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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent ia mithode. irrata to peiure, nd n 32X '■ 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 A FEW RE1VIARK.S ON INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE (fiiiHiiD^SJ... Hiif, ^:r^ I ! . „ I _!,_ |l3'~irT~~7 o c\\ -V A IF.W KKMAKKS Ul'ON INTEllNAL IMPRVEMENTS IN THE CANADAS. DESCail'TION OF THE ANNEXED PLATE. It represents a part of llie Kapids calleci les Cadres in Lower Canada ; at the head of a very bad pass, where a lowing steam Boat would be stopped by the rapidity of the current, there is placed a chain fixed to a .ock or anchor, the other end of which is at the foot of the Rapid, where the steam towing vessel finds it attached to a small Buoy, this taken on board givts the end of the chain, which when attached to a capstern, attached to the Engine, upon the principle of Captain Bosweli's Patent, is worked by the steam power and delivers itself oft without riding, and with ihe Buoy thrown over the stern, when the next Boat in succession, will find and use it in the like manner. DEDICATION. liaviiig lead llie^e tievv pages lu the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, with its permission, I beg leave to submit them to their favourable Hiientioii, as well as to that of the public in general not on account of any intrinsic valuw- in the style or iimnuer ip which they are written, but on account of the va<■''••, OS THE IMPROVEMENT OF INTERNA!, COMMUNICATIONS IN THE CANADAS. RIVER SAINT LAWRENCE. No. I. Tnr. K*'ont stream of (he River St. Lnwrence may he roiiHitlered (lie vital fluid of the Canadai, and the wonder of all mankind will perhaps be, why the fjreot I'arilitieH it afl'ordii, in it« natunil stnte, for inland navigation have not been made available by the coni«truclli>n of ve^tHcU adapteil to the nnttirt* ot'its varied and diversified ezpaniion of character ! In accounting for the caufea whirli often lend men avtray in the fnrmntion of opinions on subjects snbmitted to their judgement, it may not perhaps be entirely uselesH to make some enquiry into the rise and profrress of the difficulty there is in eradicating opinions, when once(renernly formed and upheld by men supposed, and in other respects admitted to be, most intelligent, and therefore odd wt;i|;ht to the bios first given to public opinion. The motives which i^ive rise to these rproarks are, bow incorrect opinions have gained ground, and are still upheld, res* pecting the navigation ol' tlio ri.pidsut' (he River St. Liiwronce. It is admitted their first appearance must create in ail minds the most vivid conception of danger to the crew and burk, whose boldness would tempt them to venture on these foaming shallow waters, and it Ik nut Burprising, if (hose who have only ventured once, or have merely witnessed the descent of a barge, should ever after be impressed with iin idea of their great danger. This being spread through the world with thiit natural propensity ofpainling. inlierfiit in 'til travellers, when describing the sights which they have beheld, has combined with other i;auses of a more self interested nature, had no small share in creating eroneous ideas of the nature and danger of the rapid channels ol the river St. Lawrence, and when to these false ideas of danger, are added, the accounts of the variousdisusters that have occurred on these waters, all jmtiitfd in the most glowing colors; but generally originating in ignorance, foolhardiness, or imprudence, not to omit mentioning, the frequent intoxicated state of the crew, circumstances seldom or never adverted to, is again another caui>e operating on the mind in the strongest manner, thereby creating a false estimate of the great danger of this species of witter conveyance, which having by such means obtained so firm u footing, is it to be wondered at, when to all this is addeu the powerful motives of self interest, /alsWi/ so called, in augment* log these alarming details, that a very wron^ impression should arise in the minds of most persons, respecting the great and manifold hazards attendant on such mode of inland navigation. As it may perhaps be doubted by many not I'cqudinled with the details of the Upper Country Trade, awti by many who are, that this assertion of self interested motives giving false views of a subject so well known, and so easily controverted cannot be correct, it is therefore incumbent on me to prove the correctness of these my assertions; by giving further details, and for the benefit of uil who take up opinions upon heresau and hasty conclusions, to shew, that interested motives in these matters are the chief and prevailing cause of the dilTiision of false informotion. In tracing the rise and progress of interested motives giving curreni-y to incorrect ideiis of the dtfSculties of inland con- veyance on waters whose channels are partially obstructed, it may perhaps not be altogether useless to point out the progress of these motives operating from the first discovery, trade and settlements formed, upon the banks ofthis now admitted to be the greatest and most noble river in the world ; proved to be so, by its containing the greatest cubical con- tent of Iresb water, this confirmed by its being the least affected by floods, and further coroborated by the climate on its banks being salubrious beyond that of any others rivers approaching to its mognitude. Unfortunately it i* generally said to be quite natural that traders shoidd feel disposed to keep secret the advantages they may derive by the formatioa of distant branches of commerce, carried on by means of agencies, or otherwise. In dis- •< taut parl« oftlio world, (liU ariion tVum (ho want ofrctlectioii upon (lie nature auJ character of tlie doiiign of llie great and omnipotent Architect of the Univerie, whoio inHtructiona on this head, are too((enurally disregarded, and the oplniona of men, and of the world are found, still operating most powerfully in attempting to counteract tho views and designs of an almighty providence, by inculcating maxims of a totally opposite tendancy, from that which lie has decreed shall be th« only true and correct principle of action, not only in trade, but in every otlMr 'lepartuient oflife, and thia which may b« termed the first principle and proof of civilization, that is to say, of christian civilisation, is to know and be governed by the fact, that nothing Is more likely to forward our own interests than participating them with the rest of mankind.