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I LLI NOIS ^fitHMlfa PEOYENCE OF QUEBEC Completed portion Uncomytletod portion J u ■jf^-''^ -"*'^'-- -^- -X ■■ "TT — il (,) o p y. < ::^ 1 g > t- > ^, o aa 5; ^ ^ S cc 1 >'. a o 5? i:L o o mills (Jo.np'uo' Unn \»,'i, (oiiu.mI for the |im|>nso of hying out, constructing, f,,',';;,'!';;;,; ;,'[ 1 nmintainin;,' lUKl ojii'iMtinj,' a hysteni otCiinals iifcissiiry to tlie conii)lulioii (,„nM>.iny. otiilhronj,'li wattrwiiy via Kroncli Kiver, Lakt: Ni|iissinj,', ami thu Mattawii and OUawH KiviTH fiiiTn tin: fastern side of Qfoiginu Bay to thu hnml of Atliintio Oufiin imvi;,'iitiiin at Montival. < Among otlior iiowurs conforred by thu iiicorporatin;; Act (57 and ')S •Vic. t'ap. lOH), the l.'oinpany arc thcndiy cnaUlcdaiid authorized to lay out, construct, maintain and operate canals of sucli dimensions as Vowci^. to make and construct a navigable clianiiei of at least nine leet in ilepth between the said terminal points to^'et'ier with such locks, dams, towpaths, branches, basins, feeders, reservoirs, cuttings, apparatus, appliancu< and machinery as may be desirable o» necessary, — take lands necessary or jiroper, inaintain ai;d alter any places or passages over, under or through such canals or any of tbeii- branches or connections, —take water supply snHicietit to maintain a current at the rate on the average of three miles per hour through the navigable uliannols ot said canals, uonstruct,maintainancl operate, nse,leasi' rirothet wise dispoio of terminals harbors, wharves, docks, piers, elevat(jrs and warehouses upon said canals, or upon lanil adjoining or near the same, --lav out and lease or other otherwis,' IH,- HOtMKlO ton-niiii'H, lii'iii(4 "iJ-t! /)«/■ rfut of tin' Inl'il ti)>i-m,ili'ii;ii' ,(I.S,727.22:t,14ti) nt' (ill the railways in the United Staten for the year ctiilin^' .liiin' .'iotli, 1.SMI, In ISMt! tlicrc wi'it! hut (I steel vessels alloat on till' laki^s with a toiin«j{e of (>,!'.')!• tons, and. a •.•aliio of SOOfOI'l'. In 1890 tiiere «•< re (is vessels of the same i-lass of !)!),457 tons hurthen and valued at 81 1,!)()4 0()() ; showing; an iiicicase diirinj; four years in nnnilier of vessels of that class of I .Olt.'l .'jli |)er cent.; in tonna^;o of l,4.'ti)H2 per cent. ; and in value ot 1,1)23 !)!) per cent. To connect this traffic with tho Atlantic Ocean the existiiij,' wiiterways are the Krie canal thriMii,di the State of New York, and the St. Lawrence Hiver and system of janals reached from the upper lake,-, Iv means of the Welland canal. A few lirief comparisons will servo to shew 'Jic Miperiority of the Ottawa route over either of these. 1. All tratHc from Lake Michifiian port i well a , i.hatfroni T„iKe Suiierior nnist go north to latitude 40, entering upon the sanie course lu the latter iit a point not far from the Saulte Sto Marie. Thei.ce hotl the St. Lawrence and Erie routes are deflected southward to latitude 41, '.vhili the Ottawa waterv.,iy ill's almost dirrvtlij along the 4<>th paralli'l fioiu thai runivion iiuiiil fn Monlniil ; t^" ocean ports of the several loiites being Montreal and New Vork in latitudes 46 and 41 respectively. The Ottawa route, avoiding the sinuosities of the lower portions of the other two, takes the mi>st direct course possible to tide water. Mr. T Law t'rawford, writing with legard to the nropo.sed Forth and Clyde Ship t.'anal, says: ''If a straight liiiebedrawn across a luapof the world on Merca tor's projection, from a point at the entrance to the Baltic Sea to the mouth of the River St. Lawrence, it will be found that the line pa,s.ses almost parallel with and in close proximity to the proiiosed Forth and Clyde Shi]) Canal. The entrances to the lialtic tim and the River .S'. Liivrence Jorm the respective gateways to the markets of the interior of Northern Kurope and Northern America." The opening up of the Ottawa route would complete a direct an 1 unbroken navigation along the continuation of s-ucli line fiU' 2,0(K) miles into the heart of the Western continent, and wculd thus form an important link in the greatest of international waterways. 2. Owing to its directness this route effects a saving in distance between western lake ports and ocean navigation of almost 4?() miles over the Erie, and 375 over the St. Lawience. Thus from Chicago to Montreal is via the St. Lawrence 1,34H miles " " Ottawa 980 " (lll.iw.irrmte lllc lii"-l I'l'ln- lULTClal roule. 1. .Mil reel. while from Chicago to New York via the Erie route is. Montreal via the Ottawa " 3li« " .. 1,4L5 miles . 9«() " 2. .Sliurlcst. 