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Uxited Sruvick Inmiti i i<>n'. {Aullnim aloni' orr respoihsihlcfor ihe canteais of tltei,' fcujitc/irc uii-nioirs.) ^. >. II Bm^WJhtrtJ^MHIHHl i !]UUt4.1UI' JWUMW il e ^^^^-^ I 7 i>rvi:rieni\(LOnlarix). \ SHaivrence-CanaJ^ bet/ Prcecutt&Monh (Jfy Ihprvch^liwer, 1 .Wipissuuy anebRiy. Otta*vw. Betvteen/ (rwrgioTvJitt^/, lake^Eurorv and- Inkey fU>7brentoorthe.Frena Ji&b^ een^ Montreal and/ L. Champlauv, or by thpy EicfuJieuy anob />■ Ckamphi .AWRENCE ons of A.T10N. 'S9Mary (Foreuftv) iJyhetMefitvErie- and Onlario. yvrmx^Canais bet/Prcecott&Monh'exd. fer, I.Wfpvisinff and/Rw. Otta*vay. narvHay, Lake^Hurorv and' laJt^y OrUetrio (to Torento or Uw^French/Ji.) trmland'l. Champlairv, y tihPj Miduslieu/ and>Z. Giamplaui'. l.JobbinH Map of the ^TERSOFTHESf'LA Shew^glhe Direction ca:nal navigag ^ 40 £' (!fuuiv of Great la/ces the/Ironlier, WeUanrf/h SfJiUMrej 'eenyMontrml cuicl..Kmffs(x,fv. f By Irpjvch/BiMP^, or 6v tA, ins {For privriff rirculatio)! onlt;.) (L^btniir0 ^ \ f the : Sf'LA ireotioii 40 Wfilland/h ffeorffian- or bv th, Monday, March 10th, ISGO. Roar-Aanihal Sir F. \N. E. NICOLSON, Bart., C.B., in the Chair. THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. By Lieutenant-Colonel Millington Synge, R. E. Trtic chain of tlie great lakes of Canada ia part of the water system of the St. Lawrence, an^V THE LAKES AND CANALS OP CANADA. Saskatchewan commliiHlo at their sourccH vvilh others flowing out from the same sprinj^H, but which, hy uii opiiositc oiilh't, fiiid a coni- |)iiriitiv(!ly ishort but tuinultiiouH passa^'o into the I'acilic (»ci'an. Aiiotlicr syHteni not inferior eilln'r in extent or ;^ran' in o[.posito diicclions out of Lake Wollaston, it comprises an actual waterway, Avith obstructions, l>ut without interruption of flowing" water, on tlie track of a north-west passage. Thus there are four great water systems which, speaking bro.adly and generally, may be said to form and to express tlu; characteristics of the regions in which they severally are, and in so far to govern the conditions of those regions as tliey determini^ the directions of travel and intercourse within their respective limits, These are the St. Law- rence in the east, the Saskatchewan in the west, the Mississippi in the south, and the i\[acken/ie in tiie north, and it is ess right appreciation of the character and value of the formation that livs within the province of Canada to bear in mind its character and ]»osition as an unit in, or iin element (jf, the eidire water system of the continent, and the penetration of the St. L:iwrence and Saslcatchewan together to the very foot of the Rocky ]\[ountains. Before passing to the more detailed consideration of that branch of these waters wliich ia more particuUiily th< subject of this ))aper, it may serve its scope and object to drawattentit)n to one or two nuixims, truisms perhaps, but apt to fare as such in being as much disregarded in practice as they may be ])romptly conceded in .argument. Firstly. Directions of commerce shape the course of nations. Secondly. Means of connnunication intluence so as to determine the directions of commerce. And, lastly, an insula)' position has singular advantages for purposes of commerce and for defence. These principles, or truisms, have this bearing on Canada, lier lakes and her canals, tliat her inland navigation i)lac(>s certain great advan- tages within tlic reach of her attaiimient. The full benefit of these she can secure only by following the indications of her broai >^rf'nn», in tlio g-i-cMt Wiuil or (!iiiia(lii. Tliis is, in riu-t, the iiucHtioii which (h'tcr- iniiiof4, t'or both purtioa, the real value of all colonial posHOHsioim. (Capital tiows to attractive tlcMs if they bo «ecurc, and contentment waits upon indnstiy lal)onrinj;' in security. In th(^ case of Canada, political, industrial, and conimorcial, rather than purely military measures, arc needed to confcn- upon her thin H(M;inily and its assurance. Tier iidaiul tiavi^'iition is su[ierior to any m(!ans'of communication tliat can l»e brouj;ht into competition with it ; but her articles of export, lumber, g-rain, Hour, and thcs like, are bulky, whilst, on th(! contrary, her imports are manufactured articles (h-cu- l)ying' HUUiU bulk. Vessels conscupiently ol)tainiiijj,' in g-eneral only a cargo one way, o(;ean freights have hitherto more than eonnteri)alanccd the advantagt.H of her inland superiority; but Caiuuhi has it in her power to cr(>ate an import carrying tratle that shall reverse this condi- tion Ity the fnrtlu'r improvement of her navigation, and by the adop- tion of a tariff more truly adapted to her real interests, especially aided, as her endeavours would be, l)y the exist(Mico, side by side of such better policy, of the prohilntive commercial legislation oi the adjoining- federal ri'pnblics, I have no donitt but that T shall best comply with the wishes of the Conunittee if I adapt the consideiations that follow rather to thcsi>hero of this Institution, than enter ui)on such as are more strictly litted to geographical or engineering discuHsion. I purpose, therefore, to do- Bcribe the navigation of (Canada, the nature and position of the expanses of water that form the lakes, and the works which constitute the canals, very briefly, dwelling more upon the advantages conferred by that navigation, and on the bearing and im[)ortance of those advantages. In the Append: l to this [)a\>vr you will, however, find, I trust, all that information given fully which it might prove tedious verbally to ■'ecapitulate. The water system of the St. Lawrence begins nearly midway across the continent. Under the name of the Kivcr San Louis, its head-waters flow into Lake Superior at the south-western exti'emity of the lake in about U)" 86' N. hit. and 1)2° \V. long., at Fond du Lac, the site of the ])resent Sup(>rior City, Minnesota, and these waters define tiie boundary of British America as it would be determined by the mid-channel of thy waters of the St. Lawrence and the lakes. The actual boundary has, however, been carried on a high(>r parallel of latitude, (about that of 47'" If)') where a clmin of compaiatively triviid rivulets and small lakes ter- minates in Lake Superior; and He Koyale, which is intersected by that parallel, has also been yielded by treaty. The geographical position of the tract thus marked gives it extraordinary value. Between these bound- aries north and south, and between Lake Superior on the cast and the western bcmndary of Minnesota, is an area of about 30,000 s(piare miles, or of an extent equal to about that of Scotland. Over it the communication with the colony of Red River is already established by means of railroads, steanun-s, ami stages, whi(-h traverse its unob- structed highways. The harbour of Superior (,'ity is good, and it is the natural outlet of a great part of the country westward. Enjoying B 2 h 4 THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. the doublo advantage of being in immediate proximity to old CRtablished countries — that is, comparatively speaking — and of being of prairie rather than of granitic formation, it has become the channel of inter- course with the Red River country, whilst circumstances and a granitic formation have combined to retard the opening of that intercourse through the northern tract that has been kept in the dominion of England. The other chief western head-waters of the St. Lawrence are the Kamenis Toquoiah River, at the mouth of which Fort William, a post of the Hudsoi Bay Company, is situated, and the Nepigon River, a sheet of water of large but unknown extent, not that its borders have not been explored, but its dimensions are not known to have been ascertained. Both are within Britihh territory, and are admired for the Avild beauty of th 'ir scenery, and the latter for the well nigh unequalled sport which both river and lake yield to anglers and fishermen. They are also said to afford the means of comparatively easy communication on the westward route towards Lake XVinnijjeg. The Kamenis Toquioah