— I trust this Is a truth admitted by all who reflect upon tho nnturo and stule of our being ; but unfortunately, as before re- marked, this not being always the spring of action, jealousy, false desires of acquiring wealth, and undue distinction, incite the minds of those who act in conformity with the principles of monopolists, to keep the trade and access to distant paria of a province, as much u possible to themselves, this principle of action, of which there cannot be much doubt, on the mindsof persona acquainted with the unfortunate cupidity of human nature, acts powerfully in giving rite to the report! of danger attendant on communications, up dialant, little known, and at first unfrequented parts of such a mighty river as the St. Lawrence. Thereby enhancing the value of all things taken to, or received from its distant parts, I shall endea- vour io shew, that interested motives have had no small share in fostering exagerated accounta respecting magnified dan- gers, all which tend to keep up the delusion that had already been formed. It may not perhaps be useless to describe some of these various interested motives, whi.:h have heretofore prevented all reasonable enquiry respecting any improve- ment in the present system of transportation. Isf. — The dread of depreciated value in stock in trade by cheapening transport. Snd — The competitiou arising from facility of access. Srd — The facility of transporting unmanufactured grain, diminishing the value of Grist Mills ; and a variety of other absurd and equally ridiculous ideas proceeding from false conceptions of the general scope and lendaacy of the advan- tages to be derived by access to a maritime market ; which it would be futile to dwell upon. Bearing in mind that whatever trifling advantage might be sacrificed in the one instance, would be more than ten-fold compensated in a variety of others ; but for the sake of demonstrable proof, I will merely advert to one or two striking instances to prove that the tame spirit has unfortunately too often shewn itself most openly in this country, as for instance, the long and continued opposition to the opening of St. Paul street, in the Lower- Town of Quebec, it was opposed by some of the most influential and greatest proprietors on the line of that street, and by others holding property not far distant, who ought, by their character and btanding in society, to have shewn a little more knowledge than they did, and by false impressions of interest, in every possible way opposed even to violence, they did all this to prevent an amelioration made at the expence of the public, that more than doubled thd value of their own property on that street, and on that of other streets not far distant. And so it was on my proposing, by means of a very simple, aud not expensive plan, to render the rapids of the river St. Lawrence navigable, I was strongly opposed by all the merchants and traders, who owned barges, bateanz, durham boats, schooners, and other craft employed in the carrying trade, who all combined in ridiculing the idea that any person could by possibility know better than tlieraselve>, how to ascend rapids, and finally succeeded in promoting the Idea among millers and manufacturers of flour, that all their mills would sulTi-r, if wheat were shipped direct from the Lakes to the lower Ports in one bottom, the difficulties then, and I am sory to say, still existing, giving them an incorrect idea of the advantages they derive by obstacles impeding the shipment of grain in one bottom, direct to the Ports of Quebec and Montreal, being an advantage to their mills, which in most instances form perhaps hardly one tenth of the value of theirother property, which would be more than doubled in value, by direct access to a maritime market. I have felt this opinion operoling against my proposed plans, by a firm actually possessing nearly 100,000 acres of land, by creating free access to which, they would hare been nearly doubled in value ; this again shews how forcibly false conceptions of interest counteract plans of public improvements. It was however very satisfactory to find last summer, when travelling in Upper Canada, that not only various sized steam boats were freely surmounting the gutloups and rapid plat, rapids, but also tiie system of towing up the currents, was becomming quite common, without even the assistance ot those chains which I liave proposed being fixed at the roost 8 the great and lie opinioDs of tletignit of an J iliall be the which may b« governed by )f manUind.— , as before re« inction, incila dUtant parta doubt, on (he to (he reporta k mighty river I ihall endea- lagnified dan- iM to describe ; any improve- iriety of other of (he advan- ', in mind that sd in a variety prove that the and continued o8t influential lught, by their insofintereat, xpence of the )trardi»tant. of the river eanz, durham iiat any person otin^ the idea rem the Lakes incorrect idea or»9 of Quebec f the value of I have felt by creotiog conceptions of various sited (he currents, ;d a( the most dangerous places, iu order to render (ho nscent more twin nnil itec(ii-e, a^ shewn in (he uano* < engraving— I cannot omi( mentioning another fact, being a convincing proof of (ho advantages (o bo derived by (l.<9 sykibm of towing the same vessAl throughout the whole disfanee, which It, (hat a largo barge loaded with slave*, came «iuwn IVom Lake Ontario and by returning wilh flih, oil and other freight, made a large prolK. Thus after ten yeors, the adoption of plans that had been considered quite chimerical, are verging to their full aceomp- lishment, and will in (be end render the navigadon of (he rapid waters of (he riier St. Lawrence, a cheaper and swifter line of oonveyanee (ban that of any river in th« world. No. 8. In the prerreding Number I madn an attempt (o provo how difllcnltioshavp occurred in obtaining correct ideas of (bat species ofinlund navigation, wliich would ho round (lie bext adapted (u promote the facilitieH of transportation on the expansive waters of Iho River St. Lawrence. It now devolves upon me to Hhew, in connection witli (his suhject, how thcsie errors hive been fostored. Uefuro (he applicadon of Steam Engines, to propel vpsselx, was discovered, (ho formadou of Locks