Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-02
CANADA'S COAL QUESTION,
Nova Scotia Coal Producers Advised
to Develop Trade with Ontario In
stead Of New England.

Industrial Canada hesitates dislike of
the proposal to take the duty Off bitumi-
nous coal Speaking for the policy of pro-
lection at large, it does net feel that it
can consistently countenance any tariff
departure that would create Il breach in
the wall. Rather. our contemporary says
encourage the development of the Ontario
market for Nova Scotia coal, which the
enlargement of the st. Lawrence Canal
favors. The construction of Il canal sys-
tenn connecting the Georgian Bay with
the Ottawa River allowing boats drawing
twenty feet of water to pass from Nova
Scotia to any port on the upper lakes
without breaking bulk. would also assist
the movement. Such a canal could be
constructed for about s75.000OOO. and the
revenue from coal duties would pay the
interest on that amount. The cost of the
canal may somewhat exceed the estimate
OF the engineers, but as it would shorten
the water distance between the west and
the east by over 400 miles and bring Mon
treal as close to Fort William. Port Ar
thur. Chicago and Duluth as Buffalo now
is. 1t would soon be returned to the peo-
pie in cheaper freight rates. Taking these
facts into consideration, Industrial Cana
da asks, will it not be wiser for the coal
producers of Nova Scotia to devote their
attention to extending their trade in the
vast and rapidly developing Provinces of
Quebec and Ontario. than to place their
dependence upon the New England
states which must be comparatively
stagrant?
II las Dctn SuSStStcu THAT III the TeNc-
nue. derived from the duty on coal i'm
ported into Ontario were devoted to
bo,rnties for boats carrying coal TO On
tariO from Nova Scotia, it might have Il
greater effect in cheapening coal to On
tario consumers than the abolition of the
duty. as it would bring Nova Scotia coal
into competition with American coal
whereas the abolition of the duty would
give the United States coal mines the
complete monopoly of the Ontario mar
ket. or course, as Nova Scotia coal dis
placed United States coal in the Ontario
market the revenue derived from the duty
would gradually decrease, but in the
meantime a trade would be developed
which would probably be more profitable
without bounticS. Moreover the Ontario
demand for coal is increasing every year,
and even without any great reduction in
the amount of imports a considerable
market might be found for Nova Scotia
coal
Any measure that can bring Nova SEQ
tia coal into Ontario will receive the most
favorable consideration of this province.
II the operators there are anxious to Sc
cure the western market and make good
their promises to fill orders in competition
with imported coal that is all that any
one requires. The demand for free coal
has been based on their total inability or
disinclination to meet this want The
cancellation of the Grand Trunk contrac,
by the coal company a year or two ago
CONDITIONED on the payment of duty on all
coal imported instead for the railway To-
comof1Ves. seemed to give the keynote of
the situatOn.-The London (Ont) Free
Press.