River is known for its romantic falls, a beauti- ful sketch of which appears in a folio of drawings by Captain Warre, taken so far back as about 1845. Lake Superior, 300 miles long and 140 miles broad, is of rather larger dimensions than the extent of country just spoken of. Its sur- face comprises 32,000 square miles, which is about the same area as that of Ireland. It has been said, possibly rather with effect than with strict accuracy, that the mean surface of the lalce is exactly GOO feet above the sea level, and its bottom GOO feet below that level. This assigns to the lake a depth of 1,200 feet. I have heard that in places a line of that length has failed to touch the bottom ; but I believe the mean depth of the lake to be about 1,000 feet. The straits or river of St. Mary coiiveys the overflow of this enormous basin, and cormects Lake Superior with lakes .Michigan and Huron. This river falls 20 feet within a distance of half a mile. The impediment which is thereby caused to the navigation is overcome by a canal, the works of which :n-e of the most perfect description ; but the}^ are on the alienated side of the river. The mean de[jth of these lakes is said to be the same as that of Lake Superior. The area of Lake Michigan is 17,000 square miles, that of Lake Iluvon 21,000 square miles : the latter only is within British territory. The continuous formation of the islands of Mani- toulin, which seem but an extension of the northern promontory of Upper Canada that stretches into Lake Huron forms the Georgian Bay, itself an inland sea that is of the very highest importance with reference to the maintainance of the power of England in America. Lake Huron, particularly in its lower portion, tends directly to Ihe south. The River St. Clair, which expands about midway in its course into a small lake of the same name, connects the waters of Lake nui<)n and uf Lake Erie. Many wrecks take place on the St. CUair flats, and the navigation is treacherous as well as difficult ; but there is no fall or impediment in the river. Lake Erie turns abruptly to the east. The level of its waters is 10 feet below hat of the waters of Lake Huron. It is a smaller sheet of water, in fact only one-third the size of the former, having a surface of 7,500 square miles, which is, how- 1 THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. 5 ever rather more than twenty times the joint area of the Channel islands and of the Isle of Man. Lake Erie is exceptionally shoal, havinj- a mean depth of only 120 feet. It is astomshmg no hmited liability company springs up to drain it. The sod is very fertile, and the chasm of the Niagara River close at hand for an outlet. The waters of Lake Eiie pour down the Niagara River into Lake Ontario, but its celebrated falls separate the navigation of these lakes, excepting for vessels not beyond the capacity of the locks of the Welland Canal. There is a difference of 330 feet between the levels of th^^so lakes. A descent of about 50 feet takes place in the rapids above the falls, and the vertical fall of the cataract itself is 1G5 feet. The torrent is hemmed in for seven miles below the falls m a gorge from 200 to 400 yards in width. There the river opens into a flat country, and flows with a diminished curre'^ for 12 indes more, where its waters reach Lake Ontario, the least, although probably tlie best known, of the great Canadian lakes. I must not detain vou merely with description, and! certainly do not mean tc attempt to describe Niagara ; but as possibly this paper may be read by some who, from admiration of the beauties of creation, may think of a i)ilgrimage to that fair wonder, I may, perhaps, with some a.lvanloo-o in 'ucli a car^c call your attention to the grandeur of Niaoarali winter. In America there maybe a tendency to treat it as a fine water privilege, and on the spot in smnmer it certainly is hon-ihiy vulcavisod hy the intlaencvi that then surround it; but fcinuidin- before it, when it is free from these, I can readdy under- sta'id tiic poetry of the ancients leading them to personify, thougli unFortnnately they also deiiied, theii- glades and their watercourses. Niagara seems essentially the queen or goddess, not the king or god, of waters. Notwithstanding the enormous mass of waters, winch i leave others to compute, and notwithstanding that the roar of the descent has given it the name of the The Thunder of the\\aters, there has always sfM-med to mo a gentleness, a quietness, an imper- tud)able dignity, and yet a seductive coyness, a majesty and yet a play of consciousness about this beauteous wonder to which i know nothing akin save in the spirit of a woman. Broken, as it were, to fras of spray, till it seems as though one were oneself enwrapped in tlie brightness of that bow as it Bprings_out()f this accumulation of beauty, and spans the gorge of the river with its other extremity, its summit in the heavens, and sur- rounded everywhere with another— and yet another reflection. It is like the living spirit of beauty joying in the scene. It is the bright bow of promise, a symbol higher than of man's invention, speaking of joy and peace, emblematic of tiie hap.py energies that it may be, constitute the realities of rest. I acknowledge to a feeling of solemnity and a sense of unspeakable beauty in this work of glory in the elements of light and water only, that put aside even fairy thoughts and dreams of imagination, while there stole over my senses a thought of the tradition of the day in which creation was good in the eye of the Maker, and the hope of that day when, with man in excellency, it shall be so again. * On one occasion, owing to what is commonly termed an ice-jam, Niagara ceased to flow ! No water went over, and an adventurous Englishman, living on th:; banks, planted the flag of England in the m at hi o ^ ti ti e . o a f li I t who 1 if THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. 7 mid-channel of the rapids ! They were dry! The sudden breaking altdrof k icc-pa?k, the renewal as it were of the cataract, must '^I^^^.t^rSS t:^L 55 miles wide, has a mean depth of GOO ft^ an I an a"ea of 6,300 square miles. With the exception of Now Tom on the chief towus of Upper Canada are on the borders of ^h^hUcT o In 1 Ihe Thames ai^ inland town midway between t e i ver St Clair and the western extremity pi Lake Ontario exomnM^ the progress of Upper Canada. It is without advantages oSerpotor^rivSr navigation, and has achieved its success solely as ■ an a ' dci tu ral town. Five and thirty years ago not a tree was ?dkir wl e ?t now stands ; yet it is a solid handsome ^f ^^ tow"' ^^ iS ht.c()loured bi-ick chiefly, and, generally speaking, of good and un- prete.lig architecture, whilst it now counts its population by ^^'Tlmlimnber Kivcr, at Toronto, and the Trent River, which debouches in Ufe Sifnl Ba^ of Quinte, and formB the pen^su^ Fhv'ird countv, have each been spoken of as attoiding a means oi (moni a Suiunication between Lake Ontario and the Georgian C bv Lake S Ze, which is about midway between the two larger S. fXi li:K^ f it existed, would abbreviate the distance and se ve to^u' d the dangers of the'st. Clair Flats. Below Lake Ontario So Vf Tnvrence nroner begins with that beautiful and far-famed xLn ti^Tl^^o the Thousand IsUuids. The thriving little town of Brockvi e is the terminus of a railway gradually extendmg on the I nil mlawa and froin Prescott there is another railway to the town S^KtawMhe great lumber depot, and t^- -P^^al o Can^^^^^^^^^^^ that of Confederate British America hereafter ^^ ^^^^^^'/^^ P"^^!^^^^^^^^^^ Falls of the Ottawa River are turned to great account as a watei - , hile..e'' "crowded" on every available spot with mills that allow no i^^rd'wo night, to the ceaseless operations of the saw ; but, who- eve? s one rej >iced in the wild beauty of the rivers and forests of Amer ca can sea eel y fail, ovm whilst he is enaeavourmg to lorward 4rcause of civ 1 s'u to regret that the steps of that civilisation are rnS bv he doltruct Vm of the wild beauties of nature even as its ^omisenHt e is w u^ing hi the poetry that lingers round tlie savage. S anab V Sxte Ids, I believe, farthe.