Year: 1878

Captain Graham, of the steamship Mo-
raVian, of the Allan line, who is now in
Baltimore, has caused quite a sensation
throughout Lower Canada with his pro-
position to close the Straits of Belle Isle,
which Is also attracting much attention in
England. His idea is that by building &
breakwater across the straits the immense
flow of northern water which now pass
through them rushing into the Gulf of
st. Lawrence will be carried direct to the
Atlantic. This water during the early
spring months is laden with icebergs, and
has the same effect on the climate of Can
ada, as well as of Maine and most of our
Eastern States, that the Gulf Stream has
upon the climate of the Gulf States. The
theory of Captain Graham is that if this
cold current and the annual incursion of
icebergs were diverted from the Gulf of
st. Lawrence the surrounding temperature
would be materially raised, the chilly cold
OF Arctic floods would no more be felt
along the shores of Quebec, vegetation
would take the place of sterility, and vast
tract of land now lying idle and unculti-
waited, owing to the adverse influence of
climate, would BE- made amenahle to the
plow and prove great source of wealth to
the country. Moreover, the absence of
the present current, which now sweeps into
the Gulf and up the st. Lawrence, would
permit of a greater influx from the south
of the warming influence of the Gulf
Stream, which at certain seasons of the
year, by the action of the trade winds, is
forced into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the
result being that on the neighboring shores,
as in Prince Edwards Island, the temper
ature is high and vegetation hourishes.
Not only, Captain Graham contends, would
we have such results, but there is every
reason to believe that the st. Lawrence
would remain open all winter, as although
there may be seen ice forming about the
mouths of fresh water rivers, salt water
ice is never seen in the Gulf or Straits of
Bell Isle until the northern field ice is
close at hand when the slab ice begins to
form.


Certain it is, that wherever the influence
of this Polar stream is not felt throughout
Canada, or is negatived by the Gulf Stream,
fertility abounds, as in Prince Edwards
Island, along the south side of the st.
Lawrence and on the west coasts of New
foundland and Nova Scotia, whilst wher-
ever the North Seas wash the shores moth
ing but rocky ground and barrenness
abound A glance at the map shows that
were the Straits blocked up the Polar cur
rent would pursue its southeasterly course
until it was lost in the mighty Atlantic,
leaving not only Labrador and Quebec
territory to fructify unmolested by its
whitening colds, but mayhap the northeast
shores of Newfoundland as well.


High engineering authority has pro-
nounced the work of blocking the Straits
quite feasible and practicable. 1t will,
however, be an immense undertaking, as
the Straits are eight miles wide, with an
average depth of thirty fathoms. The
material, in the form of towering rocks, is
on the spot ready to be thrown into the
sea, and though the work no doubt looks
a stupendous one, it is believed to be not
beyond human skill to complete it. The
probable cost may be considered detri-
ment, but Canada has large resources, and
a large expenditure would be more than
justifiable, looking at the great result
which would flow from it.-Baltimore
American.