Year: 1873

which, it may he assumed lin the absence OF exact
ngures is at least equal to the ocean going steam
tonnage oI New York Harbor at the present time.
IL We compute the general future increase in the
whole tonnage OF Montreal during a like period,
gate would lie swelled to over 500 900 TONS equva-
eacn. n.n


AS 1t Is the future into which we are interested in
looking, these figures become important and will
neip 10 better understanding 0i the anticpatIOns
oi Oh, .ie canadian merchants. we can appreciate
Why they think 1t Will be necessary to have


TEN OR MORE MILES OF STONE DOCKS,


instead or four, the recent measurement and why
hydraulic docks in the vicinity OF Point ST. Charles
adjoining the Island terminus Of the Victoria
Bridge anu In immediate proximity to the grand


Fifteen or twenty years can mako a vast change
IN the SIZE and commercial standing OF an Ameri.
can city. Contrast the New York of 1850 when
residence, and news from Europe came to hand
only once IN nine or ten days, with the New York
periods-a borough with O metropolis or, better
stun place the Chicago OF twenty years ago beside
sne ,e city Of nearly asl million
There are but lew leading cities on this continent
that nave not doubled their population and nearly,
II not quite, trcoled their trade and manufacture
since 1900 Montreal ITSELF though with less avor-
ing influences than those that have operated to ex-
pand the union Giles has nearly


TREBLED IN POPULATION


since 1851 when the census shaved total Of
677l5. To-day there are 15O 900 people in the city
dHu iuuJ uui Il HlllllOu WILL IN all human DrODa-
bility be dwellers on the mountain sides and down
along the river wards before the teeth,ng popu.
laion OF this season shall have attained their in
divldual maJoritles. This Is only moderate es-
innate. based on the progress made during two
decades when the United States were developing
at the highest ratio ever attained. Keeping in
mind all tho machinery now in motion for expand.
ing the wealth alG poror OF the Dominion. the in
ference becomes plausible that the development
years to come will be almost as marvellous as has
been the case with Chicago. The causes that
forced the growth OF our great lake port are now
beginning to operate with equal force upon the
metropolis OF the Dominien.


THE nARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.


Prior to 1851 only vessels of light draught could
come up the ST. Lawrence as lar as Montreal owing
to the shoals in Lake st. Peter, but in that year
channel was dreaged through the lake (Which is
simply portion OF the st. Lawrence spread out TO
an unusual width) and ships drawing fourteen
1eet OF water come easily over the nats to the city,
the nav12abe facilities OF the st. Lawrence, the
Harbor Commissioners and the general g0vernmen ut
have continued the work OF Improvement: until
now steamers having draug1t o. twenty -four teet
or more can be brought to the city quays at low
water. The wharf accommodation, including the
new docks between Mill street and Hochelaga
measures about seven miles, o good portion OF
which is in twenty.four feet depth OF water. At the
Corn exchange saw the diagrams Of the extensive
OF the city. This Is


A COLOSSAL UNDERTAKING,


and will prove of the utmost value to the CONNER.
cial interests: BY admirable engineering skill the
tratiic OF the Lachne Canal, the railroads and the
river viii be centred In and about these new
basins, SO as to render transhipment from cars to
boat or ship or oce uersa, perfectly simple and ex
pedifious. Taken altogether, the present and
prospective shipping facilities at this port are ex-
asperating to the feelings OF a New Yorker VINO
reflects upon the crowded and filthy wooden piers
that disfgure the natural magnificent water front
than that OF one sizable ward in New YORK, enjoy
ing the possession OF substantial stone docks
equal almost to the entire pier space of West
and south streets, and with river double the
width OF the Hudson, for the accommodation OF
commerce rivalling that OF Liverpool. True, the
commerce Is not formidable as yet, but what can
prevent it from becoming so when the lake steam.
ers nnd the passage open to them all the way to
The bertns OF the seagoinE vessels, whose cargoes
freight prOftaoy at less rates than smaller craft
one need not put on strong spectacles In order to
the finer class OF lake craft Tor going to New York
direct. heavy percentage OF cereal produce Will
gravitate oceanward and TO New England, via


THE ADVANTAGES OF THE ST. LAWRENCE ROUTE,
via the Welland Canals, being several, as com.
to and from the seaboard markets. it will require
something more powerful than mere patriotism to
keep the a ola channels crowded to their full
without breaking bulk from the point O
reception to .n the point Of delivery; and
one.halr the time leven by fast freight rail
routes) than by any other channels OF traf1c will
necessarily preciptate the impending revolution.
That the crlSis Is coming seems TO be well under
stood by New York merchants, but as their inter-
ests have not been represented at Albany for many
years. while the railroad lobby has been diligently
at work, the chance Tor diminishing the force Of
the blow Is growing smaller each year. 10 turn


THE EBIE CANAL


into stream for the passage OF the lake steamers
l am afraid Is chimerical ldea 1t would ncccssi-
tate, drawbrdges by the thousand through the
these would hourly bring the whole movement OF
travel eastward and westward to q standstill.


The proposed ship canal from Oswego to the
Hudson will be difficult, tedious and costly un-
dertaSing, and, moreover, cannot be completed in
time to head or the movement through Canadian
waters. The only feasible solution to the problem
lies taking full advantage of the Canadian water
routes to the foot OF Lake Champlain and then
putting In the connecting link ourselves between
the foreign canals and tidewater at Albany.


RECIPROCITY.


The Canadians are willing enough that American
cla water routes, but they are going to press the
granting OF the cOmpensating favOr-namey, that
their craft be permitted to enjoy the privileges OF
sderatiOn. II allowed to compete with American
shipping the Canadian tonnage, which is very ex-
tensve, would benefit producers and consumers
all over the Continent by putting down ireights
While the politicians busy in getting out pianks
for the construction OF new platforms for the
propriety OF giving this Q,lfd pro quo to their
enterprising neighbOrs, who are at this juncture
far more anxious for free and amicable intercourse
with the people OF the United States than for con-
tinued political connection with the imperial
power over the sea.


But whether the United States he willing to
make any such equal partnership arrangement or
not, the Canadian policy Will still be to accord
American vessels the fullest freedom OF their
waters. Upon this point q very forcible expression
OF enlightened sentiment here is contained in the
following extract from the vigorous guiding pen of
John Young, Esq, who, perhaps more than any
other citizen OF the Dominion, has taught the
nation its commercial capabilities and pointed
out the direct course to lasting prosperity. Mr..
Young satd in lS71:-


1t must not however be concealed that the fullest
OF the route OF the ST. Lawrence and the canals
Canada can never be obtained without throwing open





ard admitting tree of duty and bout hndrance OF any
kind all agricultural and natural products II is of
hghcs importance tor the best interest tho Dominion
to cherish the most kindly intercourse with neigh
bors in the United States and to lay aside every feeling
but that of rendering Canada the great highway from
the shores OF the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains
not only to the Atlantic by Montreal, Quebec Halifax
and to New. York-a city which has become great
by its connection with the Western States through her
canals The policy of drawing commerce through our
rivers, canals and railways and by vessels and
steamers solely to make avalab the grea facilities
which the Dominion possesses and to ke these profit
able to its inhabitants and that without reference the
policy o others. The adoption o. asures to secure
free transit without restriction Of the products OF the
United states, free all duty would be one Of political
eYpcdiency and sound wisdom Such policy should be
the part OF the United States, because sucli a course
tA III hARn nu.tsI