- and the compensation and con- solation "?e^incitn^ the same. The desolation of the wilderness ':^^1^iJ^^\^o...iy, and the vile among the savage is more com- """^^^t^X ^ necessitated tlie construction of the St. La^ence canals ml^- that the river might be navigable occur between R-escott ind^ Fifty miles below Montreal the river widens h to the e"|i.^^^^ L'^1- ft- Peter, >-f ;J.fJ°-; ^^^^^^^^^^ ?^ LnHom Tlio deoth towhch the cDi.nnel of the rive, tmou^n inis Imsuccossful IXns as the etlurt was made by a straight cut >,..tead 8 THE i.AKES AND CANALS OF (JANADA. I / of in the natural bed of the river. From below Lake St. Peter the bt. Lawrence adheres to its north-easterly course ; but calls for no turther particular remark in connection with the present subject It becomes more and more picturesque, more wild, more iri'aud, and, above all, perhaps wider and moi-e wide, until, as it were, characteristi- cally winding-up tiie scale of its gigantic dimensions, its delta, so to speak, IS Newfoundhiiid, a territory one-four I h largoi- than the king^ dom ot Ireland, but almost unknown; yet a laud of wild rugged b3auty,with waters teeming witli lish, and with resources deserving more investigation than they have hitherto received. The passage up the bt. Lawrence is fast losing the terrors with which it became invested so long as injudicious regidations of the Canadian postal subsidy led to the attempted prosecution of the voyage in the midst of fog or snow with the consequent loss or -njury of vessel after vessel. o ^AA "^M^"' ""i '''^^^?''^ ^''°"^ ^'^^ head-watcj- of Lake Sunerior is about 2,500 miles in length. The canal navigation has been constructed princii)ally in order to over- come obstacles occurring in the course of the grc;at (-hain of th'^ wat(>i-,s we have now ti-aced. This is the object of ti.e VVellaud Ctmul between Lakes Lrie and Ontario, and of the St. Lawrence canals between Prescott and Montreal. Tlie opening of the Rideau navigation between the cities of Ottawa and Kingston, and the partial improvement of the Ottawa River as far as tJie city ot tnat name, were, however, owing to the proved necessity ot a means of communication between the upper and lower parts of the umted province, that should be free from the perils of the ij'ontier. ^ The proposed canals, which I believe to exceed in im])ortance all that have been constructed, are advocated in order to shoiten distance, to lower the cost of freight, to increase trade, and to give rise to new branches and to new directions of commerce. In order rightly to appreciate the bearings of the several projecta brought forward to these ends, a consideration of thn directions they a^lopt IS necessary. The details of proposed construction, intoresting as these are both .n respect of the natural advantages which are afforded in the several cases, and as to the scale of consti-uction, which would deter- mine the class and size of vessels for which the improved navigation would become available, are yet of less importance than is the ultimate aim, or the consequences that inevitably would follow, upon the adop- tion of one or other of the schemes that are, and have been advocated. All have necessarily adhered, more or less, to the course of some apparent facilities or inducements for their adoption. They may be broadly classified as consisting of— ^ ^ The enlargement of the existing canals from Lake Erie to Montreal. 1 he construction of a navigation between the Georgian Bay, Lake iluron, and Lake Ontario. "^ The Gonstruction of enlarged canal navigation connecting Montreal and the Hudson River, State of New York. The opening of the French river and Ottawa navigation, that is of a uavigauon folio-ring the course of the Ottawa as far as the Mattawa (/ : \\ \ f THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. 9 tributary, and thciice by Lake Nipissing and French River to Goorgiau ^'of S^^^trialt deserves an unreserved and unqnaliHcd preference - on^enend^^^^^^^^^^^ It ouglit, indeed, to fonn the bane and founda- ?b.?7ail othcn?. insteadof bein| placed i^--l'--- ]f l^^'Xr^ m.nisin to any other schemes of inland navigation ; for it, and it ilone^ Sre«ses tS.eculiar characteristic, that if conHtructed, it won d make anv of or all! he others serve the prosperity and wehare of the pi^- viuce but? i it were not constructed, each of the others would be Xnded with grave drawbacks and disadvantages. It does more foi f affoilrchetp and peaceful solution .,f the diffiordt^s at ondnig^ t^^^^^ defence of Canada. If the country is to remam ntish it is the t fore a work of the tirst imperial interest, and if 1 luxNe v.oiicct y ian%d the' most pressing wfnt of Canada,, it ""^ jt .f ^.^^^^ ^f^ ^ esteemed by the Canadians for its commercial value, it .m.!> as tuc mearof establishing the security of the country, and thus re-attractmg capital to its shores. i i + i oi,»r>e+ n? U-^-lf The general classification I have purposely adopted, almost o lt^. i points out what the disadvantages of the other i.rojocts ^^'vc.ally a s ud you will remember that 1 have before asked your assent t,o tie ita^that '^directions of commerce shape the course of "atious a d that" means of communications influence, so as to determme the duec " 'i^nlrc^TSle-'enlargement of the St. Lawi^nce and Welland ,..u as would be to make seaports of the towns, both Canadian and f e ni, the inland lakes, ind to confer upon those towns advan- ages B ndlar to those which Montreal now exclusively possesses as thf head of ocean navigation. It is, theref.n-e, a commercial a d plical n^easure of much value. The fear of l^Bing the mono >1^^ of an advantage so enviable, may array the class and l;;cal mte ests of Montreal agahist a scheme that would create f^^f; ^^ to t e m^^^^^ fountain liJ^vd of the St. Lawrence waters , but ^^^^^"tie \; ;\ /'^^."^^^^^ scarcely fail to benefit ev<'u more largely ni so great and vvide-spica a on sperity than she does now from her monopoly, tl^ough I ko monopolists'^ she may be blind to advantages -Inch he dormant throuffh neglect, and, like monopolists again, she may be even moie nSenaAo Ih. possibility of niaintaining ^ l^'^^^ -^^^J;^^^^ nniust as well as ungenerous when persevered m to the ^«P»^^f^" of others for selfish ends. These canals, however, are constructed on or near the frontier, and would require at the l«f „^« ^"^.^S but they could possibly confer advantage, were the defence effectual , but te enlargement scarcely affects the militaiyyiew o the [i^^^f<^^-^^^ insecurity's not increased, the value is of that which i. alrei^y n- secure. Indeed, the enlargement of these canals may be not-wholly * Tins route (Ottawa and French Eiver) is that which was taken by f«™";;l Cl'^J™^ plain! the cUscoierer , and thns Lake Huron -^^^^'-^^^^^'^^'^'Z tfore European eyes had seen Niagara. It is also that which was *^^^^^"' /'y/'^J SLu 8 toavoid their enemies, the Iroquois on the ^t. Lawrence Hyij ^c have Syto adapt t. the exigencies of the present tune «, P'-''^^^'^ '^J^^-'^^j^^^y nature as the mo t direct, and marked by circum.lauces ae secure and 6afe.- M. b. V > 10 THE L/.KES AND CANALS OF CANADA. dovoid of inilitaiy advantage, provided always that the French Ri navigation be perfected beforeliand ver Th e construction of a navigation between ( Greorglan Bay and Lake across a conipara- circuitous route of the fi-ont (Ontario anns at abbreviating distance by a direct cut lively narrow neck of land, avoiding the and the delay (,f the Welland as well as the dangers of the'sVcTai; W oli;.. 1 !"' ^^T \\ "' '1''"^^ me.t«u''e, a rival to tb^ enlargement of tho SHflt K " ' ""fl^ """''' *" ''^^'"'"^ ^""'-'y'^'S trade fron. the Western states. If executed as a commercial speculation it might benefit the .oreign towns of the west and those on Lake Ontario, as well as ocal ntcrests at its;own extremities. Viewed in opposition;to the other pro- X tl?o,? T ? *^"\r'*^ ^^ ^*'^^^f c^^ated tA have injur ous lathei than good ef ec s on the general pr,)sperity of the province. Its military charocter is hypothetical, but not alt^ther without merit! Sip.s,ngthereex.sted_a naval force on Lake" Ontario and an in- T nkp"\-r;,;:'n Y fV^ T''}'^ establish a good communication with Lake Jlumi, Avhereby the flank of Lake Erie would be turned, and tho upper wate...s reached f«r offensive operations in the west TVr,!nJir"?r?