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Les cartos, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre fllmte A des taux de rMuction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film* d partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut on bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent ia mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 *v**" •«•• j^n(***m^"' ™' Lrv ' • »*• •«r » [WIKTEn TAnv] To Of "® '^^ ra,Olw« TUB MECHANICS^ INSTITUTE OF ST. CATHARINES. * JOBir COVKOB, Beo*y. { tit|.it .tftrntg .„, .^^^„,pfpp^,SpW|fipi^^^ / 'i ^' 01? ,^r^-*^^l*|*ir*ii,,^ '?; 'K-r ^ , > f?"^: 2Ki3^Mi^.K ^<^ ^^mm^m ,/,>.4iP^ .^d^a ,ap»xi^ip|« # i' ift^mmum 1 H«#f<)»l«l.. **s L E C 1^ U 1{, E . DEMVKHKD HY THE HON. WILLIAM HAMILTON MERRITT. iu:fore thk MECHANICS' IN STITUTE o r ST. CATHARINES, OIT THE SIST r).A.-Y OF J-A.IQ"Or-A.DElTr, 1867- •AMAM/VWWVW- PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE INSTITUTE. -^^VkWWM^Ao* — ST. CATHARTNES: • H. I'. LEAVENWORTH, DOCK AND JOB PRINTER. s 1857, \ ' :\^i;- 4.- ' - ' 'V.*' V. ^ \' LECTURE. LsDIKSANO flKN'TLKMKN. I t;ik(i tilt; ciirlii'st opportunity of thankin!;' the mombors of the Mo- i'hiinics' [nsiitutf, for yivinuf mo jiii opportunity of (hjlivcrin^ the lirjit Jit'cluH' of {]\{: So.ison ; and from the num*;rous (itlondnncu this eve- iiIul;-, I aiin'cr favorahly fi»r (he future prospects of this 8oeiuty^ Tlio .Su!)joct stli'cti'd is, First, thrd. The comparative magnitude, distances, elevation, cost and charges on llie dirt'erent ciumeclions. from Lake lOrie to tlie Atlantic Ocean and ihe time retpiired in passing by the St. Lawrence and Hudson Kivers. 4th. The n^lative prices of Ocean Freight between the ports of (Quebec. Portland and New York, to Liverjxiol. 'I'he loss of the West- ern Trade ; its effect on ('anadian interest. The cause, and the remedy. .>th. 'i'he local advantagt's we [xtssess l)y the conne^tttion of Lake Krie and Ontario, with the influence, produced on Agriculture Manu- factnres. Connnerce, and every branch of human industry. • I 'i'he'relcgraphic Map, (published within the last three months,) gives the course and distances from Great Britain to Quebec, and to Toledo. This information originated with, and was pointed out in the admira- ble Prize Ks.say, (for which we are indebted to His 111 xcellency, Lord IClgin,) won by Tho.*<. C. Kkekf.ii, C. E., who was born, educated and acquired his information among us, and cannot be more clearly do- scribed than in his own words : — " Ifa thread be stretched upon a globe from any point in the IMtish Ch'innel to Toledo, on T^ake Erie, and arranged so as tf> be upon the siiortest line, it will be found that the St. Lawrence docs not deviate at any point more than :)0 miles, coniwrtiiif/, in the shortest posslb/c distance, wi/k Ihe moxl capitcioiitf, xpeed;/ and ecnnoi/tiral mode of rnmmnnication, the i/fca/cst food conxumiiiff cnuiitnj in Europe, with, the greatest food, prodncinii coinitri/ in .Imeriea, inhabited bif the jiaretft and. offspring of the most favored, race of men." This gr<'at River, which for commercial purposes may be said to commence at Lake Superior, ol)*^ North l^atitude. leaving the valuable mines upon its coast — desceiuls six d>iL;iifi(l, From Lake Kric i( ("Datinut's in a direct line to tin; Atlantir Ocean, rising to tlio same lalitudi' I'rom which it took its df'|)aiini(' mi the nortlii'm >lion's oi' Lakt! Sn|»t'ritir. * A'^aii;, "it" tlic liiroail be placed wil!» one end al Ne\v Voik and tin? oilier at Li\erjioiil. on its shortest J)o^isil)le jiosition* il will !)e lound last- ing on Newtbundlanil, idllio' npon the clwirts, ilii^ inland appears as much out of the way as drei iilan.l. Tliis tidjif idea is eunveved iV'iin ilie cirruni>lanee ut' ;he meridian litios, on charts, bein^- drawn parallel ti> eacli other, represenlinu- u de- ^•ree of ]ionL;itiule al llu) North I'ole. where il is nnthinL^,, as j;reat a.sat the Hijnator, where it is nearly seventy mile.