4,35 ») 93' "^e^ ») It is '>7r) inilus from tlio eiitrnnce of Laki; Micliiiraii to Hiitla'<>,(wliich port of IranshiiMiuMit is -H('> iiiilcs finm mi ocean port) ; wliilo tlu' total di-itsuicu from the siiin(5 point ofdcpartiiri' to tli" lioul of ociMn naviifa'.ioii at Montreal via tho Ottawa is only (i.'i') niilos. In othijr words a vessel leavinij; (,'liicaj^o would roai'h the Atlantic nmikct at Muntrcal in fifty or sixty inilis mure than it now takes her to rciicii Butt ilo. The distanii;s l"twt;('n Cliicajjo and Livri[)>il liy the several routes are as follows : — I. Via Krii> raiial, t'liic-a-o to nnliido (tiiO miles Erie canal to Alliany 'i')" " Hu'lson lliv(u>to New York 1 45 " New York to Liverpool .S,O.S(> " 4,+!t.J 't'iii till- St. Liiwrcni'c, (.'hiciiyo to Montreal I, ."US miles Montreal to Liverpool iHH) " :{, Via the Ottawa, C'hieago to Montreal O^t' miles Montreal to Liverpool 2,H(1II ' ••!,7.so or over 700 mils less via tiie Ottawa route than oy way of the Krie. ;i. Less eanallinu' is recpiired on tli(^ Ottawa ronte than on any other. Accordinjr to the plan suhmitted hy Mr. 'I'. (V Clarke, O. K.only 2;t miles of canal are necessary on this rout" as ajriinst 71 on the St. Liwrenee and .SSI on the Krie. Kstimatine ,,ne mile of canal navigation as etpiival'nt in point of expense am! ilelay iuMilveil to thrc miles of opcni riviM- and lake navij;ation, the routes will compare as follows ; — Fi'oni (.'liieajio to Atlantic tide water, via i. Ottawa route, !),S() miles, (!)5H-(2!)x:i) ,S7) equivalent to I .(«M1 ,,,11^^ „t „|.cn 2. St. Lawrence 1 .•'+S " (1,277 + (71 x :!) 21:1) " 1,491) [river. -.mi lukc :5, Krie, 1,41.-. - Otl-l- + c:Jol x :i) I.O.'.:} " 2,117j"^^'K^"''"- 4. Calculatinu- the average rate ot travel at 4 ndles jier hour for canal and 12 miles for open river ami lake, the time con nmed on the several trips will, he, (allowinj; for locka,i,'e at thi' late ot 1^ minutes per foot), 1. Via Erie to New Yoik, lllilc.^ lirs. mills. Lake and liver l.OW N.S 4t> Can.il :!.5I( (;•■)■> ft lockage) 10-1. ()•> liiit; n-'t|uirc(i. ' >uicl Canal 71 (oo.'H't. lockatje) :U .'{5 nuns. ■ir-i Total. 138 £ i i I f f ii. Via Ottiuva to Moiitroiil, miles hrs. tnins. Lako ami river i)")l 7 'J 1") C'aiml 2!) ((i(i6 ft. iockiige) 2:> .55 1/ Toto! K'3 10 showing' a snvinjx of noarly four (IniiK over tlio Kric roiitn and oui: (iiid tinr-lmlf days over tin; St. [jawreiicc. Tlio importance of tins element caniKit lie over-estimated. It has liien well said liy a writer on the merits .)f the route, " In the j)r('.sent as,'!' it will not di) to expend as much time in running a earjjo ti New York hy one route as it would take to reach Livt^rpool hy another." While a earjio of grain sliip]M'd by the southerly route i.s losing nearly 13 v.">() mdes of the Erie canal, another sliipped at the same time via the Ottawa wouM he well acro.ss tlie Atlantic on its way to LiverjxK)!. So great a saving of time twi each trip will permit a larger nuniher of lrip8 to he made during the season than by any otiier route. Mr. Shaidy has estimated this gain at two full additional ti-ips, wliiie otlwrs have thought thiee probable. The .season on the Erie route is somewhat longer, but since Montreal is practically the most northerly point on the syst United States betwe.;n Chicago and tlie .sra-board declined from 211 nnirs in I.S(i') to « fniles in IhSS, lake rates have sunk as low as one mill per ton-niilr and river rater to twice that. And though freigiit has been carried «t the lowest lenumerative priees nmler existing conditions, and evm sometimes at heavy loss cuing to ruinoiis Competition, in 1 Sii.f til • average freight rate on Ani'Tiean railroads was !) mills per ton-mile, and that on eiglitiMii of the l)rin- eipal roads .s mills. The average rates "ii wheat from Chieago to New York by the several American roiiies tor the last eight years have been :— 1. Via Lakes and Erie cinal (J- 1!» cents per bushel 2. Via Lakes and rail M'lXi " ."i, Viaallrail routes 14;)5 M.ikii g all due allowance for lack of return fivights at the oiitsi't it is ealculate.l that wheat should be laid down in Montreal by the Ottawa route at a cost for transportation fiom Chicago not to exceed three and one-half cents ChKapost. t^fm^mmawmm ^ por IpumIioI, or two and onohalf conts ptT Imslifl loss than the lowest pi'CAniling latcH. Kxpc'iicnui'il lorwaiilcrs liiivc i.'stimiiti'il that a I'iitr nf oiu,' ami tlircc- (jiiartor cents jut Imslici ln'twt'cn Kivmli Kivcr iin^l Muntrinl will iiHiu'd I'uniunonitivi! (!Mi|)l(iyin('Ul. to llccts coMsistin;,' each of a pnwcrrnl sli am Ui'^ with convoy of three bavjfos tiavintj a couilmied cipaeity of l,S(),()i)0 IhisIk.'Is. This added to a late of I I cents Or aliont I inill per ton-mile IVoin ('hii'ai;o to French Riven would ^■ive a throUi;h rate of oidy l/iicc i-ails.in' nearly six cents a liushel less than the averai^e cost of transportation to IJutlalo by the Lakes and thence to New ^'ork by rail (i. In addition to all othei- advantages the Ottawa naile is safer than any other and freight carried throtii^rh it will be subjected to the least risk possible. Ki'om the month of Lake Miehigan vessels will pass inider the sludter of Mani- toulin Island to the mouth of