^i" rn '^", ^^'^^'^^^d canal navigation, connecting MontTcal with Lake Chaniplain and the Hudson, thougl different in and I'/ti;' '^'''"'^^'"[ '; '^^: tendencies. It would defleSt at Mon re and after the passage of tlie St. Lawnmce canals, that trade which tho Georgian Bay Canal would intercept upon the lakes and carry o Oswego It would give great additional facilities for the trade between Mon real and J ostou and New York. It would, as far a, art iTsMy Sit o'f'thfsft' '^'' '"^■"'^" ^'''^ ^^ ^^'^^^^^ Statesmen Z highway of the bt Lawrence, and .tend to complete and perpetuate fr^rr ''^"" "^ tone, feeHng, favour, and affection tl/at sp fgs fiom exclusive or preponderating commercial relations. If met by a Jiud'oT" i';^ ^^P.P^-cciation on the part of Massachusetts, New York t itpod w'' '" '^' ^^o^"tb, the ultimate effect of such 'intercourse unbalanced by any corresponding increase of commercial relations witl L, ope, can be denied, only by a contradiction of the maxims I have asked you to concede. L ..balanced, such intercourse would necessarily be, for it can be formed only by the substitution of an artificial channd, ^i d o fomgn intercourse for the open ocean and commerce with home. The military aspec s of this project are not of much importance. The line If It Avere constructed, could be made ineffectual by iither party and ts advantages used or destroyed according to the prioritV in ' sk 11 or 7! ."'' ''i either side. If viewed, however, as a c-ominercial u !<>"' taking subsequent on and subsidiary to, the enlargement of the ^^'"^hnf"^ 'a' T:!^^^^' f «"'^^«« its prope^and beneficial aspect. With the trade of the west free to find an ocean ou+lot nf any port on the lakes, the freight to be cariS will s^ek the bes markets, and 11, would be judicious commercial policy to enale lat oif Tl^ts^o'.?-"'"^'"'n^T°f P^^'f^^t "^^^---f communica* tion. llie lespective prices in North America and Europe would then %iZ ^ ^'*''™r t^^^e^tination of the product^of the west •o-iit to bP^I 7''' r r^'-'^n^-^'r", considering the branches, not what lAUt to be the trunk nf nil mlQi.ri p.. *;.,i, a .- • cugh, ,„ be the ...,.„k ot all inh-id Bis'Aii^;:^!;^^:: The TliE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. 11 ncli River and Lake compara- the iVoiit, I St. Clair LMlt of tlic 3 WeBtom lenefit the '11 as local Dther pro- injurious iiice. Its •ut merit. 1(1 an iu- ition with I, and the ^nnecting- fferent in Montreal vhioh the carry to between possibly 3 for tlio erpetuate t springs met by a 3w York, ercoursc, ioiis with ive asked be, for it ,'1, and of lie. The The line, % and its skill or 111 und(>r- t of the )eneficial Mitlet at the best hie that imunica- uld then e west, lot what in. The / 'i question of primary interest to England in the whole matter is whether British America is* to remain Eiiglisli ; that of corresponding interest to the British provinces, and especially to Canada, is to know what their position is to be. A country of which the prosperity is paralysed and the develoimient indefinitely retarded by a cimdition of uncertainty la forced by circumstances to think of something that irresistibly becomes of y:reaterand more pressing weight, and of more imniediate i)ower than are even national predilections. These may exist, and exist stron«-ly, and yet be compelled to remain what I have termed tliem, iiredifections— preference not choice. Circumstances may preclude a choice, aye, they may even comi)el a selection which is not a clioicc. The primary and pressing want of Canada is security and an assured sense of that security. So long as her future is thought to be iin- deterinined, her energies are paralysed, her strength is fettered, ami caiiital with its proverbial timidity keeps from her shores. Yet she has not on earth ^ foe to fear, except her contiguous and prosperous rival whose century of priority in birth is apt to be forgotten when comparison is made. The question, if not the temptation then naturally arises, can she not free herself from every danger by making common" ause with the enemies of England. Her republican neigh- bours invito her with sok.nn acts of Congress, and frame their legis- lation with a view to her coercion. England informs her that her election shall be free. What then is her position at tins moment but the monument of her decision and the proof of her attachment? And, if so, the qnestif«n of her pros})erity resolves itself into that ot her defence, and the inland navigation of the province has so povveriul a bearing on that question, that in dealing with the hvtter it cannot be passed by. I believe I shall state the condition of the question of defence with tolerable accuracy, if I say that England desires the c()n- nection if it can be maintained without imperilling even greater interests than would be compromised by severing that connection, and that Canada earnestly desires it if England will treat her, as she con- siders, fairly in the matter. It is the respective earnestness ana liesi. tation of ('omparative adventure and comparative wealth, iji'itislj America is ready to give an unequivocal response, if England will maintain her protection a Voutrance. England, before giving an irre- vocable iJledge, determines not only to examine her power to redeem the pledge, but to count also the cost of the attempt. Obviously too much caution may prove imprudence ; and too great precipitancy migljt prove rash. This is, I fear, a full and fair exposition of the case as it appears to stand ; but miless it be sadly deficient, moral and national obligations are counted as nothing in the matter, just as the negotia- tion fails to point out what could sanction the act of severance, and, in counthig the cost, it omits the heaviest item of the bill, for who can answer what would prove the cost of wrenching the eminre asunder, and of destroying the influence, character, and power of England as a matter of deliberate monetary speculation? I do not tlimk it is to be concealed, that the sentiment of Canada has been grieved, and the moral strength of loyalty injuriously affected by what has been there taken to be the affront of a needless expression on the part of many Englisn, 12 THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. that thoy are welcome to sever tlio connect ion if llicy will. Historic ])recedent ofl'ers no justitication of the aHsumptioii that the children of those who abandoned all to remain, as they believed, for ever children of a common mother shoidd now be ready to chang-e sides to the bitterest foes of England, if these latter know any truth in lang'iiag'e. It would have been enoug'h, reason the Canadians, to let the expression of the future be evolved from ag-reement or other- wise in the terms of a permanent coimection. As the solution of the (juestion of the British defence of Canada is on both sides enifihatically one of will rather than of power, it is of tlie first importance to measure accurately the ingredients lilcely to make up that will. England seems to have i-equired — 1 do not say she did re(iuire — I am advancing- views which appeared to me t(j [jrevail, and that not unreasonably, i.i Canada — Eng-Iand seemed to many Canadians ttj require an unqualified expression of determination and to see tiiat determination evinced in specified acts, before she would in any way bind herself to do more than establish a means'^' abandoning- the continent on an emerg-ency without the capture of lier own immediate forces. Canada, too v.eak to stand alone, with the acts uf liio sympathisers in the trembled era (tf her rebellion fresh in her memory, ' with the fate of the Southern sovereignties before her eyes, and the lang-uage of bitt'iaMt.s in a mist, tlio sovoral diflirtiltios v/ill mu(;li (limiiiish, and somo even lo .0 all tlieir force on nearer examination. (jfranted that the enemy Inis his base of operations comparatively close at hand, that, irrespective of his resources on the Atlantic coast, he can snpply himself from the lake shores immediately opposite and maintain his lines of connuunication by mmu'rous rail- roads, that his munbers are incontestably superior and that the frontier'' is of very g-reat extent, still nnich remiiins to be said and done before the cause has to be given up. The very inferiority confers specilic advanta<>'es of iio mean value. If the distance of the base of o])era- tions, where it is the ocean, is to be an insuperable obstacle, then farewell all imperial g'reatnes8 and possession ; but gi'eat in extent as is tlu; frontier, those portions t)f it on which descent in force is [wsnible can all bo si)ecitied, and the very priority of de\'elopmeiit and sn])eriority in Avealth and resources of the enemy have their counter- vailin,!