-. The eoast of IJrilish America is more liian HtiXi miles nearer to IJritain than New York ; becaujse every degree uf Jionniiudc eoutains a lo>s number of n.iles as we ap{)roach the pules. -. ^\'e are indebted to Kdwin V. .lohn^on,, Ivscp, Civil Kngincer, for an abl(.' pamphl(;t on the relative merits uf the diilereiit routes designed to connect the l\vilic and Atlantic Oceans, whicii confViins a map describ- inn- till! route, oompileil fntni the researches of dill'erent individuals, and ,enrri>b(»ratt'd by the >,nr\evs of IJoveriu'r Steven^, of Washington 'Ti-rritory, the result of which. j»roves that the pass through the liocky . Mountains, di-^cuvered by Lewis and (Clarke, forty yi'ars since, has the least elevation : and is the shorl>>t and best vet l. will pass ni^rtii of the boundary line be- tween the Territoni. s of (rreal liiitain and the L'uited Stat^-s, on llu; 49th ' degree i>J' Latitude. And ir is quite pos.sible a lower range and better route may be discov,-icd from sea lu sea through our own territory. From the outlet of I'razer's ilivei-. on Puget's iSound, (which Commander W'ilkfis reprciealsi to be unsurpasiied bv any csturay in the world,) to Ciiiit .s.iici lo abound M'ilh the richest minerals, valuable limber, ami a piodnciiv*' soil, it, bus up lo the pro.sent munvnt been wholly neglected and unproduclivriod." A movement has been made to ri'monstnit<' a'>;aii;sl tins motu)[)olv, or H continuation of the charter about to expire ; and to extend tlie jurys- diction of the Canadian (iovernment to ilu! Pacitic, which i trust will l■, aee, from her departure on tiie ITlii of ,luly, until lie:' arrival cm lli'-'lVih Sejttember following. . The time occupied in passin;;- tin- ii;!vi'.;able v, .ileis iif.d liieir ccn- nectiona thrtjughout C;Mi;ida NUM-e-tated, viz : — . • ' •■ • . . ' ' ■\ ' 2\'>/n and J)isliiui:e. July 2!), — 12 (iays 2 hours, J 000 miles, Aug't 1, — 3 "" 1,5 " 28 " " 8, — " «• 14,— G " •* ] 5,~ I " LdkcH <(• Jilrerit. 28 " - - - - ny/nn,l Canuf. 250 " L. Ontario d- Sf. A to Preficolt. 11(» " St. L. Camih lo Mont real. 180 " . - - St. Lawnna' to Quthcc. 29 d;iys, 1 hour. ] "lOH m\]v<. '' - s. per tier<-e ; fron» New Vork- to |,on- ilm :is. to .5s, 111 n month later it could have; been shijjped dirret to ICngland foi' lOs. one half the cosi, jind in less time, Tlie year tirevions I shi|)ped I, (.()() barrels of lard to New Wn-k — per the Midiigan Cfnlral, (ireat Western, of Canada and New Y'ork Central Kjiilwavs— whi^di were 00 days on the road, longer than it would ha\(' ,siken direct, from ('hi- cagoto Jjverpool when the Lakes are opened : 'so nuirh for laih-Mads.' *' The comparative price and time for the transportatiou of a bn>liel or rpiarter of wheat, by the way of jJuiralo. the Kri. Canal Kn.'ight, ...... Elevating and .Shipping at Xew Y'ork, Ocean Freight to London, \ 4 9 (J (1 'Jl 1 H (J f) :{7 2 2J 17 « ■ To Montreal, [with Two Commissions.) Lake and Canal Freight loid. 7s. od. Elevating at Montreal or Quebec, . . . ,' (j Freight to London, . . . 1 I .V 9 (m •JO (J .'JO 2 0^ 10 56 o6 From Cliicaj^o to London dinit i;is (Id — '>(» da\>, \m(]) otip (,'oni- iniissioii. lU'turn Froight, Iron from Wak's to (Miicago. via New York, 58s. jx-r ton. _ Moiidoal, 4r,s. Direct in tlin same l)(»ttoni, *' " '* los. hu. " " I'roncilors would talnt' half the ahovu tinio to lUidalo and Mnntrc.ii, rcducinj;' tlu^ voyaf^c to alu-ul (52, 40 and 41) days." I have alluded to the arrival of the Di'ini Jllclunoinl, and tlin stute- in(|nl of Mr. K. Th-.! mutual interest which the Inhahitant.s of Great Hritain and tlie (ireat We.st, as well a^ ourselves, feel in opcninj/ the most direct conuuunication between the two countries is, because, under free; (iovernment, il is the stioM_<;'est bond of \inion, and should eneoura^o us to look forward with c lidence to the day when the full bent!Kt8 tube derived by «»ur (leographical Position will' be reali/.ed. Comparative Advantages of the Internal Communioa- tions through Canada and New York, from Lake Superior to the Ocean. 