and Canal, which had so greatly teoded (o increase the wealth and resources oC Great Britain, were partially applied, un a few difficult passes, at (ha Rapids on (he illverSt. Lawrence, namely, at the C'aHcades, at COtoau du Lac, at Mille Kocbe, a( tho Molinet and Long SauK, by the erection of diminutive Lucks, adap(ed to (he bateaux (hen in use, — after which (he Lachine Canal, which cos( upwards of ^100,000, wos said lube quite suflicient for tlielorgest Durham Boats ompioyed on (he rivor, and is cons- tructed with elegant stone bridges at both the entrances, with jtlnnding bridges throughout the whole distance, although thuae Durham Bouts were all heavily masted, nil (his, it must be supposed, was done wilh a view (o facilitate inland navi- gation, as well as the depdi of wa(er in (he said Lachine Canol, where it very frequently happens a good sized, deep landeni Durham Boat, cannot get through. After this was broached the I'ulacious idea of a sloop navigation, (hen came tho grand sweeping plau of a ship naviga- don, the promoters of this last wild scheme, forgetting (hu(, it had emanatfAfrom poor Oourlay, whom (hey deemed a visionary, and bad persecuted to such a degree as to cause his 'nsani(y» They alio forgot that, (o render (his plan efTec- tive not only (he shallow rapids, must all be passed by canals, butalsomany o(her, and far grea(er dis(anees of shallow waters, commencing below Three-Rivers, and found at various points and distances, throughout (he course of the river, in its varied bed of iokes and shallow rapids, up to Prescott, notwithstanding these insurmountable obtacles, the public mind especially in Upper Canada, was carried away and higlily flattered with (he prospect of aship navigation, whether they believed it or nut, is hard to say, still it kept (hem from iidopdng rauro reasonable plans of improvement and led them astray, as to what ought in the first instance to have been dene, namely the improvement of the natural and navigable channeU of the River St. Lawrence. After all these schemes were laid aside, came, it was said, the only eiTectual plan of improvement, on account of the advantages to be derived in the event of future hostilities with the United States, which was that of the Rideau Canal, respecdng which it was also said, no person possessing common sense could doubt for a moment of its complete eOicacity, notwithstanding all these high sounding opinions and conclusions, and that the Uideau Canal is completed, yet very little navigated, owing, in some moasure, (oa privaie Company, not only holding access to it by means of a private Lock near Monireal ; but also refusing (o (ow any other (ban their own boa(H, upon its expansive artificial lakes and shallows. — Thus (here has been nearly one million of pounds expended on (he part of the British Government, turned into a private monopoly. If this said Rideau Canal is, or is likely to become so very efficacious, why is all this not obviated. I have been very gravely told (ha(, when (be St. Anns or Terrebonne channel to (he Ottawa is improved, there will be no diffleulty ; but wheu will this take place, is my reply. The fact is, there has been a great mistake made here, a Rail-way was the most obvious mode of communication by (hat route, and the improvement of the River St. Lawrence, by deepening channels and fixing chains to facilitate the ascent of the Rapids as before stated, might all have been done in one or two seasons, at a comparatively trifling expense. Some proof of this may be inferred from its being now agreed to return to tbe St. Lawraoev, by tho commencemenl of a Canal at Coriiwnll, (o «xt*n* abuvu tliat Tuwu. On ramarking upon Ibeie Tatcilating mode* of proctedinKt, without Kivlofi (bit •ubjoct a more oiIooUmiI t*ii(|iiiry, I «v«t wry ((ravwly luld by a leading perion in the Upper Canada Legkjialure, that a ihip navlgatioo would iiliiinately be otTeclvit, even Tor Ea*t India men I ! I Ii it to be wondered at, when lucli fallacioui ■chemei have obtained a lieorinid ond are mitiiiluiuud, Ibiit any reatonable plan will be tet on foot or enquired into ( to prove lh:«( by widening the preient Locki, ilfcpetiiiiK cliiiiineU where ahal* lows occur, and introducing veiioU of a peciiliur conHtrucliun, iif from 6<) to 100 ton* burlliun, niud« capable Iv navigate oil the Lake*, up to the Falls of Ht. Mary, at (be entrance uf Lnke Superior, will be en<|iiircil into. However, I feel it a duty I owe to (hii iiocio(y and to the public, to itutu that my tipiiiioii io iouiuled on a k:iowled|fe of thirly yeura expe -ience, and that the natural chaimelt by mean* of partial improvemeiilii, luid other imporiunt cbungeii in (team boala navigation, will Anally triumph over all other, and much more oipnnHive pliinii of umelioruiion which are now proponed. I am moreover prepured (o ahew (htt( ventela upon my plan, (which I um liuppy to heur (here oru aome now contlructing on Luke Ontario) will probably bu mude capable to uuvigud' (he natural cliuiinula fiom Quebec (u the Lnkea in Upper Canada, in o ue half (he time, and at one half (he espenite uf (bote on other plana of ortiCcial improva* raent in progreaa, and contemplated. , I No. 3. Hating previously atated thn great advnnloi^ea which mi);ht he derived, by adapting vonaeU In Nuit the nature of ibe navigable wntera of the liiver St, Lawrence, instead of going to the extrnv.ignnt expenne (hat lina, and i» likely to be incurred, by endeavoring to make fit chnnnela for vpaielsora doep drani^ht of wi:ter. I will now endeavor to explain tho kind of veaticl, manner of nnviguting, and extraordiniiry ailvnnliigFa, to !in derived from tbia ayiiirm, eapecinlly when compared with thotofnny other. Captain McConnaghie, R. N. in a ahorl trenliae nn the ndvantogea of towing, inatead of lading Hteam boata, for coaating and inland (rode, hna, I think, clearly proven that which the atenm boala between Quebec and Montreal have been compelled to adopt, which ia very good, if there wern not other, far diatant, and equally admiaaable placea of commerce, to which the towing Hyf(ein might be extended, by cnuHtrucdng the hargea to be (owed, of audi dimenaiona and draught of water, aa to udmit there being paiaed on by meaua of Steam Boat towoge, to every (own and village on the great InkoH of Upper Canada, nn object of (he grenteiit importance, not to be put in compe(i(ion with any other plan of