^' evils to his cause. To j^niard the country sacred from the tread of the invader's foot may indeed be deemed a hopeless task luiless he can be forced to abstain from the attempt in the prosj)ect of ultimate defeat, or of drawin,;;' down ui)on himself loss(>s o-roater than the intended g-ain ; but the hnportant posts and towns of Caiuida can bo counted, and a very inferior lorce might hold them all successfully, thongii the rest of the country were for awhile overrmi, and columns, well conmianded, that Avould retaliate on the enemy by counter- ag-g-ression might serve to open wide the eyes that may even now be dreaming- of the tempting- sweets of overrunning- a defenceless jji'o- vince and of the g'lory of a triumph over the hated name of Engiand, achieved with the pride of the send)lance but Avitli none of the realities of dilficulty. Whilst the enemy could subsist only by the niain- tenaiice of his own linos of connnunication, the colunms carrying- the war into his territory would find subsistence every\rhere. " The facilities for countor-ag-gt-ession are an effectual means in Canada's defence. My own cojiviction, as I have said, is that the important ports and towns of Canada admit of being- held by mnnbei-s relatively very inferior, nor have I any doubt whatever of the willingness of the Canadians not oidy to undertake the task of sncli defence, but to seek their share besides in turning^ the tables on the enemy by the necessary counter-ag-gressions. Even the important battle-grounds may be known beforehand and entrenched and occupied so as greatly to counterbalance su])eriority of number. Nor must the numbers of the enemy be computed from the scale of the late civil war. The acquisition of Canada could not evoke an effort that required a spirit of animosity such as the civil war provoked. Such an exhibition, if it took place at all ag-ain, would be directed against England, wherever her power might be found, and would be too bitter to be appeased without collision. It would not be a war for unity, and as yet the Ilepublican States are not at all at unity. IVIoreover, the influx of European strength and sinew which brought about the subjugation of the South would scarcely, in such a case, be allowed to go on un- 11 14 THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. ehwkoil; nor is ,t t.. l.o stipposcMl Jimt EMj.-liin(l w.hiM ho witliu„t JMim|)('un allies, for she C(«rtiiiiily woiikl ,H.f williii^-Iy l-'o to war, even witli hur alienated and embittered dc-scendaiits, unless not (.nly r-leailv in the right l.nt conijielled by tlie neeessiti.^s of an irreconcileublo (littei-ence. Ihat hi a war ihe Canadians would b(^ as oursc'Ives there 18 no reasonable MToniid to doubt, and the enemy eould not, for their subjugation only, raise the forces we have become accustomed to associate with his name.* ^ I liave not been able to avoid what may liavc see>ned like a digression on the delence of Canada, but it is bccao.^e f/^r proposed n„c!,p,t!u„ winch remaivs to bo voin-^lered, deprives that important fjuestiun of /kv fanniditble aspect. ■' • _ Tlie Ottawa lliyer joins the St. Lawrence where th(> islands on which IS Montreal are, m about 45" 31' N. hit. The mouth of the French Kiver IS approximately in lat. 4(1°, that of tluj Mattawa in about 40- l>0'. llie course marked out by these rivers is therefore very lu^arly direct- the connection is almost complete. The distance is '4;;() m'iles aiuj shorter by 308 miles than the frontier route between the points which It connects, llic saving in tii^e, which depends on loc-kan(>, eapacitv, and other considerations, is es..mated at 44 hours; the cost of niovel mcnt per ton is computed under that of the existing or of the otlier proi)osed routes. Tlie line marked by tiiese rivers perf(>ctiv fuitils the essential military condition of being removed from the frontier. Indeed 1 do not know tiiat tlierc is a military requisite that can be desired, which it does not afford. Its general characteristic from end to end IS that of a chasm m a granitic formation (crystalline gneiss), and on tlie l^rench Kiver more especially, in long straight lines, where a f(>w guns m position could defend the necessary works, and destroy any iieet that niight attempt to outer, and where the position of thesJouns won d be impregnable. The direction of the Froueh liiver, at its mouth, is.N.L. toh.W.; the mouth itself, a straight cleft, dc'ep and broad, . .out two and tlirec-quarter miles in length, and the formation such, that whdst coasting along is highly dant-vrous, there are direct entrances between the rocks. The liarbour on Lake Huron (Georgian Jiay) IS studded by small islands, with broad channels and deep sound- mgs between. The archipelago of the (Georgian Bay ])erfe(;ts th(M,„si- tion for a fleet or for gnmb.xit,-, wliich, whilst thev could only be pursued at heavy disadvantage, would be ready at any moment to pursiu' or to attack the enemy. ^ If this communication weie opened, so long as PJngland retained lier supremacy on the ocean-and it is not worth while to discuss any Lnghsh Imperial subject en any other supposition— gunboats could be placed as freely on the lakes as lunv on the St. Lawrence at Quebec • and if a war must come, it would bo as much a naval war as one on land with victory to be contended for as heroically and as sternly on the tar inland lakes of America as ever naval war was fought by the * The opinions oxpressorl nborc have received a strikinjr eormboral ion in t].o protnpL repression of the Fenian threats of invasion througli the in.tanl turuhig ont oi ail adequate volunteer force. — M. S. TIIK LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. 15 ? .sailorfl nt' Eii^HaiuI on tho ocean. Tlicro would bo as little reason for abaiidoiiiii^- I.akc Huron um lor aliiuidoMinn- QnclMc. Tlic latter wo seem to have dcterniined not to do unU^sH wc bid farowell t(. all tlio contniont; but (Ippcr (Canada would then bo an o for its srcnrltv. This ^ivat essen- tial work constructed, all the wants and conditio'ns of the n)nntrv' can bo mot. It would g-ivo backbone and solidity to tho whole province. jM-oin It as the base of .)