New-York tribune., 1903-04-19
GEORGIAN BAY CANAL.
Scheme Indorsed IN the Canadian
Parliament.

Ottawa Ont April IS (SpeciaD.-There has been
an interesting debate in the House of Commons on
the Ottawa and Georgian Bay Canal project. the
net result Of which strong Endorsement Of
the scheme by members on both sides Of the House.
The subject introduced by Thomas Murray,
the member for Pontiac who asked for an ex-
preston Of the governments intention In regard
to the Ottawa and Georgian Bay Canal, an enter
prise that would. he said. do more than any other
to build up Canada The scheme indorsed by
Sir John Macdonald and Sir Alexander Mackenzie.
The question had also been brought before Parlia-
rnent by Sir James Grant, ex-Speaker White, Mr..
Haggart and Mr.. Belcourt. There had been many
reports upon a ten-foot canal. but what was
required at least twenty feet deep The
latest survey of the whole route by Marcus
Smith, who estimated the cost at $S0.ooOO00. The
route was admitted to be the nearest air line
in the way of a canal In the world and what the
construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway had
done in making known the resources of Western
Canada the construction Of the Georgian Bay
Canal would do in making known and developing
the mineral resources OF the great Ottawa Valley.
1t was estimated that there was 10000 horsepower
available on the route of the canal This equiv
alent to s75 o0oo0 yearly. which, capitalized at 5
per cent would s225 100000 added to the wealth
of the country. II the canal built four times
more immigrants would come into the country. In
fact. they would come in so rapidly that people
couldn't build houses for them fast enough There
would only be about thirty miles OF canalling to
do on the whole route, that it easy enough
also demands the Georgian Bay Canal from a mill
tary point of view In reply Sir Wnfrid Laurier
said:
The subject brought UP by Mr. Murray is not
exactly new and don't know that / can add any
thing to the declaration which the government had
made on a previous occasion. Mr.. Murray Is aware
that a company chartered by this Parliament
TO construct what is called the canalZatiOn of the
Ottawa River and the French River from Georgian
Raw 10 the waters of the St. Lawrence think that
/ NAV safely say that IL was never expected that
This Company would be able to perform such gil
gantic task unassisted. Fer my part. think that
the country would be justified in making mod
crate expenditure of money with the view of pro-
vtStno apother means of communication between
tha East and the West. The route of the Ottawa
River is undoubtedly the natural channel OF COM
1nunicatton between the East and the West IL
Vas the route followed by the old vOyageurS in the
earIv days of the colony. When the Northwest pro-
duce5 nothing but furs IL was the route followed
nv The fur traders bring the products of the West
10 the Eastern shores. Whenever a company is
nranarad To approach the government asking for
,xbat would call reasonable assistance think the
po~a-nment will be prepared 10 hear the applca-
t,on fayorahly and to ask Parliament for
.Cna NE assisfance 1t seems TO me that there is
eyraat daaI IN be said in favor or the view taken
St, Mr. Tarfe in favor OF the government itself
,,ndartaking the full development or the French
Riyar fron the waters OF Georgian BAY 10 Lake
NinissinS n that done. IL would be means
~ having another port on the lakes, ana IL would
uniouhtedlv contribute solve the problem OF the
transportaion of the products OF the Northwest TO
the seaboard.