7. From the earliest s<>ttleinent of Upper Canada, in 1790, until the opening of the Krie Canal, almost every article consunied or })roduced, as far to the eastward as Utica, was coilveycd to and from the Ocean l)y the natural outlet of the St. Lawrence. Th<' mode of conveyance nt that period was by Canadiati battcau.v (»n th;- St. Jiawrence, and Mo- hawk River boa^^, asiending the Mohawk to Kome by a canal connect- ing Wood Creek, then down throu!;h Oneida Lake and Seneca Kiver ti» Oswego. In IH-JT). the Krie (.!,inal, connecting Lake Krie with the llud.son Uiver, was opened ; and liu- entire trade (jf the west was diverted tt» Mew York. An early nioveniont was made in r[)])('r Canada to regain this trade, but witliout capital and with limited credit, many years ela])sed before the Welland Canal, connecting Lakes Krie and Ontario, was opened, its traflic has continued to increase from year to year until 1853, when (5,408,038 bushels of wheat j)asseil through against ").4'J4,()43 on the Krie Canal. It appears from tiie Report of the State; l*higineer of 1855, that while the tomnigc from Lake Va'w. only doubled bv way of Buffalo, during tivo years preceding ISts, it incri-ased live fold bv way of Oswe- go ; and in live years after at the rate of 5 [)er cent, by IJi'tialo, against rii per cent, by Oswego. The increase is attributed to the large amount of western business through the \\'ellaiul Canal, tt» take advant- age, of the nntollcd navhiation of Ldkcs Ontario (iiul Oneida; jio furthei' evidence is required to prove the advantages of the original route bv those natural waters. 8. In 1848, the St. Lawrence Canals, were opened, and in 1855 the Sault Saint Marie Canal (connecting Lake Superior.) For a minute description of these various connections, reference is made to the follow- ing Table: — s o J3 r P 5 S W -■: = W| c « = 'c 5 r4 71 c ^ n^ z -T -' -r ^ "3 o C 3 O o o e o OJ — «- •; ^ ;• 1- ^ o 2 2 ?, cr: I- C Q O ■.= I- i^ ~ I r- I — i.-^ CJ I en O CJ X (M ifS y./ C! O CN I 5, *t 5^; o O I = C I — I TJ -H e"« — •?< >rt s T» O n I "9 < ..t e-5 o-. fi •- net o w i'- o 1- . i-H €x C3i -2 '/: '-• > o O 5 > J»! K ^ ffd F-< 3 " Bji'- 2 o ceo : -= t; -c ^u CC ^ •v <6 > S c •- :J o '"' ~ "U Tl "O 5 2 te 00 K X ti -!• 4- - O O 3 ••<5 ~ -o ~ -^ •v: _: , .J ..J "3 . -J B — T rt O 3 O — -• ». - 4, ^ -^ . r i: i .5 c •- '^, ' z 2 ^ 2 i '^ I ^ J -5 V- -= •J T. — ».*< ts »-; ro t-H o •■= : r! ^. 5 c' - I » ^ ^ 2 a ^ - z w rt ' -.J ^ > M m o p -. r. C.3 o Cr" F—n hi e •n rt u = 1 = «1 £; J _«. ^ O 3 O I— ' w-« —^ ^^ ^ S -- — ' q «< i; o o o >( " So i4> ^ c «c * d o o o TS CI -o 00 X I" 5 ■• -a ~ -^ ^t2 t = o 3 - '- CI ••? ; J i= ^ 3 O I— . O*- o > £ r o ^ > s o o ^^ W-* K^ --, f^. "^ The comparfltivc distances shew lliat Lakf i-'ric; "u; 518 miles noarcr Livorpodl by the St. liiuvreiicc with !i lttt:lv:iLi,e of 158 feet h'ss thiiii by the iluds(jn, (caused fnnu two summits on ihe Erie ('anal at Joidaii and Rome,) tlie cost, chu!•^■es, and linie occujilLd, prove tiiut tlie voyagj may be performed at 10 cents per bushel of wheat, and in 9 to 17 chiys less* time by the St. Lawn-nee tiiaii by New York. TIjc casts and charges arc sek'Cted from tiie n-port of \V. J. Mc Aipin, State Engineer of New York, Fil). 9th, J 854, in w'iich In; givt's tlie rehitivecost of trji.nsportation per ton pitrmiic, on Ocean, long' and siutrt voyages. Lakes, Rivers and their tributaries, Ca:ials and their (hmeu- sions and lockage, ami Railroads willi tluiir vnriou-i grades. These new Tables compiled from actual prices paid for a series of years preceding, and appear to be based upon princii^les of comnioa sense, "f/>e /on/cr the bodi/ o/navin. John Young, to the Chief Commissioner of Public \\diks in 1855. \w winch tlie actual jjrices from those Lorts are eoiitra-^ted from 1810 to 1854, rang- ing from (id. to '!s. Od. from New York, and from 2s. Od. to 7s. per bbl. from Montreal, sh<'winir a dilference during nine years of 100 per cent. in favor of the former. 