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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd A partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 32 X 1 2 3 4 5 6 THE .^ BEALHARNOIS CANAL QUESTIOISr. I ^m 1 1 MONTREAL : "IIERALI>" STEAM PHESS, 1873. ■♦I National Library Bibliothdque Rationale of Canada du Canada THE BEAUHARNOIS CANAL QUESTION. PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. The idea of constructing a canal to avoid the Rapids at the Cascades, the Ce- dars, and the Coteau, originated at a very early period in the history of Canada. It appears that while the Colony was iin- derthe rule of France, according to the able Report submitted by the Hon. Mr. Chapais immediately before the Confederation of the Provinces, four stone-built locks were located at the Rapids alluded to, having a depth of two and a half feet of water on the sills, and through which bateaux carrying from thirtv to forty barrels of flour were towed. These works were probably con- structed at a period approaching the close of French rule in this country ; for, as far back as the year ;721, no mention appears of them in the narrative given by Charle- voix of his voyage from Montreal to Kings- ton in a bark canoe, although he particular- ly alludes to the Cedar Rapids, " a name given to those rapids, he says, in conse- quence of tte thick growth of cedar trees on the bank of the river ; but, since which timethey have almost entirely disappeared." For a long time after the cession of this country to Great Britain, these works were known as the " Old French Locks." In 1804, the Imperial authorities caused a considerable improvement to be made in the locks at Coteau and at the Cascades. A canal half a mile long, with three locks, instead of the " Old French Locks," was cut at the Cascades. In 18it, all those locks were enlarged by the Royal Staff Corps, with a view to per- mit the passage ot bateaux carrying from eighty to a hundred barrels of flour, and from that time, those works were de- signated '< the military canals. " About the vtar 1832 a sum of $40,405,83 was expended, partly in the construction of a new canal about a quarter of a mile long, at the Cedars Village, and partly in the construction of another canal commenced at the same time a little above the lock and Village of Coteau du Lac. This latter under- taking was only completed in the year 1841 by a Mr. McBain, its length being two- thirds of a mi'e with one lock — a wooden construction — measuring 120 feet in length by 15 feet in width, with a depth of four feet of water on the sills. At this period, colonization had just com- menced in the vast prairies of the West — the first houses were then being erected on the site now occupied by that wonderful city — Chicago ; and about the same time the fact began to be recognised that the St. Lawrence was naturally destined to become the great highway and outlet for the im- mense products of the West. And yet the most perspicuous mind could scarcely fore- see that within the next thirty years it would be necessary to construct canals capable of allowing the passage of vessels drawing twelve feet of water. From 1830 to 1844, public attention was occiisionaily directed towards the question of the improvement of the navigation of the St. Lawrence. The administrative authori- ties became convinced that the future pros- perity of the country depended largely upon the future construction of canals. Surveyn were accordingly made, resulting in our present chain of canals. ( 2 ) At that period of time, as well as at the present, the difficulty of choice between the north and south Bides of the river, to avoid the Rapidu of the Cadcades, the Cedars and Coteau, was seriously felt. Opinions were divided, but I believe I am strictly within the bounds of truth when I state that all the surveys made were in favour of the south bank, whether considered in rtgard to trade and navigation, pr reviewed from a Btand point of economy. The line on the south bank was finally selected in 1842 ; the works were com- menced iu the same year, and on the 11th of October, 1845, the Beauharnois Canal was opened for public trafBc. Since that time the question of construct- ing a canal at the Cedars, on the north bank of the river, has scarcely been heard of. In fact, Mr. Masson, ex-member of Parlia- ment for,Soulanges, is about the only per- son who has occasionally taken the trouble to air his opinions on the subject ; but it is well understood that he only agitates the question in the individual interests of certain inhabitants of that locality. It required all the enerjty and enter- prising spirit of the present member for Boulanges to revive the old question of a North Shore Canal. Mr. Lanthier was the candidattt of the partisans of this proposed canal ; he was returned in order to become the champion of this desperate cause. And, as he states in a letter published in the Minerve of 24th March last, his first political