improvement, iia it can lie made immedintely avnilalile, nnd of auch enay otiainment, that any peraon having leiaiire to attend to it pcrannnlly, with n very amal! capital, might enaily prove ita facility of occompliah- men(. — Tbia ia atn(ed from (he knowledge of a fact, thnt having attempted by the conalruolion of auch a veaael, to deroona- trale tho fact, thai the defeat of llio pli>n wiia occaHionod not by nny want i)f iidaptotion in the form or charncter of the V8snnl, but by the oppoaition and decepliona, that were met with in my endeavor to break through the powerful intereala combined in (he present defective forwarding f)ya(ein, (irat of oil tholocka on the river St. Lawreuce,at the Caacadea, were repuirod during the time of the buildinif of thiit vpsxel, nod nllered at tlie galea, from twelve feet ten inchea wide, to twelve feel »ix inchea, na ndvorliaed ; hut aince narertained In be twelve feel eight inchea. The Orleana Barge, built exprorly to navigote both the lakea and tho rapidH, Ihrougli thone lioeka, vfa» twelve feet aeven and a halfinrli in width. Thia proves. that nuleaa peraonnl attention ia ilevnied to nn object of thin nature, it may fail from circumstance tho moat trifling, nol having been minutely enquired into ; having had all the Loka measured when Secretary to the St. Lawrence Association, at which lime li.ey wore t'velve feel ten inches wide, and the advertiaement staling that no boot would be odmitled measuring over twelve feet aix inchea, only made public afler the Orleans was built, ia it at all Hurpriaing thnt it was not liionghtpoH«ible(ha( (he Locks were nevertheleaa twelve feet eight Inchea in width, and that the Orleans Barge might have paiaed up, l)eing only twelve feet seven nnd a half inchea. That veaael waa built in the muat expensive manner, in the year 1827, and coal nearly jfSfX) i ahe ia still afloat at Wm. Henry, li 1 k rainarking ;r*vwly (old I, ttvan fur reaionnble wliera •hal- lo naviKal* kaowledffe untchungeii 1 which are re oro aume ul)rc to tho iai iinproTe- iiliira of the likely to be • explain the [■inlly when ini;, in«tead tts between and e(|Uiilljr to be towed, (e, to every competition t, that any accomplish - , to demon*- meter of th*" III intereslH cades, were en wide, to llarpfe, built li ill width, iiatance tho y to the St. that no boat I, is it at all Ith, and that was built in III roference to the lystem ofnaviKalion propoiod as Mng best adapted to the waters of the Itlvar St. Lswrencn throughout Its whole eitent up tu the rails of HI. Mary, at tho enlraiico ui' Lak» Supurlui. It is iiiinply that vai*ols wUli decks, built upon the diagonal plan (which has been adupti-d for all bout* built at I'lynnMitli, Tur Ihu use ol' the Royal Nafy,) might bo towed by Staani Huat* up ami dnwu the liiver SI. Liiwroiico tlirniii^lKiiit ils wliolu i-oiir»e, nud llirDiigli its Lakes, these vessels to bo so constructed a« to admit of being pasnod eitlier up or duwu with or without the aisiilanceiif Steam Host towing where it oannol be obtained. Il will naturiilly l>o a«Ked, hi>w can llii* bo efTfcled } Tho reply i* in inonner notv conducted by means of Durham lioati, llie dufuct in which i<, that tliry cutiiiot ktand lliu heavy swell of the hakes, not of the Hirer Ixluw Munlreal. It nioy al«u ba asked how is it ponsibia lu weulher a storm uu tho Luke*, wlicri> the flnest schooners are sometimes driven onshore ? Thi* wlili mniiy ollinr duiilits, which may naluraily enough ariiie, con he hII as easily answered i sufncefor the present, llrstlu state, witli regard to*lorin<, if the towing system were adopted thuiu would not be llie leant diiug<-/ , as the harbours are now so numerous on our mIJo of Lsko Oiiluriu, that llie Imrgos in to« could at any time be cast nIT il'caiight by a storm, and in^tke a snfe harbmir, tsk'ng this Lake as a proof of this poiilioti, commencing nt NiaRoro, there is only a few miles to I'urt Duihousie, at the rnlronce of tho Wellaiid Cunal, the neat har- bour Il at tho head of the Lnkr, not thirty miles distant, than there is Oakvilla, about fil'luon or twenty miles, uKer that the Credit llorbour, not over (Iftcen miles lower down the Lake shore, next comoM Toronto about fifteen miles distant < nfter which a Port in Whitby, about thirty milfs Iroin Toronto, otter thai, Port IIoju' about thirty miiei lower down, then O'xf'i -17 Harbour, seven miles oir, lower down the Luke, the natural and etiorisive Harbour of Preac|ue-l8le, is oboiit thirty miles distant, nrit to that is the upper (-up uf ilie Hay of (julnly, not exceodinj; ony uf the former ilintaiircs, after which there Is shelter to Kingston. To all the before named ilorbours, these barges might easily resort for shelter, in the event uf stress of weather, oblifjing them to be cast ofT liy the towing power, iiidependant of innny other places uf shelter, which ihS nortlii nliore of Lake Ontario alTurd!), ami as the winds gencrolly in lieary weather, draw up or down the Lake, there would be no ditiiculty in reaching a harbour. Tlierc being no doubt on my mind as to the facilities of this Npecle* of iiavigatloD, and tliis is formed not uponiuperilcial, but upon practical knowledge, acquired by experience. It ii« nil incumbent duly to state the many and great udvuiitnges to l)0 derived from the accomplishment of this simple, practi- cable, speedy and cheap method of making use of the natural channels of tho River St. Lawrence, instead of resorting to ortinciul workii, very frequently badly planned, and well known in many iiistances to be often equally ill managed. However, as this part of the subject would require more time than I can alTurd to devote to the present brief and iin- perfecl endeavour, to eluiidnlcsuch an important nubject ns the navigation of the extensive waters of the River 81. Law- rence, I shall cloae tliis chapter by requesting reflection on a subject embracing results of the highest importance, not imly as il relate* to the interests of Trade, which it would facilitute toon unlimited extent, but also in Its consrqnvncei, un the Ironsport and settlement of millions of settlers, who are destined ere long to resort to this Country from the parent State ; therefore to smooth and cheapen the channels which give occeag to such extensive regions, as those which environ this great River, will I trust not be deemed a suhject un\f orthy of special attention. No. 4. Inciilculable