Kieneh Ki\er, avoidiiin' altiu'ether the daiigi'rs of soutiicrn Lake Huron, the shallow and dangerous l-aki' Lrie. Lake Ontario, and the currents ami shoals of the l'|)per St. Lawrence and Lake St. Francis. From Sault Ste. Marie, with the exception of a few miles on (.ieorgian I'uy, the route will be on landlocked waters contiiiumisly to Montreal. Cirain will not oidy 'be insured at luiiAmum mti's on this route, bnt passing through the eool di.'ep waters of tlio Ottawa in so miieh sluatcr time will rr,i,li m-nk' t in lidtci' coii- dii'um than if shipped by tln' Krie. The St. Lawrence route lii>s for a g-reat part nf itscairse on the lioumluy line of a foreign country, and f-luiuM dittieiiUies with tie' I'nitcd States arise would almost inevitably be at once renolercd useless as a means of eoMMMiinica- tioii with the upper lakes. The remoteness of the Ottawa fiom the bimndary renderinf; it comparatively safe fnan interference in case of ioternatiomd com- plications, it would be of great military importance to tie' Ei]i|iire. Wlu'ii oiic(^ enlarged to liS or 20 feet in ilepth, a work which mi.tsf im'vitibly be pinformei!. many of the .smalli.'r vi'ssels of the ISrilish navy, li^iitencd nf thcii- !.'iins, e iidil ))ioceed from Montreal by its means to [^ake Huron, and thenci; easily, iVom French River as headipiarters, control Lakes Erie, Huron, MiehiL,'ari and Superior. iippearint] heforiChiciui') in liUU' vmre llnui o Inni'lri-l Inm r^ 'flier li'ivinij Montieid. The eidargment or extension of any ollei- r-uilr tn the nc.dect of tilts W(aild only the more siiridy place C'.iu.id.a at tlir ner.-\ nf ilu' ('iiitr.l .States, bnt th(_' opeuiing of thr Ottawa ( Id tint fail to ^■i\ •• h.-r a yri'al ad\antige in the negotiation of lutuiii treaties as to inti-rnatinn.il watci w.'ivs .\n.| it wnuld prove not only a source nl niilitaiy ^timgth in ras.' nl war, but w.-uld In.' an i.'idireet protc'tion by atl'nrding an aiMitional iiirrritiv.' in the ]aeservation nf peace, so tiruily W(nild its gi'eat connnercial impnn.inc' ti ihr W'esti'iii SliiteS bind them, in ih.e tnrthi'raiiee of their own inteii'st, to snrh a polii^y as wcei'd ensure the freest possibli' passage tn thi'ir produi'ts in\ tie' w-.w to Hastcrn markets. IJe.strii'tioin iinpnsi'd nii Can.i'lian liallie passinu' ihrougii the Sault canal have led to the e iiisn ii,'ti,m b\- tie' Dniaiiii-ni ( irivi'rmui'iit of a canal on the ("anadian side of St. .Marys Kivei. This eaiial. npen.''l in ls!l.'). cost §:) 000,- 000. and has one lock !I00 feet long liO leet wiile, airl :iO feet .'! inches deep. Its cianpli'tiim when supplenn'iiteil by thi' (Ittaw.i River iiiivigetiou will give ( 'anada an independent ei.uise to the si a eiitir.ly thr'iUi.;li her nwu tcritnry aiel the least subject to iiil''i feienei' hnni withoiu of ,'ii;v pns~ib|i' rniite. (Icneial (afterwards Field Marshal the liight lloimurable Sir .Inhn Michel, at one time Coinmander in Chief of Ihr Majesty's l''oic'es in I 'anada, several years ago in a public address at, Ottawa saiil ; '1 b.lievc thit the ti.'s which happily unite (ireat Britain aiel ('anada uill be el.isir drauii iiy the opeinng of this r(.)nte. I believe tliiit tic coinnier.'ial develnpnn'ot which wnuld be pro- diu'ed woidd III' incideul.alile I believe thai .\uieiiea and (.'anada and consciiucntly (ireat liiitain would be so eniinneieiaiiy allied by the ii|ienin,g ^<^' this route that the grand object of all true lovers of either ol these countries Safosl. ll-i niilitiiry imi»'irlnnce. I I I ~iMtriiinMit»iBiiirijp»»i "'**"'**■' a>*ft»M*u»ja».fc. li would Ijo iittiiiiUMl, imiiK'ly tlio certain pcacel'iil ili.s|ier-«ioii of (^vcry little cloiid timt iiiiylit arise in tlio political lioiizim oC North Ainorii'a." Spoakiiii,' of tlio position of Montreal lie fuitlier said : " You are placed in a position held hy iin other city that I know of in tho world. You arc |)lacod on the only spot on a vast continent whii'h can ho made the receiving house of one-third a continent's exterior trade, and nhle to dispatch that third to Euroi)e. lUit you are unsiiffly situated. The firand route to the sijii b} the Ottawa ami French Rivers .should as s(,on as ]iossilile lie undertaken, },'ivin!,' you a Imckhone of military .^treni,'th, and lirinj,'in{{ to your doors the vast trade of the vaster west. " And the late Hon. Ale.\. Mackenzie, for sonic time Premier of Canada, oxpiessed hinis(df thus in an ahle addicss on Confederation : ' I am c.K.vineed that the true route for a canal to the <«eori.rian buy is up the Ottawa, heeau.se that would lie giving a j^reat hacklione to the coinitry If we had a fine canal eapahlo of carryinj; vessels ot wiir in that direction, it woidd lie a splendid nu-ans of defence, as well as a great highway for the commercial products of the West. " There i« and long has lieeii an active public opinion in the t)ttawa valley aniiiii ily .if ,1 iiiiiiiiiii;; nil till' valli'y if nmkiii^' if till' livir i'|itli iif wiitcr In till' ca.si; iif till theiMflvM JicaraLjiian sc lli'lliu llic jilii/nirdl fidlurc.i III llif iliiiiilii) lend I II ll rcih iiiil-iilili- ii-iiij III llir nihil ri'iiiciil of lliin i/('.vi'//, As lias liuiMi pdiiituil oiit,Naturi If lias alivaily iloiiu tlic ;,'rcati'i' part tdwarils iiniviilinH Hiirli II systi'iii uC iiiiviHiitinii mi llic Ottawa rmiti III tl iniKMi 1 if til. 1I1-.1.U1C1 ini'li 'III.'