[.erations, the fronti(>r itself can bo sec-ured in all essential points, and works, danj-vroiis, if not disastrous, if utKh'r- i;aken ill its default, become of advanta<--o and almost secure. Either the \\ ("Hand, the (Jeoro-ian Hay, or Jlidoiin lines can bo made to admit lleets or .i,ni!iboats into Lake Ontario, and even without these, tho do- tonco ot that l.ako can b(> iiide|)en(lently i)r()vi(Ied for. These arc, 1 think, sullicient reasons for placing' tiiis work not onlv .'vb 'o any competitor, but for taking- it altog-ether out of the categoiy, bM-v parison. It alono is a work of thoroughly imperial interest Such 1., Its national and military value, tliough a work commercial an(i civil m Its nature, that I do not b(>li(!vo it \3 too much to say, that it is the best work of defence that could be erect(Kl in Canada, and even one without which that (lef(!nc(' might possibly prove as iuolTectual and tho attempt as im|)oliiic as they have boon assumed to bo. I had hoped to enter on some further details of this very intt^rostino- route, but the tune for which I could hope to command y..ur attentioir and lor which I am allowed to solicit it, forbids. I "nmst therefore conhne these to the Appendix, and will only add that His Excollencv the Commander of the Forces, Administratol- of the (Jovernment and 1 behove, also tho Admiral of the North American station, whom 1 had the honour of being- invited to accompany over the route, are as favour- able to Its construction, and earnest for it, I think, on Iho g-rounds I have endeavoured to place before you, as I can possibly be The leng-th to be artificially improved is aS miles, which includes, however the reconstruction of the Lachino Canal. The ag-g-rogatc lockag-o is CM feet. Ihe cost has boon estimated from two and a half to five millions sterling-, according: to the views on which tho respective esti- mates have been based. It must be remembered that this is an outlay that has been advocated, and advocated ably, on commercial grounds alone ; that it is a sum that would certaiiilv bring- a direct measure of return, besides conferj-ing- security upon, aiKl thoreI)y wealth throu<.-li- out the province. ° The objection to leavings it to be constructed as a commercial work lies in the rival routes to which 1 have adverted. Under that as|)ect It has to contend ag-ainst local hiterosts and sectional jealousies ; ao-ainst the rivalry especially of those interests least favourable to British con- nection and most induced to seek personal wealth, and to care little for any national existence. It Avould besides traverse a new country' along- the immedialo banks of which not only is there no population .at present, but the very formation which renders it supremclv valuable in THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. lor inilitiiry jmrpoHCH, proclndoM tlic pof^Hil.ilHy of itH IxTomin,!;- tlic s<'.it <»l a |«»|.iil!i(i(»iMir siiiiiliir extent tr) that occiipyiiig' llie coiiiparatively ulliivial lands of tlir fi(inli vainc, more jiav- ticnlarly between Lake llunjii and tlie Ottawa, as a'eliainicl nf transit from tlio wvHt. I oixMicd this paper hy enllinn- y(.ur attenti(»n to the fact that the •water nysteniof tiie St. fiawrenee, as a wjioh', is l»ul onnof several that traverse the len^'lh and l)r»>adth of Northern AnuMiea. Tliat branch (»f th(' St. Lawrence navig'ati(»n which J have last broii;;'ht to your notico is ill the (hrect hne to th(> west. In point of fa(;t it would "siiorlen tlie distanc(>l<; I lie west by neiiiiy IdO miles. 'I'lu> riclinesM of that west has not been overdrawn. The facts of • Minnesota are before ns, aiid wo hear continually of unexpectcMl sources of wealth in ruji'^j^ed and barren districts beyond, that may we'll create some nstonislunent that the mineral wealth of Canada in Lake Superior is almost nntouithetl. True, the possessors of the soil of interior British America seem still to deem that they can rea}) no pres(>iit prolit from it save by its Kcclusioii; but their predecessors thou;4iit tlie same, when they virtually held the destinies of many now prosperous components ()f the i-ejiublican utiites and of several British provinces in their hands. They were in error then; their successors may be so now. Be this, liowever, as it may, I have shewn you how nearly the great waters are oveiywliore connected, and tlu; tin'ie is probably 'not distant when, under what(!ver circumstances, steamers on the midland system may apin-oach to the foot of the Kocky Mountains of the west from Fort Garry, the centre of the northern continent; ami when others, plying- ()n the rivers and lakes inlerveniii<;- between that country and Lake Superior, may complete a traverse f>f two-thirds of the continent; and as the country of the Athabasca is uiKiuestionably attractive, and the Peace and Mackenzie Rivers arc with scarcely an obstacle to their navig-ation, even that northern systda may beciomc i)eopleil in i •; southern portions, and the north be the resort of their whalers in the Arctic Ocean. Who shall say these several systems may not become connected ? Certainly they would have been so ere now had the efforts * " Wliat cotton is to Ihc Soutli, wlicat is to ]\rinncseta. If cotton is king, surely wheal is queen. In 18G(), tlic wlicat crop of Minnesota ainountcd to o\-ei- tire million bushels, beinc; nearly livo times ■>;reiitov than thov raised in the New Kn^r- land States. The viold has been steadily iiicivasinj,' each year, and now the ci-im for 1865 will not fail short of twelve million bushels, an average of twenty-seven bushels to the acre. In Ohio, the largest crop ever grown (tliat of 1850) only yielded seventeen and one-third bushels to the acre, while the average for ten years was but twelve and a half bushels. In Town, which is generally considered one of the ridiest agricultural states in the West, the crops do not average more than fourteen bushels, while in New York and the New England States the yield is about 40 per cent. less. When yon take into consideratio.i the fact that there arc not more than 250,000 inhabitants in Minnesota, this yield of grain seems enormous. Forty-eight bushels of wheat for every inhabitant, man, woman, and child ! Why, Egypt in its palmiest days could not boast of more than thi.',. TIio valley of the Mississippi overshadows the valley of the Nile, and Phaioahs are nowhere. The superior quality of Minnesota wheat is shown in the weight of the grain, and its suitableness for milling purposes. It weighs from G21b. to 701b. to the; bushel, while in Ohio and Pennsylvania it averages from 501b. to COlb." — New York Herald. TIIK LAKKS AND CANALS OF CANADA. 17 ? (if iiuMi Imm'ii roioM (.f lif(., mm tli(\v aiv to iim'ssary vio-ilaiicc' for tlio powors of nuittial (Icstniction. The ^TOHf interior has hivn oftrrod to Canaila, and hIk; lian acccp-tt-d tli<> offer. 1 do not myself think the acceptance of that offer has on lusr jiart been jufHcions, and for this reason, tliat there is even a sn|»eral)iin(hint call for her oxcrtioim within her present limits. '!'<. ilio works \v(. hav(( l.rielly reviewed nnist he added the intercolonial railroad, and the a^^-^Tc^-ate is enon;;li to tax her energies, if not to sinpass her power. The injnry and disparagement sla^ has received from iho <-<'n(innal addition to the oeopled territories of lu'r lu'ip^dihours while her own west has h.-en hermetically s(>aled, no donht serve now immineni (l:in;4-er(.f delay, and their conviction is both Htronj;- and deeided, that the security of^'ana(hi, aiid indeed the nlti- niat** presence of Kno-land both in the Atlantii; and the I'acille, is in- volved ill the speedy action of the Imperial (jovcMMimont to secure au or<--aniscd ^-overnmeid, th(! secm-ity both of person and propertv, for Central British Anu;rica. I think, therefore, it is to be most earnestly desired, thai the questiou of \]\v defence of Canada may be d(>alt witii on Nomethiii,^- more than uiero technical terms; not viewed as a (piestioTi of a re^-iment moi-e or less in this plaa' or anoth(>r, nor of a l)arrack or u .'tondiouse here or there; not left to be disposed (.f piecemeal, if I mu,, ]>(} allowed tlu> expression, but that it maybe merj^vd in tlu' g-reater qu(;stion wluither the provinces existino- „r"to be born, can remain in their allejuiance with benefit to us and to themselves; and, if the answer be in the aTlirmative, that such uieasures may be adoi)t(>d ia the interests of America, as well as of Kno'land, .as will, humanly speakni<.-, place tli(> issue beyond reaeh of cavil oV disturbance. I can picture t«) myself no o-reater perils to peace than a-ise from un- l>re[)aredness foi' war iind from indecision. 1 iv.^Tct that 1 cannot, Avithin the limits of our time, enter upnii any considerations n lative to the execution of tlieuavi--ation by the Ottawa and French Rivers; and also that I have been pi-evented for the same reason from g-ivin,!