act was •' to induce the executive Govern- ment to repair the error committed iu the year 1842." Mr Lanthier has left no stone unturned to obtain hi.s object. Thanks to the support given him in the editorial articles of the Minerve [written by Mr. Oscar Dunn, a na- tive of Soulanges, with numerous interests the . , and a member cf the diputation fiom tha county who recently waited upon the Government to point out the great value of the MuVHutagoH possessed by the north bank of thr river J, thi question of a canal at the Cedars has become the order of the day. Of course the example of such an influeL tial Government organ, was sure to finu imita- tors who are ignorant as to what takes place be) ind the scenes Petitions recommending this enterprise were at the same time printed and circulated for .siffnatures all over the oouutry- Some of them being tilled with names of parties interested in steamboat navigation — names easily obtained — and then forwarded to the representative from Soulanges at Ottawa, who immediately there sets up a hue and cry that the trade of the country requires the construction of a new cuiial at the Cedars, on the north side of tlie river, instead of "the enlargement of the Beuuuarnuis Canal. In the face of all this intriguing, these efforts, and the various influences brought to bear against tlieir acquired rights and interests, the inhabitants of the County of Beauharnois determined to have those rights and interests appraised before the country, At a public meeting held at Valleyfield, (who took the initiative) I was requested to take charge and sustain those interests. As a native of the County of Beauharnois , I could not refuse to undertake the honour- able task imposed upon me, all important though it was. I took up the cause gratuitously, and commenced its defence, and I will continue to do so with all tho energy I possess. A lively discussion took place between M'-ssrs Lanthier, Har- wood, [members for Vandrcuil], L. H Masson. [foimer representative of Soulanges] and Dr. Fortier of St. Clet, and myself, iu the same journal which opened the campaign in favour of a north shore cannl. It is the substance of this discussion which I now desire to sum upiu this pamphlet. The motives by which I am actuated in this matter are variously judged by my op- ponents ; some suppoi-ing that I am in- fluenced by personal lauded interests. But I here declare that I have no such interests ; it is long since I disposed of the land I once owned in that district. Others, again, sus- pect me of aiming at a seat in the House of CommouB as the repre.-entative of the County of Beauharnois in place of the present mem- ber, Mr. Bobillaid. The best answer to this is : Lot those who think so consult Mr. Robillard himself on the su' ject — no doubt he will satisfy them. Besides, I may say that the rEHJority which carried my op- ponent into Parliament at the last election in the County of Jacques Cartier was not sufficiently large to justify me in despairing of success in a future contest of that Countv. I have no particular interest in this dis- cussion beyond that of wishing to l>e useful to my native County, the inhabitants of whijh have, in a special manner, solicited my services under the circuinstanceis. And I will add that if that particular interest were opposed to the general interests of the country at large, I would deem it my duty at least to maintain silence. It is because I am firmly convinced that the cause of the ( 5 ) at Ottawa, a hue and requires the the Cedars, stead of 'the Canal. j;uing, these 3e8 brought rights aud County of those rights -he country. iyfield,(who itud to take Its. leauharaois , tho honour- 1 important the cause its defence, witii all tho lussiou took ;hiei', Har- uil], L. H fSoulanges] nysflf, in the campaign in . It is the a which I nphlet. actuated in 1 by my op- it I am in- erests. But ch iuteiests ; ! land I once s, attain, sun- the House of of the County iresent niem- t answer to ) consult Mr. !t — no doubt , I may say led my op- last election tier was not in despairing est of that in this dis- to lie useful ihabitants of ner, solicited tanctrt. And ular iiiterest iterests of the n it my duty It is because i cause of the County of BeauliRrnois is equally the cauRe of the whole country, that I submit these remarks to the public — remarks which are based not upon the statements or affidavits of per.^ouB residing in the localities under discussion, but upon evi- dence obtained from official and authentic sources. And I feel confident every dis- interested reader will easily perceive that all the clatter raised on this subject proceeds from parties who have no other end to serve their private interest. HISTORICAL PART OP TIIK QUESTION. 