. Mr. fill ,( tl lliit.'ltlnn Ml.' 'On till iiiai'U.'.lly ami pai tiunlnily iip|ili.,'lil.'. .\lr. t lai Uc, lli.' .nuin.'.'r, says. "On lln^ ;,'ri'at..'r part nf tin! rivi'r whi'i.' tliL wat.'i' is ri'i|niri.il to li.' raiscil, tin' slmri's ar.i liol.l, ami tlio il.'sir.'il lift wmiM uv 'illow Imt littli' lainl. Ilrrc \M' liavr iinly tn raisi' tin; natural ilaiiis ur r.'i'i'r, nf mi'ks tn tin: ili'sncl li.'iylit liy ailili.'ial slnicturr.i tlins ri'sturiiij,' n .•.iiiilitinii wliicli pmsilily I'.'iistril licfori' tli.' ci-asiili'ss rnsli iif tlie wiitris III j;lai'ial m-tinii li;i,| wnni tin' r.u'k lianis iluwii tu their ]ir.'.- the riser sulijeet In smlijeii risi! or .'Xtraonliiiary llooils. Mr. ( 'l.irke says on this point : " Its eoiuimm rise is one iii.'h p.'r .lay, ami il never averages over tliiue inches in -4 hotiis for any niinili.'r of .lays in siieci'ssion. Its ri.se to high-water mark, stainl, ami subscijiieiit fall oecnr ev.'ry y.'ar at ne u iy llie sume ilates with the utmost regularity." 2. 'I'liu smninit level is obtaiiieil hy 1. ringing to tin' same h.-ight Lac Tal.iii, '{"r.mt J^ike, ami Lake Nipissing, the iaiier a line sheet of water (10 mill's in length, from 1 .■) to .'iO in lueailth, ami h'll hy lliiee rivers. 'I'hiis the water su|iplv' at the siimniit will he praetieally inexhaustilil.', or as expressiil hy tlio engineer, ' siitlicieiit for any seale of navigation ami for all time to come." 'riie plan inoposoil gives a summit level for navigation of iill miles in length with a rocption hasin SO miles long ami varying from lialf-a-niile to twelv.' miles in wiiltli making a surfac of aliont ih'iO sipiare miles. On lli.' crossing .>f the height .if lainl h.'tween the two last iiame.l lak'S followeil hy Clarke ami Shanly, an elevation ol 2;i fct aliove the s'jilaee of Trout Lake was ein'onnter.'il. Later exploiatious hy meinliers of the statfof the t.eological Survey hav.- disci. iseii a practicahic cro.ssing where the siiiumil riilijf uuwtwic ris::s move lliaii /'[)!(/■/«'< o/iocc .y'l'od/ Ad/.-c, a fact hro'.ight out in a pap.'r reail in May of this year before the Uoyal Society .if Clamnla by Dr. U. \V. Klls, L.L.I)., M.A , Oeolo- gist of the survey, onibo.lying results of his persimal exaiiiinatiniis ol tin' route and those of Mr. A. L. Bailow. .M.A., Assistant (Jeohigist. The ilistaiice between m>mm i« rv v miumm m«m mfmmmjm ' mmmmmMMiMc . W0^i Ilii- Iwo lakes lit tli>' |Miiiil iin|Mc'stinii i^ iiluiiil tliivc mil''-, iiii'l il'" exit ili>iiii Liikr Nipissiiix' it ivrnicut tn ili^' tuvMi mC N'.Jitli liny on tlic Caimiliaii I'lU'iHi; Itinlwiiy 'I'lic cuttiiif,' (111 till' Mniiiiiit iiil„'i' is Mii.l in !).• Iiirni'ly tlnoiitjli mrtli iiikI siiimI, iiiili'li (p| till! spiicc lii'inu' iiri'il|ii«'>'n, ami accnmti' cliarts i.f tlnwi) pails of III.' laki'H ii.iw.'xiHt. Mr Sliaiily says nl' lln' liay at llic iiimitli ,.f tin- Kiviirli IJivci tliMt ill'illlilsall tlicM'i.iKlitii'iiHi'f ii iinlili. Iiiiilmr, licini;- |iri.lirli'i| nil III • siiiilii ami ~.iiilli-wr>l l.y llir ruislaiii unaip ut islamis, iiml i.ii tlio imitli- wcst liy a piiijivtili^' liraillaml nrnTaiiitc, wliilr Dr K.lls stllti'S that lliu li^'lits alivaily in pnsilimi siitlicinitly mark tln' cliaiincl to its tiilnimv tn iiiakis it por- t'l'i'lly safe I'nr any vi'ssris iinw iia\ ii^atiii;,' tin' lakrs At III'' I'llsti'lll I'll'! llic iilltl't "I 111,, iiaviijalinll Wnilld Im' t'itlli'l' tlirnli;rll Liiki' St, Luiiisainl till' l.i.'liiiM' laiial, nr pivfi'i'iilily I'y Hack Hivci' ^,'iviny: Mniilical, like Niw ^■|lrk. a .Inulil,' wati't iVnlitiyi) aii'l emu mniNly iiu'iviisi'il liai'linl' ari'iiliiiiiii'laliiiii It IS i|,i. iiiiaiiiinniis npiiiinii nf tin' si'Vi'ml i'iij;in.'i!i's wlm liavi' I'xainiiii'.l til.' miit.', lliat it pr^'-.'iits im uiumial .'ii^jin.'.'i'in'^' .litMfulti-'s ami tliat it is iii.'i-.'ly a .pi.-ti.iii .if s any .'ul.i.' yanU .,1' I'.i.ik fx.'avatinii ami caitli ili'.'.lLriti,^', aii.l nl' 111.' .'nnstrm:ti..n of a I'.'itain nuinlior nl' ilains ainJ ,'iiiliankiiii'iifs. On til,' Inw.'i |ii.rti..iis ..f tlw Ottawa passing tlii'.m^'li a f.'i'tik' liii'iiiiii;;- cniiiitiy I'liltiva'.'.l In tli,' walcis ,'.|,i,'.', tli.' pi in is tn iiiaiiitaili -'xistili^' levels as I'ai' as pnssililc, ami nvi'i-cnnii' ,'liaii,L;,'.s nf level liy caniilliiii,' ; mi tliu reiiiaiiiil.i' nf tlio rmite wlieie the river walls are hi;,'ti nml tlio valleys narrow, ali.l til.' prilieiple wealth nf the I'niiiitiy is in tin' luin.