdndling Of grain shipments from the
west. A lease of the sites asked for will
be given. a penalty clause will be added
to the contract. providing that if the syn
dictate does not secure the quantity OF
grain stipulated during the first three
years. namely. %, 600 600 bushels during the
first season and 35 900 during each of
the two other seasons, their property shall
be forfeited. The syndicate will construct
three large elevators and large warehou-
ses at a total expenditure of over s.. 600. Co.,
the syndicate, said of the plan: 1--WE in
tend to build up a port here that will give
employment to between 2,0c0 and 5000
workmen. instead of about 200 in the pre-
sent. We shall bring instead of 500 ves-
sells to Montreal during the season of ma
vigation, from l Geo to 1000 vessels. We
intend to divert a very large part of the
traffic that now goes by way of New York
and Buffalo to Montreal. Only two-tenths
of the traffic of the Canadian west now
comes TO Montreal The rest goes by rail
90 New York. Boston and other ports
We mean 70 bring the remaining eighth
tenths here. We Will land the grain in
liverpool half a cent a bushel cheaper
than anybody else can. We shall have
bur own steamers to bring grain from
the lakes of Montreal. There will shortly
be fleet of 800 of these vessels plying
on the canals and lakes. Our object is
To compete with the railroads and We can
utilize the splendid waterways of Canada
SO that We can beat the railroads in com
petition for the grain traffic.
The widening and deepening Of the
Nelland canal by the Canadian govern
nent has induced the Illinois Transit com
pany TO establish direct steamship line
FOR passengers and freight from Chicago
20 Montreal and Liverpool. Beginning
with three steamers the company propo-
ses To make a substantial increase in its
tonnage as business shall REQUIRE. 1t Is
possible that this movement. which is TO
be followed by others of the same kind.
Will have the feet OF diverting large
share of ocean shipping from the cities
on The Atlantic Scaboard. As the Canadian
government makes no discrimination in
tolls. there Is nothing TO prevent Ameri-
can merchants and ship owners from en-
5oying large share Of the ocean transit
b. way OF the Weuand canal
From the blk grain 6el6s q the north
west 10 udowater navigation at Montreal
there Is now completed clear fourteen
ieet waterway with only about seventy
one miles Of canales. Boats Of 800 10
3,'-'o tons now pass freely back and fourth
when the new waterway between Georgia /
BAY and the 81. Lawrence is comnlsted
which VIII Toe within TWO years AZ the
latest as the surveys have all been made
and the capital provided by private syn
olcate and the work hesun-there Will /
be direct passage from the Superior norris
through Salt -. Marie &c Montreal. which /
VIII take ships ~ twenty-one feet draught
There VIII be less than thirty miles Of |
canal TO be constructed on this route |
ITS estimated cost IS less than oue-fourth |
OF the cost Of the improved Erie canal.
Canada can scarcely he accused of |
negiecting her canal interests. IN view Of |
this great activity in building and improv-
ins which is neither directly carried out
BY the government OF aided with grants