11. It is alleged that this striking diU'ereneo in the price of Ocean frt'ights bi'tweeii 'NeAV York and (Quebec, is to be attributed. to the close- ing of the Si. Lawren-e from live to six months during the winter season and the high price of insurance .nishig ivom (he hazard thus increased. Li Mr, Keefer's Essay in 1850, the lirst is thus answered. The ave- ra"e dates of arrivals at Quil)ec foi- th'i list, twenty years was on the 1st of May ; their departure may be prolonged to the 1st December. The average date of the opening of the Erie Canal, for the same peiiod, Avas at Buiialo on the 25th April, (10 or 12 days before a boat could reach Albany) and closed on the 5th December. In point of time, tl:en, the duration of navigation is ecjualized on both routes by water. A com- parative statcmei\t of actual losses are also given on the coast of the United States and in the St. Lawrence, shewing a far greater number on the former. However, fortunately for this route, Messrs. Pollock, Gil- mour ik Co., of Quebec, the largest ship owners in the world, were their own underwriters, and from a statement furnished to the Com'r. of B 10 :-!. '' \ Public; Works ill (lie same year [1850] it appears, 'that during a perioj *)i clrrcn years only two out of /our hundred and si.r vrasc/n owned by themselves, v.er(! lost, one on the Island of Anticosti, in the Gulf, th(5 other above Bic. It is questionable, if any shipping house in any other port in America, has paid so low rates of Insurance or can furnish so favorable a statement. 12. Others attribute the diversion (»f the Internal Trade from Quebec to New York, to (he imperfection of our present int^'rnal communica- tions, and recommended a further expenditure of public money in the construction of other canals for the purpose of reducing the price of transportation. One project is to connect Lake Huron with Ontario bv locking up to the summit level of Lake Simcoe and thence to Lake Ontario. Tlie other, to connect Lake Huron with the liiver Ottawa, over the summit of Laki; Winnebago. Both objects very similar to the Ilid(>au ('anal, connecting Lake Ontario with Montreal by ascending 150 feet to the summit of Hideau Lakci ; desci-nding the same distance without gaining a single foot of lockage, aiul then descending the same number of feet as by the St. Lawrence. The Ridcau Canal, as far as the through trade is concerned, has proved a failure, not repaying the expence of maintenance. Tho.s(! proj(!ctors forgot that no ascent, or additional lockage to reach any summit, Nvill be required on the Weliand and vSt. Lawrence Canals ; and that we already possess the cheapest possible inland route. All those schemes tend to divert public attention from the true remedy, ami are })0sitively injurious. [13. The cause of the low price of Ocean Freights between New York and Liverpool was attributed by the Chief Commissioner of Public Works [see Assembly Journals, of 1851] to the large amount of capital invested in a marine between those ports, arising from the following circumstances : A large class of sailing vessels of the very best descrip- tion had been built for the purpose of conveying- passengers and light valuable freights between ditierent ports in Europe and New York. The governments of Great Britain and the United States having made a grant, which at 5 per cent, interest, represents a capital of about £7,000,- 000 St'g, to enable Messrs. Cunard and Collins to build two lines of steamers leaving semi-weekly, conveying precisely tlie same description of freight, altho' the object was conveying mails. These steamers soon forced the pack''s to seek other employment, the effect of which has 'been, to give thib amount of capital out of the public money to aid the emigrant and ordinary trade between those ports as effectually as if paid direct, and clearly accounts for the reduction of outward freights to ballast prices. ^ In pointing out these results, it is not my intention to impute the least censure on any indi\Hdual. or the Governments of either country. The Hon. Samuel Cunard is entitled to the thanks of every individual who crosses the Atlantic, for iiis perseverance in forming those splendid lines of steamers, by which means the passage has been shortened from 11 thirty to Uh\ days, and with his Mssociate.s, are justly cutitlud to tlitir reward; the expenditure htw produced a better chiss of vessels, will ultimately prove beneficial, and its effect on the commercial inter- course between Great Britain and Canada could not liave been foreseen. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that the effect of the lo>v price of Ocean freii;ht between New York and Liverpool has produced tho most disasterous results to Canadian interests. The superiority of our intt-rnal conununications, the cheapness of transportation, gain in time, and stroni«- feeling in fjivor of this route, have all been counteracted from this one cause. The St. Lawrence Canals were constructed for the express purpose of conveying the trade of the West to and from the Ocean, in place of which it does not pay for miantainance, while the State of New York an; receiving over $;K)(),000 a y«»ar for Tolls on lier Canals, besides Rail- roads, out of our productions. Some £4,000,000 of Public money has been lent to the Grand Trunk Riiilway Com[)any for the same object, regaining the trade of the ^V est through Canada, the same result must follow, involving the same loss to the private shareholders. Emigration has been reduced at tiie port of Quebi-c from 1)5,000 in 1817, to" 30,000 in 1850. While it has increased at the port of New Y(jrk, during the .same period from 80,000 to 300,000. The Remedy. I^tablishing cont,iinu)Us lines of steamers from the princi|)al ports in BriLain direct to Chicago. The first to consist of screw Steamers, pot under 1000 tons burden, to be in every respect superior to ihepncket ships in the Liverpool and New York trade, one at least ti> leave Quci^ec every day for some port in Grciit Bi-itain, The moment a sufficient capital is procured from England, to establish this line, the trade of the West is sectired forever. A sufiBcient ca- pital can be procured in Canada and the Western States, to esta- blish a line of Propellers or Screw Steamers, from Quebec to tho outlet of the Welland Canal on Lake Ontario, of the largest size to pa'^s the St. Lawrence Canals, and from Port Colborne, the entrance of the. Welland Canal on Lake Erie, of the same capacity as those in operation betwf-en Buffalo and Chicngo. Out of 125 propeirers 36 are under 300 toPvS, measuring 4,173 tons,- while the remaining St)' measure 43,278 tons. Again, there are steamers over 300 tons imeasuring 32,000 tons, while those under 300 tons measure 5,140 tons. Particular attenton is drawn to the increased capacity of those steamers, be- cause it has been ascertained that the price of freight to Buftalo has been proportionately les^* since tln-ir establishment than to Port CoJ- borne by steamers of 300 tons, (the greatest capacity which cau pab> through the Welland Canal.) 12 k By this connected Hue from England lo Cliieiij;-ii, passens^'crs and lijfht valuable freight would leaeh Quebec in (wo dai/n less time ihon by IS'ew York ; pass over the (rrand Trunk Railway toPreseott, 'roronto, London, and Detroit ; thence by rail to Chicago or any otiuir part of th(! Western ►States, in less time and at less cost. That class of passengers or emi- grants not valueing time, and ordinary freight, will 1»<^ conveyed by steamers from (Juebec to Chicago, with the e.\ce[)ti')i> of 24 miles of liaihvay fj-om Lake Ontarit) to Lake Krie, in less time than by any other route, and at one half the cost. If it be true that a barrel of flour, by the canals already con- strucu^d from Lake Ontario, can be conveyed to the seaports of Montreal or Quebec, at from Is. to Is. Od. loss than to New York, it is quite clear the tirst object is tc reduce the price of Ocean freights to Liverpool, which alone is the cause of t/ie dioersion of our trade from the St. Lawrence. We should therefore discard the potty jelousies and livaliy which heretofore existed between Quebec, Montreal and Toronto, for the trilling trade still retained, and unite in one common effort to regain it. If wo possessed a tythe of the patriotism, intelligence or industry of our rivals, within one year the object would be accomplished. A na- tional movement should be made; the IJoard cf Trade in all parts of Canada should petition the Colonial Legislature, representing the di- version