- ami fmi'^t^, tn 'j;n\i\ thu ileplh le.piiie.l I'nr i.avi^ralimi hy rai-iiiL;- ih" -intiiee of tli.' watrr I'iith.'r than hy expensive snlniiaiiiie rnek ex.'avatinM. Surveys nf tli,- r..iit.' wer,' iinl,' a. "arly a- l^r.S- 1 Mid uml.'r the . lireeti, Ills nf till' llniiiiiiinn (inv.i'iiiii. 'Ill, plans aiil maps nf which aru iinw in the D.'partuieiit nf I'.iMic W.irks ,,t Caiia.la, aii.l uill h.' pla.'e.l fr,.ely at tli,' ilispnsal nf the Cnmpaiiy. '1\\ ., plans .,f iinpi.iv.'iii.'iit nf ih,' naviL;ati.iii were Mllaiiilteil, viz; thns,. n! M r, Wall.^i Sliaiily an 1 Mr, 'I', < '. t'lark", 'I'lie lalti'r resnrte.l iiim-h mmi' Ir.'.'ly In iinprnM'in.'iit nf tli-' ii.iliiial wat.'ir.iiiise hy .lams in preferi'iii',' t,M'.lll■^trn,•ti.al nf canals ilni, pin liiciii^ 1 ni;; >lr.'tch.'s .lUla-k water cmim-'ti'il hy In.'k^ al lie pniiit^ ..f -r.'at.-sl .l.'s.'.'iit, Ti this incthi.l th,; natiii',' ,,f ihr M'V.'ial rivers t rav,'l■^.•.|, a-> ahva.ly sf.ii.'.l, is rxtr.'iii.'ly fav.nahle, the hanks heinn Lji.nrially hinh, aid Ih.' aiiiniiiil ..1 laid tln.i.l.'.l in any caM' small, Mr. Clark, ''s estimate ealle.l I, a- -il) iiiil.'> •■( .'anal lietwi'eii tii'nri;ian ISay ami Montreal, at a co,st,(cxclmliiii;- Laehin,' ( 'anal, ah'eaily I'onstriu'te.l ), nf S12,0."),S,flM) or llhout Xi,40(),00(). liis r.'pmt is t.i th,' eir.'ct that .if th.' -f:)!) iiiil.s l.ital ilistiincc, :!')1..SI m'llfs mr, al viiidi) n iiia.l.' the St. Aiin.'s ,iml (Ir.'iivilli' .'anaU liav,' heeii eiilarj,'C(l to nine 1,','t in ,1,'ptli cniiipli'tiii;;' a channel nf that .leptli as far as Ottawa City, a ilistam-c ,if IKi miles. Almiit i;i,.')l)l),l)l)l) have hceii spent to ilate on the iiii|)rnvcniciit nf the navi:;atinn nf the Inwer r.'aches ..if the Ottawa, V. st i Ml a It'll i>l. If- r-fr ■ I I irrmi ■toMMMMlBaMia i I j -t. Kivcr. Wliilc, a>.i)Vo tilt! (Jitv i.f Ottawa /'SO.OOK liavi' liciMi cxiMMiilncl t.n tlic (-'iilliulo canal, the lii'm.-tit dI wliich the Company will n," I'ive. 2. At tlic tiin(! of tlif that iwitu re. Aecon liiiU to Mr ('laiki's estimate (he t.otal amount of excavation and dredi^in;^ necessary to I'ompli-te a \2 foot eliiuoie! is a little over 4,l)(>t),()l)() cuhie yards. His calculations wire made on the Oasis that -',:!7l>, 1110 cuhie yards of rock excavation Would he rei|uii.d at a total cost of ^<.■t !»)■(), "i".'), l)ein;4 an averaije of $1 (iti per cuhie yaid. W'ane'r Miller, I'ri-sideiit of the Nicaragua (Janal (Company, in a recent, article on thi; Ni(!aiai,'na canal under- taking, says : "The cost of fork excavation has lu'cu reduced in actual practici; in the irieat draina;^e canal now hidn;,' r-aisl i-iieti il at ( 'hica;;o to less than thirty cents per yard." Snpoosin;^ the exeavaliou on this route, from the hiird nature of the rock met with, to cost twice that much, or sixty cents a yard, theic would still lie a sav lill'ected over the oii'iinal ■■^timale nf S2 0(IO,()()(l £MWfMO, provided no additional excavation w ic found I p 1 II' neecss-ary. Mr. H Adams Davy, C.lv, in reportiui,' on the proje 't in Novell h-r. is;i|. from pei'Mtnal kiMwdei|;je and examination of the route, and after carefully o' I r the seveial )dans and surveys mai le liv the other i-ni'iiii'crs nieiitiom estimates thai the cost of construction (or a canal often feet draft should not exceid SJ.^OOD.dOl) or /,":t.OI)( 1,1 10(1 ; and (hat the tii icciipiiMJ in its construction need not exceed thnpe years While a cliaunel of from nine to 1 wclvc hit depth has lieeii eoii.sideied lllicient for idosetit I leeds, an important i(eiii in eslinialne^ (lie eo.,( ol (In- work is the prospective cost of enlar;,'emen( loa slop channel nfsny K; (., iJO fee( m depth when (he traflie shall deiiiiiiid it. On lliis poiii( .Mr II K. Wiiksti id, cost lietweell a loud' f^r \H \irl. CK., says : " The ditleieiK i; in one for !) feet navi;,(ation is not nearly as ^'re,i(, /iif llii' liilhr iiroh ilih/ '') jiir i:e // illidiil As lias lireli sail the or. ■d F.irdl \- Clyde e;lll:ll (I, pr. inception will have (he ad vaiit.iL,'e of the t;iit (lia( ill eiiniiiioie ready to lieneli( and he heiielittecl Here the ' '< ilitiiiii. iiiviiiliiii/ I'i'iil iiiil/rlx" tnill le liiiw e.Msts ll^tncss r.tist'* ill II i-.i'nn J',1,, A route pos.sessiiin siieli mad'iial .■idvaii(.a;;es over all others in poinl, of directness, shortness, savin;,' of time eti'ected, cheapness, and s.ifciv nnist !„• a stro'i;; cuinpetitor for ihrouirh traflie from the day it is opened, and will a( once ali.sorli a lar;;e shaie ot I he east I. on nd tr: route for the ^fiaiii traflie which has It Thus 1( nill-t hecdlll.. ih< s source piincipallv in hake ,Mi liii^iili aiel Lak(! Superior ports, tin; lat(er alone scinlii::,,' iiu( nearly -SO 000 000 Imshels a year of ;rraiii and orain pi.M|iic(s, ,in am.,iii.