Year: 1863

nave been made since the outbreak Of the re-
pellion, both at Albany aud Washington, to
secure the enlargement of tho Erie Canal to q
sufficient capacity to admit the passage of gun
boats from the Hudson to the lakes, thence to
the Mississippi The defeat OF that project in
Congress resulted in the calling Of a conven-
ton TO assemble in Chicago on the I'd Of June,
at which the boards of commerce and trade
of all our principal cities, as well as other
societies for the development Of the country,
will be presented for consideration. Hence the
importance of the convention, and the fear that
those who have voice in that body will not
comprehend the project in all its magnitude


In the first place. the project to enlarge the


locks Of the Erie Canal 30 as to permit the pas
sage of gunboats from the Hudson to the lakes
will be presented; second, the construction


of slip canal around Niagara Falls of suhi-
cient capacity to admit the passage Of
steSni vessels two hundred feet in length
and upwards of forty feet in width;
and then, either the enlargement Of the canal
from Oswego to Troy to the same capacity, or
the construction of ship canal from some
point near Ogdensburg to Rouse's Point, on
Lake Champlsin, and the enlargement Of the
Champlain Canal to the Hudson. To carry out
this connection with the Mississippi two pro-
jects at least will be presented: one the con-
struct!on of ship canal across the State of
Illinois from Chicago the other, the improve
ment of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers 80 as to
form ship canal from Green Bay to the Missis-
sippi at the mouth Of the Wisconsin river.
There may be two or three other projects vary
ing in some points from the foregoing; but they
are sufficient to call public attention to the i'm
portance Of the subject esl


In the settlement upon the route to be taken,
which must be done with the view of the re-
suits that will follow, will be the point that
will test and decide the comprehensiveness Of
the convention. The route around Niagara
Falls is proposed to be built of sufficient ca
pacity not only to accommodate vessels much
larger than those that can now pass through
Welland Canal but vessels that will be able To
weather the storms at sea, and thus cross the
ocean with the products that they loaded in
the West extending to a greater extent
than any other way the Atlantic Ocean
half way across this continent; the sides
OF the canal to be walled up, and the propelling
power used to be entirely steam: in other words,
q canal for the use Of steam. On the other hand,
no such extensive project is intended by the
enlargement of the locks of the Erie Canal
With tbot cro;act NJ ass of veeaoIs 10 oil
that they can accommodate. In fact, it cannot


be otherwise without the enlargement Of the
canal the entire length; and, to attempt that the
damage that would arise to the navigation of
! tue Erie Canal would be nearly as much as the
original cost Of the Niagara Falls route. Tie
question here arises, what are the advantages
to be gained by ship caEal


In the first place, everybody Must admit the
inestimable advantage to us of ship canal in
| time of war as means of public defence.
enabling us to concentrate at any moment our
iron-clads OIL the Northern frontier, the Atlantic
seaboard or the Gulf of Mexico, and thus head
| ing the enemy at every point II also furnishes
a more expeditions and cheaper mode for the
farmers Of the West to send their produce to
market, and will enable them to compete with
all parts of the world In the markets at Liver
pool and London. 1t will no doubt be urged
that the construction of canal Of that capacity
win ruin other investments in the carrying
the great trunk railroads communicating with
the West. All who entertain these views have
but limited knowledge, or fail to compre-
hend the vast resources Of that country
known as the West. Less than one-half OF the
State Of Illinois is to-day under cultivation:
therefore remains undeveloped. The same may
be said of Wisconsin; and when you cross the
Mississippi to those wide spreading prairies
Of Iowa, through to Kansas. Nebraska, to the
gold fields Of the Rocky Mountains, but CON-
paratively small portion has ever come under
| the plough of the husbandman. The furnishing
means Of transportation such as can be by q
ship canal Of the capacity that we have re-


ferred to will attract the attention Of the emf


grant, and will more fully develop the re-


sources Of the West, until the present facilities


with the addition Of ship canal, will be made


quate to supply its wants. There Is no esti


mating the amount Of products that can be
raised in the Mississippi valley and that section
known as the West. 1t is capable Of becoming
the granary of the world and supplying every


nation with their food. The soil in its valleys


and prairies is inexhaustible. lis broad field,


will roll forth their riches TO reward the husband


man for generations to come. In addition tc


this, a glance at the map of the world mus


suggest to every thinking mind the probability


at no distant day of the commerce Of England
with Asia and the islands of the Pacific. instead
4 OF going around the Capes, crossing this coun


try by the ship canal and the great Pacif


Railroad, rs the shortest, safest and most expo


ditious route. II needs no stretch Of imagination


IN soc this important revolution i'm tie com