1. The Hon. Mr. Killaly is reported to have said, in 1842, that tlie first survey in connection with this enterprise had been made about twenty years previouslv — say in 1822 — by a French engineer, who, after hav- ing examined both sides of the river, located the work on the south side. "This gentle- man's report," addtd the Chairman of the Department tf Public Woiks, "I have not been able to obtain ; but the result of it, as stated, I have had from highly respectable authority . " The Hon. Mr. Harwood subsequently affirmed that Mr. Killaly was in error ; "for," he said, "as far as lean learn, the survey alluded to was made by a Canadian surveyor and not a French engineer, and that survey was at the expense of the Seignior of Beauharnois, and was confined to the south side." 2. Three different surveys were made on the north bank of the river in 1833, by Mr. J. B. Mills, with wtiom were associated Mr. David Thompson and Mr. Samuel Keefer. (the latter having been subsequently ap- pointed Engineer-in-Chiet of the Di'part- ment) under the direction of the Cnmmis- sioners of Public Work.s, which included Messrs. Harwood and UeBeanjnu [respec- tive proprietors of Vaudrcuil and Soulanges] both of which geitlemen it is well under- stood were in favour of constructing a canal on the north bank of the river. These three different routes were ex- amined and compared ; and, notwithstand- ing the admission by Mr. Mills that a canal on the south side of the river was very feasible, he recommended, for military rea- sons, a north-shore route — starting trom McDonald's Point, near the residence of Mr. Simpson, [then member for the county] at present occupied by Mr. Q. DeBeaujeu, and coming out at the Cascades, running through 6| miles of artificial canal, and 7 4.6th miles of navigable river. This line was approved by Mr. Wrigbt, the celebrated Erie engineer, who, iu con- cert with Mr Mills, had surveyed and re- commended the construction of the Corn- wall canal ; and, strange to say, this line was selected, although Mr Mills considered that the south bank, geographically speak- ing, was " tne most natural and direct route for a canal." "I have to remark," said Mr. David Thompson before the Special Committee in 1842, "that the view of the formation of a canal, from Lake St. Francis to Lake St. Louis, was then (1833) founded upon the belief of those engineers, that steamboats, for every purpose of pas- sage or freight, would entirely supersede the use of all other kind of vessels. Time and experience have proved the contrary ; therefore the estimates they made for a navigation by steamboats, ofej miles in canal, and 1 64-50 miles in river, of strong current for steamboats, is a failure ; and it is now acknowledged that, for vessels of 9 feet water, a continuous canal from Lake St. Francis to Lake St. Louis is required." Mr. Mills further remarks in his report : — " There is a political objection to its being located on the south side of the St. Lawrence which I will barely name. The work in contemplation must be con. sidered national in its < haracter. therefore, it ought to be so located as to be Ifss in danifer of foieit'n invasion " It was from this iviint of vi'W that Mr Wright supported Mr. MilU in his opinion Mr Casey's reHSoiiinir is siniiiar to that of Mr. Mills. Hf sys, ^'The whole case may be stated thus: th<' great (that is the foram' iai) objects of the work will be equally wc i,- oommodattd on either side, with, of coui e, equally efficient canals. In a military point of view, the canal on the north sid-^ would be national, whilst, on the south side, it might not only becom useless, but might actually b turned against the country. Hence a trifling dif- ference in costyhould not be considend in the decision " On the loth Febrnary, 1834, a Committee of the House of Assembly ol Lower Canada adopted Mr. Mills' report ; but it does not appear that any steps were taken to carry it into effect. It is Mr. Mills' route which the present partisans of the north shore canal (among whom are Mr. Lanthier, member for Sou- langes, and Mr. Harwood, member for Vaudreuil) desire to see adopted by the Dominion Parliament. T' '" oute was sur- veyed under the special directions of Mssrs, ( 4 ) Harwood and DeBeaujeu (both perHonally interfstu'd in the north shore canal), and wftH sek-cted without any fxaniination hav- ing been made ou tlio houth niile of the river, bui waH recoremendi'd soluly from the inilitiiry point of viewr wliich prevailid . over all otiier couMdcratioiiH ut tlio time i the survey wiih made. What wei^lit should , such a report have at the present time, wiien , commercial interests and considerations are j deemed to be all-iuiportaut in the examina- tion of piihiic works of this nature? 