athaniagea to be derived by an improved system of navigating the River St, Lawrence. Having previoosly adverted to the incalculable advantages that might be immediately derived by, the simple principle of building vesaela adapted to the navigable waters of the Rivers St Lawrence, which might be so constructed as to s.iil or be towed thronghout Hi great Lake* and Rapids. It becomes necessary to shew the great facilities it will afford to the emigrant and settler on hia route upwards, the beneflcial effect it will have in its tendency to promote the settlement and trade of the country, and the advantage this system will give to the defence of the Canadas, m the event of any attetrpt lieing made on the part of ita neighbonra, to wrest it from the banda of that free and liberal Guvernment which the British Empire hat beatowe(l,ontblafaTOured and riaing Colony. B 6 IJ^ Tu dutail Iho vnriely or ways ill whloli it would benedt tlie eettlement of the Canadas, and parts adjacent to it, it oeconies nere^isary to itnte tlie manner in wliicli fsttlers ore at prevent confeyed from one place to another ; fir»t, on arrival at Q-iobec, tlio MuMter ofllie sliipeager to itet quit of hi* [t^oiengem, and the Steam Boat Companies equally MO to geMhcm on board their various lines of conveyance, tends to hurry the poor nnlhinlcing 3iiiigront into a liOBty •top, sometimrs without ever landing at Qunber, or examining its advantageous environs, and to embarl< very frequently into a crowded, and in lict weather, nearly sutTucaling Steam Boat, wliere frequently bo little attention is puidtothc piTHOual convenience of the passengers, that in several instances men, women, children, and bajfgnge have been lilterally packed and piled together in such a manner as to endanger thetafety of life and property, in one or two instances neiirly sinking the Steam Boat, and occasioning a return to port in order to lighten, and sometimes they escape more by the good forluno of fair weather, than judicious conduct in lading beyond the capacity of their Steam Vessels. Add to thii tlic expoiiure of the persons and familier into consideration the advantage, undoubtedly of more importance than all the rest, which will arise on the return of (Iicho vesselH, with the produce of those very settlers, would of itself be a very great stimulus to emigration, and that too of emigrants of the better clast^es, who feel more keenly the hardships which they and their families often endure, and naturally describe them to their friends, which is one of the great causes, why many of that class do now take their passage to Upper Canada by way of New York, and thereby frequently turn their views to a settlement in the Western States ; all which would not be thought of, if decked Barges and Boats were in use on the waters ofthe Kiver St. Lawence. It is highly ^tlsfactory to remark at (his stage of (he enquiry, that improvements are making partly on the plan of the great i'rescott steamboat Rapid, I y combinin<; '.lie form of that Boat into one bottom, approachii'g a little in form to an Esquimaux canoe, and there U no ( oubt, as tlie Navnl Magazine very justly remarks, thut eventually the Rapids of the River St. Lawrence will be surmoun\ed by Steam Boat navigation. — To this may be added that I have the opir^ion of Commodore Barrie,thata vessel such as I have referred to and built, would stand any swell on Lake Ontario. No. 5. Great advantages that wiUarise to the foreign and inland trade of the Canadas,and Parts adjacent, when suitable decked Barges are employedin manner before described, in navigating the Rivers St. Lawrence and Ottawa, tvithout any transhipment throughout their whole extent of Lakes and Eapid uaters. Having in a previous Number, I trust, given suflTicient proof of the great benefit (hat would arise to the Emigrant and Settler, if decked Barnes were employed In the transport trade, to and through the great Lakes of Upper Canada and the Ottawa Districts. I hhall in this present Number cunfincmy rcmarl^iion tlie great advantage to be gained by this improved method of transport in the foreign and inland trade of the Great S(, Lawrence and it& tributary streams. Commencing with the ardcle of flour In barrels, it is neccssiiry to point out the present mode of sending that bulky and Increasing article of trade to the Montreal and (Quebec Markets. — It is at first sent from the Mill to some convenient Port, where Schooners and Steam Bunts resort fur the purpose of seeking freight, and by these Steam Boats and Schoo- ners, after lying on the wharf, frequently in the rain, taken on board, and dieoharged at Prescott or Brockville, into Durham Boats and Barges, this, when (he press of business is great, is done in a very hurried and precipitate manner, without any regard to knocking about end injuringthe barrels, frequently in wet weather, often exposing this delicate article to showers of rain and scorching heat, where immediately alter it is naost frequently, as far as the gunnel tier is affected, destined to get a pre((y good splashing of water in the Rapids, which the sun naturally dries up very quickly, andif not exposed on the deck of the Montreal Barges and S(eam Boats where it is again transferred, some times with the addition of a little mud and wet, it gets to Quebec in what is termed good order. Wheat in a manner not quite similar is brought down to this Market, find so is pot ash and all other produce of the Upper Country, except lumber. The chargesunabushelof wheat from the head of Lake Ontario to Quebec, is about Is. 6d.cy. whereas thesamu wheat is takea to Great Britain for lOJd. to 12d stg. this great difference is not the only objection that most forcibly calls for an improved system of transporting grain and all other produce, it will be found that the damage and detention are sometimes equal in amount to these extra charges, tor it is a well known fact, that both flour ord wheat get partially damaged on their way dov u the River, and it ir frequemtly impossible to ascertain to what extent, until the oue comes to be opened across the Atlantic, and the other has by heoting on the voyage proved the fact. But this is not all that our flour has to contend with, in meetiag that which U 6h:;f commerce could at (he 8hor(est notice be all, if necessury converted into tiie most powerful Flo- tilla in the world, manned by expert and hardy Boadnen, well