-- details of the -reat existino- works; but I hope I luive judg-ed ari-iu, that it would be most useful as well as most acceptable to ])resent to the best of my ability the outline or founda- tion of the entire subj';ct, rather than' to overload a section, with par- ticulars which coidd n.»t even tli< n be made sulliciently minute. _ More than all I could have wished, had time i)ermitted and tlio occa- sion fitted, to have sou--ht to draw your attentioii to the diiference involved in maintaininn- or in abandoning- British dimiiuion in the pre- sence ot the adjoining- repul)lican states of America. I refer not now to imperial greatness, thoug-h I fully believe that England can maintain iio g-reatness, possibly not even lu^r independence, unless she maintain lier imperial i)()ssossions ; but I refer to sometlung- hig-lier and g-reater than the instrument, that to which dominion oug-Iit to b' the iustniment, and to which, in tlie case of r]iig-land more than of any other ])ower, I believe it has been tlie instrument, 1 mean—the moral'social. and indi- vidual effects of right power lawfully established. I may not ddate c ll M 18 THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. * ' Upon ih'ia subject, time and circumstance forbid ; but the history of the past and the events of the day speak, for me more strongly than mere language could. I will only say, so far as I have known, that this difference is more highly appreciated throughout America than here. There the contrast is more familiar. It is the cause alike of the attach- ment to, and of the hatred of England, which respectively distinguish British America and the republican states. It is now more than twenty years since I was the guest of one who had sought not the towns of the severed republics, l)ut the for(>8ts of the colonies of England, for his future home. Looking from the window of his house on to the farm and fields Avhich he had cleared, he told me that he had, it was then, I think, five-and- twenty years before, come to that spot Avith, in his own words, as well as I remember, an axe upon his shoulder and God above him as his trust. lie had lived on in that trust and confi- dence : he understood its origin and its strength. Such are the men who, in the words of Jeremy Taylor, have lived "stewards of creation, ministers of Divine Providence, and kings and priests to God," and such I have ever found the most attached to British rule and its perpetuaiice ; and that in proportion as thej felt and acted out such ])rinciples. They entertain a staid con.viction that the earthly strength of human hope is vested in England, and springs from her principles, that these have been the source of all her greatness, and that that greatness ought to to be the sacred guardian of those principles. It is this conviction, not the lust of wide spread imperial dominion that is the life of their affection. lu truth Englanel stands cons[)icuously alone amidst the nations of the earth in having nationally received, avowed, and main- tained those princii)les which we, from the very strength of our adoption, term old English. Then how ex])lain that hate of England which is the strongest * characteristic of the severed colonies, except by the evidences wiiich time but too bountifully affords. The subjected sovereignties of the south are not the only testimony that there liberty is the by-word for intolerance, equality the nuizzling of excellence, and brotherhood the motto of oppression. They who learn this lore from examples living out the difference, will come back seeking to enlist you with no common earnestness and they will entreat you, If you value the principles of England, hold her territories fast. * Extract from report by the Chief Superintejident of Education, Upper Canada : — " In regard to the exclusion of American books from tlie schools, I hare explained " that it is not because they are foreign books siniplv that they are excluded, but "because they arc, witli very few exceptions, anfi- British in every sense of the " word. Tliey are unlike the' school-books of an_y other nation, so far as I have the " means of knowing. The school-books of Gei-many, Franco, and Great Britain, " contain nothing hostile to the character of any otlun* nation. American school- *' books, with very few exceptions, abound in statements prejudicial to the institu- *' tions of the British nation." We hear, occasionally, a great deal about " America for the Americans." It is not a little sirgular that the only persons possessing the slightest claims to any exclusive right to the name of Americans, or to the possession of the soil, shoidd be termed " Indians" and should be daily move and more dispossessed of life, as well as land, by these exclusive European republicans. — M. S. S E E O Si E B; M F( Bj riinr THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANANA. 19 APPENDIX. A. Elevations, Areas, &c., of the Geeat Lakes, Lakes of Canada. AND OF CEBTAIN OF THE MINOE bovo •at ers. Dimensions. ■ r; If c rt i £ Ai'oa in Square Miles. Name of Lake. 2 ^ Remarks. ;^'*^H 1 p: W4* ^^ 'A H W Feet Miles Miles Feet Superior .... 598 160 400 900 32,000 Note. — The elevations of all the Canadian lakes are made to Michigan. ... 578 80 330 900 17,000 refer to Tide "Water at Three Rivers, the highest point at Huron 574 160 260 900 21,000 which the ebb is perceptible in the St. Lawrence. Eric. .. ,. .. 564 60 240 120 7,500 Higli-spring tides at Quebec rise 19i feet. Ontario .... 234 55 190 600 6,300 Ave-age sjiring tides at Quebec rise 17 feet. Xeap tides at Quebec rise 11 4 feet. Nipissing. . . . G34 • • •• Discharges by the " French River," into Lake Huron. Sinicoe 700 • • • • • • • • Discharges by the "Severn" into Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. Rice Lake . . 699 •• •• • • .. Discharges by the " Trent." Balsam Lake. 823 . . • • • ■ Balsam Lake is the head of the "Trent Waters," which dis- charge into the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario. Obligingly furnished by Mr. "Walter Shanly. W. S., Montreal, 7th Oct., 1865. B. MEMORANDUM RELATING TO THE CANADIAN CANALS. Welland Canal. Total amount expended to 1862 ,^7,200,000 Main lino from Port Colborne, on Lake Erie, to Port Dalhousie, on Lake Ontario..... , 28 miles lecdcr Branch, from Grand River at Dumvillc to " The Junction" .... 21 Broad Creek Branch to Port Maitland, on Lake Erie JJ " Total length 51 ^^ Total rise from Lake Ontario to Grand River Level 338 feet. Number of locks (ascending) 26 20 THE LAKES AND CANALS OP CANADA. The Grand River level is 8 feet above Lake Erie; coi.seoTientis' The (leqxmino- of the .summit level is now hoinq- proceeded with so t. and Knei feeder, wind, at present is thf. only source from wliich *S'/cr' of Locls. widci'lo fti.tlcql:""'"™ '""' ^'- ^'"""""'>-''« (-'> 2"« feet long-, 45 feet wiJ^'To foot dc^q'''''"™'" "'"' """""" <^')' '•'•' '^"* '""8' ^''5 f""' i^i^r:^i:t^t^s^^'''"'""' •™' ""'""'"' <^)' 2"" f^"=t '""i?. St. Lawkence Canais. Total amount cxpciulcd to end of 1S61 ,^.7^300 000 These canals comprise : — Ti,ec„,.„wuu.. ;; ;; ^s- ;; "f ;; The Williamsburgli, viz, : — Fauvus Point . . „ 1 „ 4/ ,, KapidePlat.... „ 2 „ 1^' " yj " ■{Junction ..I ■ 3 , ]r;;j/ t,r, [Gallops.... J " ■^'''' '■ '« " Totals 26 20Gi 43| 200 feet long, 45 feet wide, 9 feet deep. Elevations erom Tide Water to Lake Eiue. T 1 ^,^^,''»? '■'■"' 'i^'c^ tide M-a(er at Three Elvers iq f,,^. Lake Ontario and Montreal, viz. .— " *'^*'*- St. Lawrence Canals, say gOfi A.nf Intermediate fall. ..... ■; -^y Itct T 1 T-. • — ~ 2"''' Lake Erie and Lake Ontario 33^ " Total nnK Lake Huron and Lake Eric, about .'.*,■.'.*. g fe^t Obligingly furnished by Mr. Walter Shanly. a t^n ^*«aJ-=^^ III I i|i«i at» le ll THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. C. xVuRiDGED Extract from Mr. T. C. Czark's REroRT. Taken from " Eiijhiif Years' Prof/ess." 21 Distances. Levels. Rivers and lakes. Canals. %-4 6 tc a Cost. Lachinc Canal Lake San Louis Miles. 13-31 24-70 7-73 55-97 3-75 2G -09 1-70 19 -28 18-32 24 -93 4 -85 33 -58 51 -74 lG-22 51-15 47 -52 Miles. 