3. In the months of September and Octo- ber 1834, Mr. Alexander Stevenson accom- panied by Mr. Trudeaii, surveyed the south bank of the river at the joint request of the Commissioners of Public Works for Lower Canada and of the Hon. Edward Ellis, His report made on the 10th Februiiry 1835, was in favor of the line of the present Beau- harnois Canal. It does not appear that Mr. Stevenson examined the north bank of tl>e liver at that time; but he did so hulise- quently and in the name year at the request of Messrs. Harwood and Simpson, and the opinion he ^ave those gentlemen was, that a canal on the noith bank of the river would coat a Eroat deal more than one on the south bank. In 1842, speaking of those two routes be- fore the Special Committee, Mr. Stevenson said : — "I have seen Mr. Mills' Report and estimate, and from what knowledge I have of that side of the country, I must say that I cannot approve of the route chosen by that gentleman," The opinion of this engineer deserven public attention and nsptct. His reputa- tion for strict integrity was such, that even after being employed and paid by Mr. Ellis, his ser /ices were secured by Messrs. Har- wood and Simpson, two of tlie wannest par- tisans for the construction of a north-shoro canal. Mr. Lantbier reproaches Mr. Stevenson for having received payment from Mr. Ellis. It is universally known that the Seignior of Beauhurnoisused all his iuHuence and availed himself of every legitiniiite means at bis command to secure the construction of the Beaubarnois Canal. However, this is not an exceptional case. In fact private in- terests are found to exist at the bottom of all extensive undertakings ; but it ia not fair to argue from such premif'es that public interests are of necessity neglected . Who would fiare to say, for instance, that the Pacific Railway enterpiise is in bad hands because Sir Hugh Allan and his friends have obtained tho contract for its con- struction ? 4. A sixth survey was mado in 1834, for the Seignior of Beaubarnois, by Mr. N. H. Baird. a member of tbt! London Engineers ScH'iety. He also shared in tlie opinion that tlie south shore was the best adapted for a canal ; but, going further than Mr. Stevenson, be suggested the propriety of utilising the small river St Louis, on the score of economy. Tliis suggestion whb not generally approved of, owing to tho length of the route— fifteen miles ; but the superior advantages of the south shore were nevertheless acknowledged . a. In 183G, Messrs. A La Rue and Henry a. Thompson made another survey, under tho directions of a Special Commission, presided ov.r by Mr. Jno. Jones. The ex- amination of the two Lakes was entrusted to Mr. La Rue, while Mr. Thompson ap- plied liimself to tliat of the St. Lawrence ; and the opinion of those gentlemen was not unfavourable to the south shore canal. Their survey never having been entirely completed, the Commission made no report. However, Mr. Jones informed tho Special Committee, appointed iu 1842, that his colleagues and himself had agreed to recom- mend Mr. Mill's route, from Coteau to the Cedars, and a continuous line along the liver bank from the Cedars to the Cascades. '« The lower part of this route," Mr. Jones said, " that is, from Pointe-au-Moulin to Pointe-a-Coulonge, recommended by Mr. Mills, was cond;'inned by the Commission, there not being suflicient water." 6. In 1838 Colonel Phillpotts received instructions from Lord Durham to proceed with a survey of tho localities in question. This gentleman's opinion was that the ca- nal should be located on tho north side of the river, purely from military considera- tions. "I am, however, induced to believe," says the Colonel, "that, in any case, it may be found possible to construct a canal on the south shore cheaper than on tha north " 7. Ill 1839 Mr. David Thompson was au- thorised to make a new survey. This also resulted in favor of the construction of the present Beaubarnois Canal. In the same year (1839) the Department of Public Works having been requested to select a route for recommendation from the reports then submitted by engineers, represented tj the Governor-General:— '' That having carefully examined the re- ports and plans and estimates of Messrs. Baird and Stevenson on the practicability of constructing the said canal through the ' for its con- ill 1834, for jy Mr. N. H. m Eiigini'ers th(! opinioa best adapted lur tlmu Mr. propriety of jouis, oil tbe KUlirttioll WH8 owini? to the ailes ; but the ith rilioro wero ue and Henry survey, under CommiHuion, lea. The ex- was entrusted 'hompson ap- It. Lawrence ; entlemon was 1 shore canal, been entirely lade no report, led the Special 842, that his ;reed to recoiii- Coteau to the ine along the ) the CftBcades. te," Mr. Jones -au-Moulin to jnded by Mr. e Commission, ter." potts recoivei am to proceed s in question. IS that the ca- north side of iary considera- ced to believe," ny case, it rar.y ■uct a canal on I on th3 north " impson was an- :vey. This also tructiou of tho the Department (jn reqm^sted to nendation from 1 by engineern, rnor-General : — tamined the re- ites of Messrs. be practicability aal through the ( 6 ) ,1 Seimcniory of Beauharnois, and those of Mr. J. B. Mills for the same through the iSeig- nories of SoulanRes and Vaudreuil, they flud themselves unable to arrive at any con- clusive opinion on this subject lor the want of more information." "The Board tind that the Engineers who