( whieh will iind.iul.ddly doiil.l. within 10 The divei.sion of^raiii tintlic to the Ottawa route i mist result, in cheaper return rates for freiehi from .Montreal owinj.' to tie- numhen.f vessels that would .seek we.slhound car(,'o at that point, while (| pemtioii ul (he s.iin*' cause must lowyr ocean rates to and fmni .M'inlreal, s'l ice ^laiii Would he sliio-ied ftoni that port in larj{e ipiaiitities that now tiiids its wuy to New Vork hy rail f MH ! I i M ■-.:t 111 ..aiS"- and the Erie canal. British luul Cniiadinii intore-ils would lif liost served by the Ottawa route wliieli i>t preforalile tn all others in that thev one iitnl all .siiii'-trnek Montreal for the lienefit of New York, while it directly tends to inerense the inijiortaiice of Moutieal as a distribiitini,' point hrr the iiurtheni |):irt of the eoii- tincnt. Mr. R. Adams Davy say.s : "The amount of freijfht jjassini; Di'troit annually is over 20,00(1,0(10 tons, and is rapidly inereasinij, so that at the end of five yeai-s from now it will prohahly exceed :!l),()()O,O()0 tons. If only 1-10 of this ean he diverted, whiyli it is (piile reasonahh^ to e.\pe(rt, a t'dl of fifty cents a ton on 3,0()0,()()0 tons will yive a reveniii! of !*l,r>')0,00 1 from this source alone, which is ample to provide for the interest and rnnnini; e.Kpenses." Mr. H. K. VVicksteed .says : "Makin.;every allowance. I cannot estimate less than it or 10 million tons, which woidd he innn.MliMtely diverted ovci the shorter route were the cainil to he opencil to-mori-ow." Adopting til's UKire conservative of these estimates, it may fairly ho calculated that the total traflic from all sources nt the o\itsct will he .">,()0(),0()0 tons annually. With a toll rate of .")() cents per ton, there would he from this source of revenue alone an income of ><2,-">00,OI)(), or suttieient to pay, (supposing the total cost not tu exceed ?2.'<,0()0,()()0) : Interest at 4 per ci'iit. on S2.-),0()0,(>ll(l Sl,()(l(),0()0 Maintenance aMd_operation .")00,00(l Sinkinj,' fuml .')(K),0()() Diviilenils .")ilO,()00 Nor is the diversion of an i'xis(in'4 trathc of such innncnse .-md rapidiv increasiii}^ pro)iortions the ordy prospective .-•oiirce of tiade alonjj; the route, for its opening will ilevelop resources of inestimable ri('hness. ISouchette writinjf in 1.S.32 estimated that the Otiawii valley is capable of supportinc,' .S,00(',0()0 jieople ; its present lio])nl,'ition is abmit 4liO,0(ll) In salubrity of climate, fertility- of its well-waterei! valleys, trans])arcnt puiity of its trout-tilled lakes ami brooks, wealth of mines and forests, and variety and value of resourei's no like tract of country in Canada can surpass it Thus, vessels cariyine; tirain eascwaid woidd find return carifoe:. of hnnber for |;ike ports. ("hi<'aL;o is the i^rcat centre,' of distribution foi- hnuber on the continent As lon^; Miaous ISS.'! according; to a speech delivered by Mr. .loseph Tasse in the (,'anadiaii Mouse of Commons its receipts by laki; and rail were l,i)()il,!»l(),();l() feel, of which more than l,O(i.'),O00,- 0(10 were re-shipped, lailioa.ds receiving,' S-fODO.OllO and shipowners S:!,()0(l,()()0 for transportation. The route yiKsv.s' ilirmii/li 'In: lifinl of otiv of the riflifst, lumber (I ixf) icif of tlif ri>iillni:iit. Michii,'an and Wisconsin pine woods are heini^ rapidly exh.-uisted and a laiec traflic in luuibei- UiU^t hi' developc.l alone- •his route from the he;ivily timbered districts of noi'lhern Ontario and (Jiuebi c to Chieai(o and other lake ports for distribution to the yreat prairii; States of the West. The country passed throiiLjh possesses not only vast stores of ])inc, but also maiilo, spruce, hendock, jioplar, bidsam, white cedar, tamarac, bir( h, beech oak, elm, ash, basswood, ami other uci^ds of commeicial value ami usiil in rapidly increasins; ipuintities in the manufacturi' of furniture, finishing of houses, making'; of pldp, etc. The f^iowth of the last-named industry has been veiy rapid, and low freiyjlit rates would create new lacilities for its successfid earryiuj^ on. Thus the exports from Canada of wood pulp lia\'e increased ii-om nil in 18.S!t to !?;iS(i,0!)2 in iNICi and those of w I for pulp fr.mi nil to s!4.-,.vs!);i .hirini; the .same perical. Mdlions of ai!res of fertile laiicls in Northern Ontario now covered with timber will with the advent of cheap transportation fill u]> with settlers ; and «3 V Soiirci's in Aluoina, T('iiiiscniiiinii;\if niul Ni|iiss'm;4 l')istiicts many tliousamls of [)eo|)1e will iniikc liDiiu's. Miiiiiij,' luid siiii'ltiii^ ii|ii'iiitions, till! ivi|iiiioiiicnts oF iimmi- foctiiriiij;, anil ut' tln' |Ki|iiilation will ;.'ivo ris<' tn an cvit inci'easing ili'nmnil fur ciial ; iind nil ini|K)rtiinl friitmv of the tniftic in tin,' near future will lio tliu carriiigu of cdiil Iroiii LiiKi.' Kiio I'oits to jioints on the systoni, and to Fruni'li River as n coftlint; stnlinn I'or vcssrls rn!,'ngp(l in tliu grain