8-50 I-IO *5- •1 2-01 '•"go i^'os •14 2 -26 1-08 5-97 •82 5 i "7 G 5 ii "2 i'l 11 "7 Gl. Feet. 43-75 i-00 58-50 03-00 50-00 loi'oo 18-00 148*- 20 144 -CO 77*- 00 0G5 -70 St. Anne Lake of Two Mountains Carillon to Grenville Green Shoals Ottawa Kiver Chaucliere River and Des Clienes Des Clieues Lake Chats ■■ Cluits Lake [[ Chenauxt to Elaek Falls River and Lake Coulange Chapeau and L'Islet ])ce|» Kiver Joaehini to .Mattawan River Mattawan Sununit Level Cut ' Freneli River Totals 401 -44 29 -32 ,^12,057,680 N.B. — Scale of navigation, 250ft. x 45ft. x 12ft;, D. Table OF Comparative Di STANCES. Miles. Lockage, Lake. River. Canal. Total. Up. Dovrn. Total. Welland 1145 775 575 132 155 347 71 120 58 1348 1050 980 • « 130 83 535 675 615 Toronto and Georgian Bay. . French River and Ottawa . . 535 805 698 )1 22 THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. E. Mb. MacAlpine's Table, fobmino Basis of Mb. Shanly's Estimatb, Cost of movement pel" ton per mill. Ocean — Long Voyage 1 mill. Short ,, 2to4mills. Lake — Long „ 2 „ Short , 3 to 4 „ Rivers — Iludson and Lake 2a „ St. Lawrence and Mississippi , . 3 ,, Tributaries of Mississippi 5tolO „ Canals — Erie enlargement 4 „ Other large c vnals, but shorter 5 to 6 „ Erie, ordinary size 5 „ \\ itli gi'cat lockage . . , 6 to 8 „ Railroads — Transporting coal 6 to 10 „ IS ot ditto, favourable grades and lines 12^ „ Steep grades 15to25 „ Add tolls, which swells the cost on Erie as it is to 14 miUs. per ton per mile. Me, Suanly's Estimate to Monteeal. 1. Wclland and St. Lawrence Canals : — Lake navigation, 1145 miles at 2 mills. #2.29 River „ 132 „ 3 „ 4D Canal „ 71 „ 8 ,, 57 Net #3.36 2. Toronto and Georgian Bay : — Lake navigation, 775 miles, at 2 mills #1.55 River „ 155 „ 3 „ Canal (Toronto and Georgian Bay) navigation, 77 miles at 12 mills Canal (St. Lawrence) navigation, 43 miles, at 8 mills Net 46 .92 .34 #3.27 3. French River and Ottawr :— Lake navigation, 575 miles at 2 mills #1.55 River „ 347 „ 3 „ 1.04 Canal „ 58 „ 12 ,, 70 Net #2.89 Time. Hours. 159a 246 13c 196 116ci 40S 20c 176 115a 196 18c 152 Based on Mr. MacAlpiue's minimum for lake aiid maximum for rivers: not unduly favourable to Ottawa. a, lake and river, b, canal, c, lockage. 1. Welland Route : — Chicago to Caughnawaga (deduct Lachine charge #3.12 Caughnawaga canal 33 miles at 8 mills #0.26 St. John's to Whitehall River and Lake 120 „ 3 „ .36 Chani}^ '.ain Canal 65 ,. 8 „ .52 Hudson River Waleeford to New York 155 „ 2i „ .39 1.53 Distance. . 1721 ^4.72 i« jl THE LAKES AND CANALS OF CANADA. 23 2. Toronto and Georgian Bay : — ^rj qq Chicngo to Cnughnawivgii. as above *.'.*',"!.' lisS Caughnawaga to New York 1,423 miles. ^\^^ 3. Ottawa and French "Rivpr :— ^2.82 Chieago to Cangluiawaga Y.53 Caughnawaga to New York ^•1.35 Mk. Sha>'LY. Capllnlntion:— _ 3/2 miles River and Lake navigation ^^ Canal (including Lachine) ___ " Total .... 430 distance. , „ ., 83 feet. Rise, Lake Huron to Summit o,, ,' . , "'^ )> lioclvage f,.l,2 , Fall, Summit to :\[ontrcal -^ "^ g^_. ^°'''''°' Total to^ic^ge; G^S feet. Fiftv-eight miles at ^'SVO-OOO. For' Removal of shoals, ^'^^oO'OOO lump sum, £1,931,506 !.terhng. ''09 days Season of Navigation— On Welland "' • ' On route, say " Lives lost on St. Laivrence, 1857, ^i-3S7-935, Lives 490. of the British Empire, we sho^dd have had fewer ^^'l^ ^''^]^^'^ ^. other treaties which have been made. And I t!unk, with e^ ev e.p. t lor Lm d A burton as a man of great distinction, and ^f f '^^VS^.f Hu en nire 1 e cer- known a little more of the proper geographical bmuulari^^ of on, em c^, he c tainlv would not have given away that piece of ^^'^"^^''i \\'^^ , ^ l'^ ^Ik now is larg.. tl.m Scot^nd, cni tlie ^ showing ^^ -^^,^^0,:" Sg'^^iJh the ^;on1f^i:Sdid^o!; TL^t^^ ^-^^^^^^m^^'C route between Europe and the great ^o^^'S^'^^^"!? / ^^'"^'^^ ,"\./,''\,];,:t| ;r ^^e entered upon a question M-hich is of the greatest ^^^^Vl^^ov l^'lr.i^^^^^^ are to keep, if not extend, the boundaries of the empire, orAAhethtr v^c art « giv i , Jiece afti' piece, possessions which, pop^datcd some ^W ^ -o^he ; -^ tribute lartrclv to the glory of our country, merely to cone li.Ut a lowcr ui j S£,l:;d«^iichwoi§d^;peaceaWeinproportionaswehddc^^^ somewhat familiar wit ii portions (.f these great ^''^gT'^f^^^^J^/'^^^hat which would mistake could be so large, no mist.ike eoidd involve such ^};^f;"f.'^^'^^;X^^^^ cf I k I!. I 24 THE LAKKS AND CANALS OF CANADA. Wo Imvo within tlio clonunious of tlio Qiieon a liivgcr port inn of iicccssiblo torvitovy by liir than thiit whidi is possessed at present, by the United States. We have a climate; tlicrt- whicOi, thuuifh us rojrard.s some portions of i I, may be rigorous, is a climate which makes n\en strong, and able, and endnring, and midu's a nation hardy and brave. T!ie ])roposal is that, in order to ))roviik' for some temporiiry peace with the United States, that territory shall be abandoned; and the Uritish Empire shall in future I suppose, bo described by geographers as England, Ireland and Scotland, and the Isle of Man. I am one of those who believe in a large country. I sliould be sorry, indeed, to be the citizen of a little one. I go in for as much territory as we have got, and for as nnieh more as wo can get; because F I)^lievo the Uberty enjoyed by our country is the greatest and bast liberty which human histoi-y has'evcr been able to record ; T believe our civilisation is the highest and purest civilisation which, at present exists upon :'.nv ])or1ion of the globe ; and I believe the great mission committed to us, in considi'ralicm t)f the great power and riches we possess, is to extend that I'ivilisation into every portion of the globe. Then, 1 come to (he question of the physical means lo secure this. There is no physical agency so great as iutereomnuniication. What Sicily was in a small degree to ancient Kome, the Western Stales are to this country and to EuroiJC at large. There are the great granaries, within leu days of JOurope, which are to feed our population, increasing beyond the physical resources of uur own country. I nder these circumstances. Colonel' Synge proposes that we should shorten the distaueo between this counti-y and those great corn-growing districts of the ^Vest by 400 miles at an ex]H'nse of £15,000,000 of money. 1 do not know wlu^ther he iiro^tosea that Mr. Gladstone slundd provide the moiiey in any of his budgets. IMr. Dladslone is a most able Finance Afinistcr. but 1 am afraid with his prinei])les of eecniomy that the money is not likely to be obtained from that source. Colonel Synge projioses that the thing shall be done in concert between this country and Canada, and tlie Is'orth American provinces. Of couv-e, the vast property which exists in that piU-tion of the confiniait of America Avould be practically mortgaged in order to secure this great work. Nobndy can coni])lain of that, except llie geiillcnien who seem to bo always ready to advocate the interests of the United States, forgelling the extent of the territory we have at our command, and the devotion, industry, and courage (if the foin- millions of inoide who at present inhabit that portion of the tcrriioi-y which lies between Uake Su]ieri()r and the ocean. In addition (o this, the Hudson's IJay territory has to be considered. There we have a great in-airie, the only one unoc- cupied \ii)on the J.merican continent. We have that prairie intersected by rivers ■which run east and west, and give facilities of coiiinuniicaticm east and west; a prairie with which tho.se of Illinois and Ohio and the other States of America are not lo be compared. That In-ings ns back to the ([Uestion, do we still intend to retain these provinces of North America? For myself, I am i\>v retaining all the tcrrifcn-y we have got. Just as in tliis country, and in every old country, a man is received aiul respected as a solid man, Avho, in adtlition to his money, his business, and his moveable projicrty, possi-sses a solid estate, a portion of the soil of iiis country, so, 1 believe, that every nation is pronunently great in the eyes of all surroiniding nations, by having, not merely a large bn^iness, not merely large cust