arqiiainled with, and expert at managing them, even in the moat difficult passes of (he Rapids in (he River St. Lawrence, what efTeot this would have, was exempiiGed, by (be gal- lant Captain Mulcaster, who with two Ciiin Boats only, followed down, (he Rapid Pint and Galloup Rapids, so closely (lie rear of General Wilkinson's army, that it was compelled to turn and give ba((le, (o our gallant little band, under their diitinguished Commander Colonel Morrison, and who can (ell if it had no( been fjr those two Gun Boats, keeping up a sharp fire of grepe and round shot, from heavy guns dnrin<; the ac(ion ; whether General Wilkioson might not, by his over- whelming numbers, have turned the right of the British aad Canadian line — when sucli facts are (aken into consideration and deligently enquired into, ! trust we shall not long remain the laughing stock of our keen neighbours, who arehighly amused at our cannalling propensities, ins(ead of availing ourselve<, ia (he first instance, of tiiose nd vantages \> liich nature affords for internal conveyance beyond that of any country in (he world. As tho preceding remarks may in the minds of some persons appear doubtful, and being fully aware of (lie impor(ance many attach to the opinions of others, especially when (hose opinions come from men of rank and high character ; l( will perhaps add some weight to my humble opinion, if I publish those of a few eminent persons, with whom I have had the honor to converse on this subject. I will first, without at all considering it necesaai} to offer any apology for so doing, state that of Commodore now Sir Robert Borrie, v. ho very obligingly offered the most polite and friendly assistance, in promot- ing my researches respecting the Rapids; and as before stated, expressed his opinion that (he draught of a plan on which I afterwards built a Burge, would stand (he swell of the Great Lakes of Upper Canada ; he moreover confirmed my opinion and report of (he rapidKy of (he current in the Long T^ault Rapid, which I had obtained from William McDo< nell, Jun. Esquire, provincial surveyor, — and moreoTer aaid, that from his experience and frequent rowing about the said Rapid, he thought it possible, by taking advantage of eddies, to row a Gig Boat up, because it only ran at the rate of 8 miles per hour when calm, and never exceeded 9 miles when the wind blew down the River, and readily concurred in opinion with Mr. McDonell's report. This gentleman had volunteered his services to the St. Lawrence Association when I was voluntarily assisting to get this great River examincu and surveyed, and to whom the Association were much indeb* ted for bis accurate survey, tables of distances, depth of water, rates of currents, &c, throughout the whole distance from the Cascades to Prescott.— Put the opinion ofCommodoreBarrie in '-■>ntrast with the description of these Rapids as(. ven by the author of Cyril Thornton in his very interoitiag volume entitled Men and Miinners in /merica, where the most vivid C i' in li ii;r hiiprcssiuiis of (lander nrc pninted in uM tlio glow:ii|; style or Ihul ulei^ant writer, oni] agniii juit liiii dvicriplion in roiitrnst \rilli that of my lur«, our fair passengers shewing no symptons of alarm I raU lied them, and enquired if they had prayed fervently for a safe passage, as I appiehended there must be great danger, according to the opinions prevalent in a city then not far distant, refering in particular to tietr friend who I said must surely admit that which I ttateil wax correct, tlii>) only excited a smile, and instead of any alarm they were delighted at tlie pleasing variety the mistake of the stages hod ofTurded. The Borge thus more than fully freighted glided mjcstlcally upon its clement, and from the motit head, at len»t 50 feet in height, I had the satisfaction to survey every dangerous point, from the Coteau ilu Lac to Lachine, passing the famed Split Rock and every other magnified danger, without hardly stirring an oar, ihe F.nng Sault, I had once descended in a pitchy dark night, therefore I may be allowed to have had some opportunities of esliinaling these much exngeroteil dangers which many will maintain do exist. The deck or gunnel tier of flour in this boat from want of a little precaution by using tight waxh board*, was allowed to get a pretty good soa- king, which I remarked at the time, but this being nsiiul I suppose, excited no attention. Although the Afisombly have shewn such a marked disregard to nil improvements of the River above Montreal, I feel it a duty to advert to the scandalous job ut the Peninsula of Vadiieul, where a late attempt has been made to improve the River ; this only shews how pliant they can be i«hen any of their partisans can get up a job, no matter bow absurd, the public purse is readily npent'd and only £'i ),()00 is literally squandered, tn render the navigation of a River worse than it was before. This too in lace of informaliun publickly tendered, and recorded, to improve the whole of the Rapids of the St- Lawrence in Lower Canada for a lesser sum — the reply is, who can have done so,^hi$ name! Oh ^tisnol J. Bt, Care — .' .'/ Respecting the Barge Orleans, a good model for craft fit (o nnvi^ute the whole extent of the River St. Lawrence and Mi Lakes. It is only necessary to state two fuLts, one evening when returning from the Island of Orleans in her, on a tack close hauled to the winil, drawing 15 inches with slip keel down and without any (opsail set, she passed one of the swiftest Schooners in the Trade, witii topsail and courses bent ; the other is, that when viewing her hold, Lord Dalhousie could nut avoid exprersing his opinion of her fitness to convey a whole company of soldiers up the River. As to my opinion respecting the waters of the River SI. Lawrence being the b.'st and surest line of defence which the Canadas possess, it would afford me great pleasure if allowed to prove it, before ony or every military man disposed to dr>ubt its correctness ; when one of our late Governors attempted to drive me up in a corner, on this subject, how did the conversation end, " he admitted a Rail way would have been the most proper to connect Kingston with the Ottawa in m ^* military point of view : and was I not aware that Government did intend, and would in time promote improvements on " the River St. Lawrence, and was I not aware that .