trailc, with return tm(K(^ of liinilicr iinil ores from tlic rich tiinhi'i' and niinoral regions along the route. Mining is yet in its inlancy in tin' Ottawa counuy, hut researches made U|i to the )>reseiit time have sliewii it t(. lie possessed of iriealculahle stores of mineral wealth. Within a few niili's of the city of Ottnwii are inimen.se i|uanti- ties of iron ore of great liohnes^. The niekei and co|i])er depositsof the Sudlmrj' region are already famous : and at main' |ioiiits the IJuidiiiaii formation which extends for long distances has Immh tuiind to al>oiind in niiiiiTals. Gold, silver- hearing galena, zinc, lilatininii, tin, molylnh iniiii. gia|iliifo, apatite, mica and iron are found, and to some iwt'iit nlieudy mined. Fine granites, sandstones, rootiiig- slates, .serpentine and clulomitie mai hies, I'te , are among the noii-metallie mineral resources of eommereial importanei! awaiting development ; and the carriage of ores, huilding-stones. maililes, grniiit >, rte.. must in a short time nti'oid the .source of consideralde revi nue to the canals. I lydraulir. |n>vvcr. The four items already meiitioneil. viz.: grain, lumber, coal and ores con- tain almost itO per cent, of the tratlie of the great lakes, and the liulk of the traffic of the ()ttawa routi' will no doiihl he derivccl lidiii tin; same .sources. According to tlu' Otiiiwa S'lrvev. tie' d^'iinage area of the Ottawa iliver is .s(),0()0 si|uare i.mes; its length 701) miles ; Volume at Oreuville :13 miles fron; its mouth -di.schaige in i:uhie fee't per second at low water .'j-^OOO — at hig'' water, l.')(),()i)l) — mean flow, s.").()ll() ; nr noiirly three times that of the Rhine and roughly seventeen times tliiit of the TIimiiics. Bi'tweeu Deschenes Lake and Ottawa, a distance of (irid miles, aie lajids with a descent of (!() feet, .'!6 of wdnch are tnkeii op liy the ( 'hiiidieic falU, n magniticeiit fall which affords one of the finest waterpowers on the continent. At De.s iloaehims the fall is 2(i'4 feet in 1 1)4 niile,->. At Uoclier (.'a|iit."ine tin' fall is 40!) in \ '•)') miles. Pietwi^eu thi' lead of t'hats hake and the heiel .,t ( ■.ilumet Islaml there is a fall of 102 +!S feet, n, ore tliiin half of which, nil tie iimiiIi chniinel is enncentrated at (irand (..'aliimet Kails, The total locknge on the Ottau'ii lieing 440 feet, there remains 200 feet descent avaihdile at various points on the ri\cr other than those men- tioned. The possibilities of the Ottiiw.i mnte in the production of hydraulic power have been stateil by ,M r, Shunly as follow^ ; Its water ))ower is not only uidimited in capacity, but av;iil;ible (n it^ full extent lit iiumheiless stages along the route. l|y the opening of the i)rojeeted navigation this great manu- facturing agent would lie brought into eompanitive pr(>xiiuity to the granaries of Lake Michigan, and «ould imiiiedialely !"■ turned to :ic"ouiit in preparing the cereals of the West for til ■ markets of the East With such a combination of advantages in possession or prospect if is surelv not dittlcult of belief that the Vllllfl/ Ot till' Oitiliri is ili'.tli in'tl ti) III' nut mil;/ tin' irorkslliijl (if (.'((lillllll. Ijlll OH** ()/ ///(' cliief iniiiml'iii III riiiij (li.^lrirln ut' A noi ifn " A most signilii lint feature of the export trade in lireadstulls from this continent is the rajiid increase in shipiiu'iits of flour, a fact clearly pointing to the possibility .if the establisliiueiit ol a milliiie indu-try of gigniitie proportions . on the Ottawa liixer when its vast water power shall be rendered available, and at the' same time given the best po.ssible shipping facilities by the opening of the shortest of all routes to the sen. Mr O, lligimin. Member of the Institute of EleetiieallMigineeis and Asso- KU^ciric ciate Member of the ( 'iiuadiaii iSuciety of Civil Engineeis. says with regard to the l'"^'^''- development of eh-etrical eie'i'gy from the various water powers along the route: ■BiPiPilBBP 111 HM "It would be (lirticult td t'liid, on tliis continent at any lato, a Nimilnr succession of watei-f'alln alonjj a liiii clistanp(>, and tlir.iugli a country so well (avored for manutacturiiij,' imiposos. With tlio niotliods of loiij; (iistribntion of the electric current that arc now being iierfected by 'IVsla and others, there is no reason why sufficient energy should not l)e generated along the Ottawa and its tributaries, not onlj' (or lo -al purposes along the route, but tor the operation of the Canadian Pacific and Canada Atlantic and Parry Sound Railways between Georgian Bay and Montreal." At the present time when the applieiition of electric energy to the ])roceFSCs of manufacturing and to transpoitalioii, heating, lighting (Src, is making rapid strides every day, it would be rash to attempt to treat in any other than the most general way the subject of the value of the enormous water power on the Ottawa River aniirits tributariis for the geneiation of this force. There seerns little rea.son to doubt that wherever water power is readily availaVde it will in the near future be turned to aceount in this way, superseding .