have been employed to report ou these routes have contined themselves in their examinations, each to his own side of tho river, and consequently that no investiga- tion by a professional person has been made as to their comparative merits." For these reasons the Department recom- mended the making of a new survey. Notwithstanding all the reports submit- ted, accompanied as they were by maps, plan*-', specifications and estimates, the old Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada failed to arrive at any decision in the mat- ter. At this particular juncture, the coun- try, unfortunately, was too much disturbed by internal and political dissensions to be able to give serious attention to a grent question of political economy, and con- sequently tlie canal question was left in abeyance. A Legislative Union of Upper and Lower Canada was necessary to revive the matter, and to bring this grand national enterprise to a successful issue. The Corn- wall canal, commenced in 1834, retarded in its progress by the rebellion in 1837, was almost completed ; and th(! construction of a canal which would unite the waters of Lake St. Francis with Lake St. Louis, was but its indispensable sequence. 8. In 1841 an estimate of the cost of a canal by the <' Mills' Route " (prepared by Ib'atauel Keefer) was laid before the House of Asscmlily, the total cost of which amounted to £255,900. In presenting this estimate, Mr. Keefer s' . '^d that if the south side of the river W3ri .• 'ected for the loca- tion of this canal,a saving of at least £50,000 would be effected. And in 1842 Mr Killaly stated before the Special Committee that this estimate was presented with the dis- tinct understanding that the canal was to be located on tlie south side. Moreover, it is well known that Lord Sydenham then recommended the south shore as being the best for the construction of the ct\nal. 9. Under all the cirqumstances, and con- sidering the contradictory nature of the various reports submitted, the Government resolved that a new survey should be made, superintended by some disinterest- ed person. This task was naturally en- trusted to Mr. Keefer, Engineer-in-Chlef of the Department, a geatlemaa known to be utterly disinlerosted one way or the other in tho locality, In the month of January, 1842, theittfore, Mr. Keefer was instructed to survey both sides of the river, and to re- port upon the best route with as littlu delay as possible. In this survey he was assisted by Mr. Cowley. On the 17th February following, Mr. Keefer reported to the Department, remark- ing : " Tho best route to unite the waters of these two Lakes has long been a subject of consideration with me. You are aware that I assisted Mr. Mills in tho survey of the three routes on the north side, and should, therefore, have a perfect knowledge of them ; and I have now no hesitation in expressing the opinion Ihat Mr. Stevenson's route, or one corresponding very nearly with it, will be found not only the cheapest but tho best in every respect." lO, This report was, moreover, confirmed by Mr. Chas. M. Tate, who was instructed by the Department to examine the south channel of the river at points lying between , and ^-^alleyfleld. -" I beg to Grande Isle, St. Timotliet In his report Mr. Tate says conclude with one general observation : Considering the distance between tho two levels of water in tho Lakes, and tho ex- tent of the fall which has to be overcome, it appears as if nature had in a singular de- gree, made compensation for the great im- pediments in tho watercourse, by affording on the land by its side unusual facilities for establishing at a moderate expense, an effi- cient and permanent artificial navigation." ;i. Witii a view to forming his own esti- mate of the value of the objectioiis raised by the Seigneurs of Vaudreuil and Soulanges, and by Mr Simpson, the county member, against the contemplated south shore canal, the Chairman o( th'j Board of Works deemed it his duty to accompany Mr. Keefer over the most itnportant por- tions of the survey he was about to make on that side of the river. This was Mr. Killaly's second visit to the locality in question, his first having been made in 1840. A most experienced engineer — familiar with all|tho features of the north bank of the river — » stranger in the country, and therefore free from local prejudices of any kind whatever — Mr. Killaly's opinion was not only worthy of all respect, but of itself it was an au- thority. He pronounced in favour of the route recommended by Messrs. Stevenson and Keefer ; " I declarej" he said before the Special Committee, " upon the honour of a gentleman, that my firm belief, after having aaxioualy reflected upon this sub'sct for ( 6 ) moro than a yoar, entirely concurg with the opinion of those RentU'tnen." Connequently, on the 13th June, 1842, the Executive Council adopted tht; route of the pn-dcnt BeauharnoiH canal ; and, on the same day, the action of the Council was confirmed by the