of the trad(!i from our ocean ports, the cause wdiich has led to it, 1 and point out the remedj' by which it can be restored. An Address to the Imperial Government to grant an enual sum for the ifail Service to Quebec and Portland, as paid to connect their rival in New York. ('As in the Address of-LSol, see Journal Legislative Assembly.) Appro- priate the whole amount of the revenue collected cfti the St. Lawrence Catials to all steamers alike, (in proportion to their tonnage,) who will engage to i-un regularly bctweeit (Quebec, Portland, and any port in Britain, providing they will cijuvey a barrel of flour Irom those ports at the same rate as from New York. VN'ithout this provision an un- cerUMnty in Ocean prices will prevail, and the bounty useless. With it, confidence will be established, the Canal will yield a revenue, and the means provided to pay this bounty^ ,, . . ' The Boards of Trade should also J^ppeal to iditterent Mercantile As- sociations in Great Britain, representing the want of Capital in (Canada, and soliciting them to form Companies to establish lines of screw .steam- ers of the largest capacity, from different ports in Britain to Quebec, during six months in the year, and during the remainder to Portland. It must not be inferred that I am opposed to the enlargement of the locks on the St. Lawrence or Welland Canals — the construction of the Champlain Canal, or the removal of the obstructions in the Kapids be- low Lake St. Francis. The importance of those im[)rovements were pointed out in the Report of the Committee of Trade, in 1855, as re- corded in the Appendi.x of the Legislative Journals of that year. After 18 the great and loading object, vh'ap Ocean freight from C!anadii to Great Britain, is Hccured, the next \% to remove the obstruotions in the St. Lawrence. The Report of Msellefert & Raasloif, Submarine Engineers, wIjo .sur- veyed the River from Prescott to Lnchine in 1854, estimate tho cost of opening a channel 200 fuet wide, between 12 and 13 fi;i.'t dc(;[), at low .summer water throughout, by blasting under water, at .£lH0,0UO. There are only three bars to be removed between Lake St. Francis and St. Louis. When it is known that the Dean Richmond on her celebrated pass- age to England, had to unload a part of her cargo in passing through the Canals, drawino- only nine feet water, havini; been detained over 'six days, no further time will be lost in opening this channel. And when we reflect that on a navigable coast of many thousands of miles, from the extreme end of Lake Superior, Michigan, and Huron, to tide Avater, the only remaining obstruction to admit steamers of 2,000 t<^>ns burden, to descend to Quebec, is the 3.'?0 feet lockage on the Wclland (^anal, a distance of only 28 miles, who can doubt that these locks will be widened, to the same dimensions as those already in oper- ation on the Sault St. Marie Canal, viz., 350 feet by 75 feet »md 12 feet water. The same; reason will apply to the enlargement of the^^St. Lawrence locks, and the construction of the Champlain Canal. Connection of Iiake Erie and Ontario — Its Effects. We have partially realized the natural aclvjuita-^es this i'eiiiiisula ])ossesses, by the connection of Lake Erie and Ontario, t)ytlu''oun- struction of the Welland Canal; we lind it eonmiands an iiiereasiMl proportion of the trade over the Yaw Canal even ti> lln' nnrt of Ni-w York, and unlike the St. Lawrence Canals, is not deju'ii tent upon the relative price of Ocean freigiits, between Quebec and JNew- York, to Gn'at Biitain. The Canal has also furnished us with the most extensive and eon- venient Water Power in the worKl, unrivalli'd by competition, as there are no durable streams on the south shore of Jiiike l*]rie from BulValo to the Maumee River, and the sanie want exists on the North shore of Lake Erie, and almost every eliuible situation on the Erie and Oswe«'-o Canals are already occupied. The Railway now being constructed on its banks, will connect thin power with every part of the Peninsula lying betwen Lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron, by the Great