■iteam in most of its ordinary employment as a motive fon^e. In the hydraulic powers along its route therefore, there is ever)- reason to bolie-e that the Company will be possessed of a resource of inestimable value. The Ottawa River navigation system has iis outlet at the port of Montreal, the head of Atlantic Ocean navigation, there lieing a channel of twenty-seven feet and si.\ inches in depth from that point eastward on the 8t. Lawrence. At Monti eal it leaches 1. An ocean poit over three hundred miles nearer to Liverpool than New York is ; 2. The Grand Trunk, Canadian Pacific, Central Vermont, and connecting systems of railway to New York, Boston, Portland and Halifax, and all inter- mediate points in New Engaid, Quebec, and the Maritime Piovinces; 3. An existing vaterway to New York via the St. Lawrence and Richelieu Rivers, Lake C'.ianiplain and the Hmlson River, the highway for the lumber traffic ironi the Ottawa district to New York. The construction of thirty-two miles of canal from a point on Lake St Louis to the level of Lake Cha:nplain at St. Johns on the Richelieu River, and the enlargement of the Chaniplain canal trom the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River, in connection with the completed Ottawa route would afford a waterway between Chicago and New York seventy miles shorter than the Erie and with 2'M) miles less of canal, 100 miles less than the route via the Welland canal and the Erie from Osw^ego and with 110 miles less of canal, and 250 miles shorter than the St. Lawrence anil with 45 mill's less of canal. The respective distances between Chiengo and New York by such routes being as follows : — Canal. Lake I't River. Total. 1. via Ottawa and French Rivers and Lake Champlain 120 1228 134S miles. 2.— via Erie Canal and Hudson River ;J50 I0()5 1415 " 3._via Welland Canal fc Krio from Oswego 2;!0 1215 1445 " 4.— via St. Law'-ence Route l(i-S 1441 lti04 " By the ('ompletion of such waterway in enunection with the Ottawa route the distance from Chicago to New England ports on the east side of Lake Champlain woidd be hssened to 1000 or 1100 miles with only a.'J miles of canalling as compaied with a distance of l.SOO to 1400 miles by the Erie with no less than 420 miles of e;inal. The City of Ottnwn, IKi nules fr mi Montreal, is already a railway centre of some importance. The Cnnuda Atlantic, the Prescottand Brockvillc branches of the Canadian Pacific, as well as its main tvanscontinental line, the Arnprior IS C o n n e c- tions. I it ■U mtmimmmiiKmaim r and Parry Sound Riiilway, the Pontine and Pacltip Junction Railway, and the Gatineau Valley Railway a' ready have entrance to the city. The River Du Lievre, a tributary on the north side of the Ottiiwn, a tew miles farther down is navigated hy small vessels plying from Buckingham on the Canadian Pacific to the apatite and mica mines of the region. At Ottawa, the Gatineau, a fine stream of 400 nnles in length eiiteis from the nortli,and the Rideau from the south. The Rideau Canal, 12.") miles in length, between Ottawa city and Kingston, at the foot of Lake Ontario, was built as an Imperial military undertaking about IHJJO, and in connection with the lower Ottawa, formed the only highway to Lake Ontario until the ccai.st ruction of the St. Lawrence canals impaired its usefulness. With a large grain traffic on the Ottawa, something of its old importance would perhaps be restoreil by increase of coal freightage from Oswego to Ottawa as a coaling station for the grain fleet. Tlio Kingston and Pendtroke Railway runs from the foot of Luke Ontario to a point on the Ottawa a hundred nnles farther up. A branch of the Grand Trunk Railway extends northward from Toronto to North Bay on Lake Nijiissing; ami a railway is projected to run from North Bay or Mattawa to James Hay through the Temiscamingue country. From French River there is, of course, ready access to all the railroads which touch the upper lakes and very great facilities are atlbrde.l, both of col ecting freights from all the country bor.lering uiion them and of distributing over a wide area the products of the Ottawa country. Should the proposed junction of the Mississippi River sy.stem of navigation with that of the Great Lakes be effected, it would lead toiw in.menso^^ augmentation of traffic in which the Ottawa route would share. %■ ■'^<' The importance of the tributary system of the Ottawa will be seen trpm the following list of its principal feeders, many of which have valuable water- powers along their courses, and pass through rich uuneral, timber oi-agricultui-al lands : — Entering from the south are the Course in miles. Area of basin. South Nation River JOO — «