£"400 had been spent that year, on the improvement of the River << above Montreal ;" this letter appeal had more effect upon my risible, than it had upon my reflective faculties. The last and most unreasonable objection |3 the principle of an enquiry into the best methods of promoting the interests of this country are those of false conceptions, and rf interested motives operating against it, as stated in the first number of these remarks, and it is absolutely necessary to revert to the cause of this opposition, which is created by false views of the rise and progress of a country ; these contracted calculations suppose a moral impossibility, that local interests will sufTer if neighbouring towns are benefited, forgetting that the increase of a nrighboiiring town or country, must benefit other towns and countries adjoining. For instonce if Mnotreal advances by fair meons, in prosperity, Quebec must derive benefit, and so with every other link which in the present, us well as in future oges will connect the family of mankind ; therefore if Montreal ma; acquire 23 percent more by this improved method of transferring produce, &c. than it can by any possibility otherwise do ; will it beany logs if Quebec advoncesin tberatioof 75 percent. ? certainly not, for in propor- tion as one town advances in prosperity the neighbouring town will derive benefit, more especially when each posses* •11 II rontrnsl iler, laden id Gentle- lerm their ■ded me of Inrm I ml- sat danger, I aaid must lelighted at 1 mjc«tically f dangerous hout hardly to hare haii :k or gunnel ly good aoa- itreal, I feel e to improve how absurd, >r worse than the Rapids of 3t. Cnre—! ! I awrence and jer, on a tack »f the swiftest isie could nut liiciil U(Ivanlai;eN, tliat cannot inturfuro with uiio ariotlior, ami l>y atioin|)tiii^ lo siipjireiis oiia (>)givdlliu oilier it mo- nopoly, the whole country sufTers, ami thai one, poasessing the monopoly, does not rise in the proportion it would if that dustructive monopoly were removed, in some degree like the bencfll a community derives from the general prosperity of nil its inhabitants. What would he the general cflTocI on tlio trade and prosppi Ily of llio Imco Cllles of Montreul nrul Quebec, ss well as on that of the whole country, by this proposed eliHUge in the fiirwnrdinrf syntein l)eiiig carried intoelFfcl? — An ndvnnrein the value of all property, parlicniarly in tliiit of warehouses, wharves and all oilier placeit, fit to store and rereivo nil kiiulg of produce, which would literally flout down on the!,iiiid easily to be effected raodo of conveyance, t'> such exiensivo uiul Ibrlile re^jions ns lie at the head of tlie.^o iil(l bo incalculable. The rapid spltlement of which cnnnlric!<, may bo inferred fri)m tho liare foot that llie town of Cleveliiiid, on the south side of Lake Erie hod 400 houses built in one year, and in Toronto it is estimated three hundred Imildings vere erected in one year; the increase in Montreal is also veiy great, whereas here in Quebec, tho capital city, anil finc.«t emporium on the Continent of America, for depositing and shipping the products, not only of Ujjper Cimada, lint also those of tho western parts of tho States of New York, Pcnsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, Trade !■< languisliinir, its htare* wharfs and warehouses partially occupied, with not even an independant ni^cnt, except those of tlw [.and Company, paung the least attention to Upper Canada forwarding business, when the rise and progresn Quehec mij^ht ie nimlc nearly eiimil lo tliul (if Neio York! I which by reference to latu acronnts published, of the increase of that Ciiy is nluiust iiu-redible, and it arises entirely from the Erie Canal, and rapid settlement and increase of the vieiit : greater rncilitios tjf access to ubiili countries, might be obtained from Qukdp.c, nv the ^iere roNsraucTiov up small ukcked Uarui s. e which the m disposed to ,how did the e Ottawa in « »rovement8 on Lof the River es. I the interests e first number false views of I interests will , must benefit c must derive of mankind ; than it can by for in propor- each possest 1^ .' dt Allferbiin StiIwall, at A \ati meoting of the p\ki9 iff AUenUm, held in tli« ohy of mw York, nr IntI bfjrBly grutiYViV to find so cTd&rTjr stated, irik'itlVt^nti^es 'Mkm the CiUladiaa Uhe of convey- lA'M fl6#tt the St. Lawrence, even ia its b'r^sient rttSe iltaiie pMlfeAses. Produce Wbesent frotti the west, it appears to a maritime market in this coifn- ti^ iftiUbn (ban flft^ per oeat less by tbfs route, fban by thiiir own oanhis. I will quote his own %er Canada, or to the West, as far as Gr^en Bay, on Lake Michig[an, why should we be frittering away our time in the construction of eawllsf? Our netghbours of the United States are ^ritWd^tttftrgh t6 ]^6rceiva that we are so doing, andaeetAff (bat We naVe a gr^at fancy for canalling, irJthoat that just estimate of the advantages which d0 eieist^ arnd tiS^ht be made immediately available, ia H tiO be woridered that at New T6rk they should kind onr plans, where it is not to be supposed they itie nb^ly to posstes more correct information re- i^fotiiig tfae beM modes of conducting onr inland tMde than w^ have here ? Btft When they are told that a vessel of 100 tons ddi beserit frifin Qiiebeo to Cleveland, in Ohio, by i&Mins of steam to#ing power, nianned with two ^on arid«i(e lioy Ofnly, ahd return from thence to QtatfMe in leis than a fortnight, it may be enauir- ^ of the satne Alderman, when this is effected, how tHH the ^oiopetitidn stand ? With(6tid blind thrown before oar eyes, by the ^bhbt Alderitian, to prevent onr exertions being i4ghl!l# dii-ected;!!! ftdfitating the navigation of the l^aferf or the river St. Lawrerice as they now flow, it ia'ouly nieo^^ry for the complete refutation of (batjiart of his argiiment, and in confirmation of tha oorreotness respecting commercial advantages, tb reftr Mhi to a pamphlet which I have lately pub- lished. It will also no doubt be satisfactory to both Plt^Ttncea of Uhper and Lower Canada, to know fbat iitbek has bMn tiken, and a bnilder is about to bto <}ngaMd for the donstmction of three barges, WMeh wiU ^toVe the cdi-ritotiiess of this Statement. JAMES GEORGE. •QAebfcvj «Srd A^ril, 18S5. »^?