Western, and Buffalo Brantford and Godcrich Railway, funnshing ample supplies at all seasons. When the Port Dalhousic and Thorold Railroad was undertaken, no expectation wns entertained of transporting grain or heavy freight, as the following extract from the President's Circular of the 9th June, 1850, shows : — " When completed, und(>r the combined system of Railway and Wa- ter Transit, on the arrival of a steamer at the entrance of the C'anal, pas- seno;ers and light valuable freight will be transferred to the Railway, and 14 ^ ^ within two hours placed on board another steamer, wliich having pre- viously passed through with a cargo, will be ready to proceed to her iU-t^ tination on the opposite Lake. Thus a continuous line will bo opened fr(»ni every port on and b«^Iow Lake Ontario, with every port on and above Lake Erie, insuring the sanirt I'l Nc'w Voik, uls<», tlin came (hscri|)(ii)ii of freight at the same rehitivc prici's can be convi-yed to and from Tuleilofor i^0.-4(i.]f cents, per t-.-:■';■ . . - Total. ^:.w La Ice Krie to AiJmn;/ via. 0-tti'e(jo [J//-. McAfjii lie's ^)>'/a'.s]. Va'u' tn Ontario 21 luilci. Jiake Onlaiii, 118 O. Canal to Albany, 200 ' ' Toll, (If). ' " ''■ Cost, Double for for^v-anlinu: cliarues, itc. P. I). .V: T. R. W Oni. Water 2 m. <' m. 4 m. Total. ' ■ ^ Dili'erence. §0.14 0.2;) ] .20 0.80 2.38 $4.70 2.54 The above leaves an abund.mt margin, for all unforsecn charges which may attend this particular route, and from which all other routes may be th. fro of: the *• 17 Tho quantity of grain passing over this roiul, will ho dotprmiiiccl by the comparative costs and charges. If a husluil of wheat can be c (i»cycd' from any port on and abf)vo Lake Erie Id New Vork at one r.nt, in place of seven cents per bushel, less than any other route, and ii\ t'le same time, the traflic will be limited only by the capacity of the road. We have, shown the shortest, the cheap(?st and must expeditious route from east to we>t , or north to south, lies through this Peninsula ; that the Canal and the railway arc but one single link iu a continuous chain from Chicago on Lake Michigan, and Fondu Lac on lake Superior above, with Prescott and Oswego below, no doubt they will prove ecjually advantageous, to each other, increase tlio value of property, and confer many and lasting advantages to the location through which it passes. kStill it must be borni^ in mind that it was projected for the purj)ose of competing with the Railways leading to New York. That it will draw u far greater proportion of the trade of the Western States tlinnigh Ca- nada than any other road vet designed, and that it is truly a Canadian Koad. Agriculture. From the rapid growth of Spring grain and vegetables, they arc pro- duced in great (juan titles, and the very best qualitj', in all parts of Canada. Winter wheat unsurpassed in quality or yield, is grown west of Prescott, on the space of from 50 to 100 miles North of the St. Law- rcmce, and on the Peninsulas between lakes Ontario, Huron and Erie. The era is limited and it is quite clear we must not rely upon a sur- plus of agricultural productions to pay our foreign debts, unless we can provide a Home Market for the consumption of that part which Avill not bear exportation. Manufactures. The material and elements within and adjacent to our borders, consist of Timber, Minerals (not yet developed) Water- poAvei, furnished by tlie Sault St Marie, Welland and St. Lawrence Canals, in a decent of (jOO feet, from Lake Superior to tide water, in suitable distances on a navigable communication surrounded by a coast of several thousand miles, unsurpassed for the fertitlity of its soil, abundance and cheapness of food, and rapid increase of population, offering facilities for manufactures of every description so similar in effect that describing the operation of one is equivalent to the whole. A Flouring Mill on any part of the Welland Canal, can be supplied with Wheat and Corn, from the greatest producing country in America, purchased at the lowest prices, shipped direct at the lowest rates, manu- factured into Flour, in the shortest time and shipped direct to London where the greatest demand exists, and the best prices obtained, saving to both grower and consumer the extra charges, to which the trade is now subject. A purchaser of wheat at Chicago gives a draft at about fifteen days on a Commission House in Buffalo, to whom it is oonsigned^ ]f* >. aiu! j»nyH roniiiii-isini No. I on ii^ aniv.il nt lUill'ulo ; draws nt liftoon (l.ivs uii Ni'w Viuli ami [l. ,s ii.miiii.