Uovt^rnor-Oeneral. The announcement of thia decision, fol- lowed by the immediate commencement of the works — with a view to retain the hun- dreds of emiftrants then arriving in the Pro- vince — fell like a tiiunder-bolt upon the inhabitants of the north shore of tlie river. The contest between the residents of the north and south sides of the river, which had hitherto been of a very lively nature, now became a furious war. The Counties of SoulanpeR and Vaudreuil, at all times protesting their disinterested- ness in the matter, now set themselves most violently in opposition to the 8eif2;niory of Beauharnois. From 1834 to 1842 Messrs. P. T. Masson and O. tieaudet (representa- tives of the County) and Messrs. DeBeaujen and Harwood (Seigneurs of Vaudreuil and Soulanges) left no stone unturned in their attempts to secure the object they had in view. The indignation manifested by those interested gentlemen, when the Govern- ment decision on this question was an- nounced, may be better imagined than de- Rcribod. Agitation daily increased until It rose to the highest pitch, encouraged as it was by the most influential men in the districts, led by thb Harwoods, the De Beau- jeup, the Simpsons, the Benudets, the Mas- sons, the Ducketts, the Peases, the Mcln- tyres, the Duncans, the St. Amour, the Roys and otl ers. A monster meeting was held at Coteau-du-Lac on the 2-.Hh June, 1842, at which were pfesent, the Hon. Mr. Har- wood, Capt. MrQuaiff, Dr. Loy, Messrs. Simpson. M.P.M'lntyre,Rcebnck,McPher8on, Birmingham, Watters, Peas, Wilson, Beaudry, Duclos, &c. Resolutions were adopted against the proposed canal on the south bank of the river, and a committee was appointei lis' assistant in the surveys — tho very satisfactory n"tur ol tho documents of Mr. Stevenson in favor of the canal on tho south side, the full cor- roboration of those documents by Messrs. Baird, Keefer and Tate, together with my wbolo general acquaiiitauco with the coun. try and nature of the strata, fully convinced me long since, that the south side was tbo proper site unou which the canal should be constructed." 12. — Tho resolution of the Canadian Gov- ernment having been transmitted to Eng- land on the 19th July, was approved by the Imperial Government on the i6th August. In his despatch to the Governor General on tue subject Lord Stanley, the Colonial Sec- retary, remarks :— I confess that it is not without regret tnat I assent to the sacri- fice ofthe military advantages which would have resulted from carrying the canal on the north bank ; but I am bound to admit that on the grounds stated by you the in- • convenience will be considerably less than would at first sight appear." 13. — It should be observed here, that the site selected by Government for this canal, received the approbation of the entire Trade of Montreal and Quebec, and of tho press of the whole country, more particu- larly the Montreal Gazette, the Montreal 'firnes, La Minerve, and L' Aurore. The old Quebec Gazette and the Montreal Herald were the only journals who were adverse to the enterprise. The Montreal Gazette of 7th July 1842 said :— " We think the inhabcants on the north Bhore do perfectly right in holding ( 8 ) ueetiDgs and passing resolutions in wfaat concerns their local interest, if they think they can gain anything by those proceed- ings and have any tangible grounds of op- position to the course resolved upon by the Executive Council That opposition, how- ever, to have the slifjhtest chance of being available, must be based upon honesty and truth. This is not the case with all who have mingled in this controversy." The Montreal Board of Trade even deem- ed it proper to petition the Governor Gen- eral for the immediate prosecution of the work. 14. — One word in reference to the hurried survey of the Public-Works-neglected-place- hunter, Mr. Casey. Itmust be stated that he did not examine the several routes which had been recommended from time to time — that he did not even take the trouble to make an estimate of the cost of a canal on the north bank of the river — that he made no survey whatever in the south bank, to which he was almost a total stranger. His principal and sole object appears to have been to criticise Mr. Killaly's Report with a desire to see it rejected bv tlie House at its approaching session. These tacts cannot be denied, for Mr. Casey himself has admitted them in his examination as a witness, before the Special Committee, appointed by the Legis- lature in 1842. For example : — Question 295. " Were you employed by Mr. Simp- son and Mr. Harwood to survey the line of a canal on the north side, and do you con- sider that you have furnished them with the proper estimates, surveys, and profes- sional data to commence the said canal ? Aniwer. I waj employed by them, but I have not furnished them with those things?" Question 296. " What do you consider then is the precise value of the information that you furnished to Mr. Simpson and Mr. Har- wood ? Answer. That the dift'erence in the cost of the canal on the two sides can be but a fraction of a hundred thousand pounds." Question 301. "Is the map of the ra\ine line submitted by you correct? Answer. The map is not correct, but the profile is." Question3iQ^. " State the reasons why you have not correctly laid down the course of the ravine on the map ? Answer. I had no time to spare, and thought it could have no bearing whatever, wortliy of notice, on the question at !