^r's tu j ; i Tiie itatercomiittetlBial trade Of the city exceeds 400^000,000 xtoUars, hdd the foreign and coasting tteinnpe eiceeds ill the cities in the Union, and tfaiapra^n^hiekiGeita c^temerce, the Alderman ar- Ked, ought to ezieite in thto Corporation the most ely desfaro to improve internal communications connected with its interests. He then traced the coarse of the projected rul'^ay, poiatiiig out the ad- THE PUBLIC. I» -J vautajgriei' ft Wonts coWftr on lifew York, by drawing to It a large portion <^r the commerce wliicli now finds its Way down the Delaware, Susquehana and Allegkirj' rfvers, to a market beyond their port.— Thbln'tein'g'^nt sptoker next gave a sketch of the ri^ihg States now springing up in the West, and the CbYlimei^oialintei^eoursethey will open; and proceed- ed in a geographical delineation of the country, and of (ha Waters which now serve to convey the pro- duce of the rapidly increasing regions of the far West, to inark^ts South of New York, and urged th6 necessity of diminishrng the ^ost of trans -ort In regard to railroads re(j|uir'ng a level country, Mr. StilW^U said that experience had proved that " in- stead of eighty feet elevation to the mile, stcara-cars will overcome one hundred and seventy-six feet; and in regard to their travelling on a straigh t line, that it has also bein found they can traverse with safety a serpentine road of five hundred feet radius. The necessity of deepening the canals now in operation, is also forcibly recommended : by increas- ing the depth of water three feet, in those now in i^Se, ^e'si^Is of double the size of those at preRent employed might be introduced, and be propelled by ii'6 ^teatdr power than is now required, abating their 8{rocuring supplies from below. It is sufficiently arge to pass small steam-boats ; and a communica- tion of this kind is now kept up between the two cities. The proposed Canal along the River St.\ Lawrence is now being constructed, and will afford in a few years the facilities required. It will be an immense saving to the nation. The British Gov- ernment will have no further^ use for military or armed vessels on the lakes, in times of peace. Ships can be sent from the ocean to any part of the lakes during the canal navigation ; and this fact is of im- mense importance in a military point of view. — Without any armament on the lakes, they will al- ways be ready to defend their frontier ; and with no actual cost they will always be ready for war. " They will be able at any time to cover the lakes with armed vessels, and out-number us at every point. It becomes our interest, as well as dut^,_ to provide against such an emergency— not by lining our shores with fortifications, or filling the lakes with armed ships, but by following the example of our neighbour, and constructing a communication that would pass any of our armra vessels in ballast. This will be a ready apd sufficient security. It will be doing no more than our citizens on the lakes have a right to demand. It may bo sud, that the general government ought to construct every work which is so essentially national in their character — i answer that the Empire State is able to take care of her own interest; and if she had no pride, still she has an internt to consult. This oanal will b« the grand conduit through which her commerce with the great West must pass. It is therefore proper, that she should hold the key — that the treasurM, which are rightly hers, should not be under tb# control of another. It is properly her own, and would be unworthy of her character for foresight and enterprise, if she should allow any second party to participate the work which is so worthy or her* " And now. Sir, may we not with great propriety say the State has enough to do ; that there is no want of objects to which to direct her attention } and that every work which individual enterprise will undertake, should be committed to their hands. Stimulate, Sir, by every means that may be requir- ed, this laudable ambition of individuals. Depend upon it, too much cannot be dune. Too many im- provements will not be made — Dispense on all occasions the munificence of the State in such shade as will subserve to the greatest exteut the interests of the people. " When all that I have pressed upon your atten- tion is completed, we shall be on an eminence which the proudest empire on the globe might envy. And, Sir, all that is now demanded of tho State can bo effected. The great channel of steam-boat commu- nication can be opened. Tho rail-road, of which the one under consideration is only the beginning, can be completed. And a ready, cheap, and certain communication will be opened throughout the year with the whole of our interior, — The cars shall be. oouring into our city in an interminable currents- pressing down through the centre,_and filling the stores and warehouses and ships with the produce of the West— infusing a life into every department of industry, and drivin<; far from us the lithanry ot our present inactive winters. Your island shall be one great continent — and your docks and slips from Fort Washington to the Battery, and from >Vhite- hali to Harlem, shall be filled with the thousand stuamers that will navigate the waters of the Missisk sippi. Your harbours shall be crowded with the. ships of every nation, and 'ibis island will be the mere centre of a city which shall spring up on the shores of Long Island and New .Tersey. Is it the offspring of an overheated imagination, or is it only the result of a knowledge or the resources of our country ? Sir, it is true. And I am glad to have the opportunity to predict, that if our State is true to her interest, all will be accomplished. " When our State shall once more be governed by the counsels of the mighty dead— wheu the mind of a Clinton shall be again the leadin(|[ star in our Councils — then will every consideration give place to the honor, the glory and the welfare of our coun- tryr— then the name of New- York shall convey the idea of superiority, and her sons shall be proud «f her character, and rejoice in her prosperity. Every one should participate in the honor and glory" of his country. Every true son of New- York will be alive to her every interest, and while witnessing her spleodour and the triumphs of geoioua and V>,% terprwe, will involuntarily exclaim, j u^ •' Lives there a msn with tout u> dtaA^A, v<'>n( That to himself hath new Mid ; , l^iUmuiOi s^iUl. This is my own my native lani) !" ; ^ {^^ g,.„,„^ ' 'T'^^ '^ ' ■ ? 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