-sinri No. "J; nii its nniviil at Mew Ytirk pays r.DiniiiissMn Nd. U I" iln' l)riil>('r sclliiiu; the same, and slutuld lip sciui ii tn riinuloii, |);i\ ,•, t'(»a;i!iis,-ii)i) Nd. I. W'liiri'as, uiio corn nu-r- cliaiil ill London would autlio'izc l)ill,>+to he drawn at (»() days and n;ceive the ilo;ir to iiici'l ll lii'i'orc tlir vlrtilis matiirr. So soon as Ocean frciu'lds, from (2ni'lii'c to i^ond "ii arc rcluccd and llic prodnoc of tlid West i> rcLiaiiK'd l)y tlic St. l.awrrncc, |)id)lif attention will lic directed to till' iniportancf of ili;- nadeaml any amount of capital rt'nuircd will bo furnished to condnct il on the movt eon\enient icrius, Iti>' aisoon the dii'eci l;iie io New Vork, Uoston, Portland, Quebnc and all the liasiern Siao's which can l)c su])plied at lower j)i ices than from any rociti/ will bo obtained at no ilistant day, when our manufacturc?:s will be upon an equal footing with our rivals, and placed in as tlomishing a con- dition as in any other part of America. Commerce. For the success of this branch f>f our industr\', we relv wholly on the natural advantages we possess. So i;oon as an eijual amount (jf capital is employed in a Marine from Great Britain to Quebec, as to New York, the price of Ocean freights will be reduced, and the same magical effect produced on tho commerce of Canada, as was realized by the increased commerce of New Y'ork after opening the Erie Canal. Our commerce is subject, to the legislation of three separate Govcrn- ment.s, Great Britain, United States, and our own. The two first pay l)ounties to build and maintain vessels to navigate the ocean between tho favored ports of New York and Liverpool in I'^ngland and America. Tho second impose restrictions on our Coasting Trade and Shipping Inter- ests — and the impolitic maimer in which duties arc; imposed by our own Legislature, all tend to depress our commercial intercourse and retard the general prosperity. In 1852 no higher duties were im- posed on West India produce from Halifa.v than from the place of pro- duction, a direct trade was opened and increased until higher duties Avere imposed, tho very next season the intercourse ceased ; at this moment not a solitary vessel remains in the trade. However, the • • 10 rcnjcdy is willuii our own control, wk t'tn'] entitled to tlu; riylit of rcj,'n- livliui;- our trad*! ill iiiiy luiiiuicr wiitliiiik best Jidaptt'd to our (t('o;,M'!i|)hi- cal |)osiiioii iiiid our owu iutcrcst. llortloii o/thc trade of China, h\ i\w connection of the Pacific Ivailway with Lake Superior. IJrd. 7Wu' (s/afjiishminf of Manufactories from thi; extended area of country, connected with unlimited water power, abundance of food, and favorable climate. 4th. The increase of Commerce, from th(! n^duction of Ocean freight, extension of the Coasting Trade, shipping interests, and every branch of business. 5th. Increased price of Agricultural Productions creat(!d by the home demand, and reduction of transportation to foreign markets. Cth. The increased value of property on this Peninsula, from the concentration of a population rapidly increasing. Having briefly recapitulati'd tlie various branches of business to which labor of every description can be advantageously applied, it shoidd in- spire us one and all with confidence iti the future prospects of our highly favored country. P^ach of these topics should form the subject of a separate Lecture, and will, I hope, be taken up by abler hands. In the meantime as I have occupied much more of your attention than contemplated, I beg you will accept of my best thanks for the in- terest you have manifested, on the niimerous subjects referred to in this lengthy Lecture.