>;«i!e." Question .^12. " You state that the map was made con- trary to your own wish ; by whose desire was it made ? Answer. By desire of Mr. Harwood — I considered a map quite unneces- sary in the case." Question 92 . " Have you examined the western terminus of the canal, between Isle-aux-Chats and tho main shore ? Answer. 1 have examined it, but not thoroughly." Question 106. ''Will you state to the Committee your opinion of the relative merits of the eastern termini on both sides of the Lake St. Louis, touching the expense of making the entrance, and the period of formation and breaking up of the ice ? Answer. Of tliat I liave no know- ledge personally." Question 43. "Which would you call the lee shore of Lake St. Francis ? Answer. The south or east side. I speak from experience acquired on the south side of the St. Lawrence, at Laprairie in 1834-35-36." Quistion 299. " State dis- tinctly whether you have a full and detailed estimate of what it would cost to make a canal on the north side of the river ? Answer. I have not." Question 102 . " Are there rivers of equal extent on the south side to those on the north known as Riviere a De L'Isle, Qivit-r .• Rouge, and Rivi«re-a- la-Graisse ? Ansu r. I cannot answer that question at present, Que-'tion 119. ''What would, in your opinion, b ■ the probable ex- pense of continuing the canal to a point in the Lake, which would afford a good en- trance ? Answer. I cannot ansv/er th \t question." In fact, Mr. Casey's labours were found to have been so incomplete and unsatisfac- tory, that he was forced to admit the im- possibility of making a report for his pa- trons. Shortly after the session of Parliament opened, a motion was made by Mr. Simp- son, seconded by the Hon . George Mofi'att, asking for the appointment of a Special Committee to investigate the conduct of the Board of Works in reference to the Beau- harnoisCunal. A committee composed of Messrs. Merritt, Cameron, Parent, McNabb, D inscomb and the mover and seconder, vva4 named ; an amendment to the motion, to increase the number of the Committee to nine was rejected. The investigation then proceeded regularly, and Mr. Killaly was put upon his trial. Ministers, members of FKrliament, engineers, pilots, merchants, farmers, — in short, persons from all ranks known, or supposed to possess information on this canal quetition, were indiscriminate- ly summoned to app(;ar before the Commit- tee. The celebrated Indian Oro.'i .Tacqueii., the first pilot who conducted a steamer f" Lord Sydenham") down the rapids from Prescott to Montreal, was summoned to give evi- dence. Even Dr. Loy. from Coteau, was ( 9 ) 92 . " Have you tU8 of the canal, od tht) main :aiuined it, but 106. "Will you r opinion of tbe itn termini on LouiH, touciiinK e entrance, and breaking up of liavH no know- on 43. " Which •e of Lalie St. ith or cast side. ;quired on the ice, at Laprairie 99. "State dis- ull and detailed coBt to make a of the river ? tion 102. "Are I on the south nowu an Riviere , and Kiviure-a- lot answer that 3«119. ''What tbe probable ex- al to a point in ord a good en- it ausvifcr th it urs were found and unsatisfiic- admit the im- •oit for his pa- of Parliament by Mr. Sirap- GeorKC Moffatt, it of a Special e conduct of the i to the Beau- tee composed of !^arent, McNabb, id seconder, \vm the motion, to i Committee to vusti{>:ation tlieu r. Killaly was ers, members of ots, merchants, from all rankw sess intormatiou indiscrimiuate- )re the Commit- fJrnii ,TiirquP!i thp Steamer C" Lord Is from Prescott d to give evi- >m Coteau, wut) consulted on the occasion. The most flagrant contradictions appear in the evidence taken, some of the witnesses making statements which subsequently proved to be utterly false. Notwithstanding the Committee was composed of gentlemen of Mr. Simpson's own selecting, they reported, ou the 12th October, 1842: — " That after a most patient and careful investigation upon the import- ant subject referred to them, your commit- tee tind themselves unable to form any conclusive opinion, owing to the peculiar nature of the subject matter to be enquired into, and to the contradictory statements, both from the practical and scientific men whose evidence or opinions have been heard or referred to in the course of the enquiry." In the meantime, the Beauharnois Canal — commenced in July, 1842 — was completed in October, 1845 ; and from that time till the year 1870 nothing mor.4 was heard of the Cedars Canal . 16. With the filling up ^i the original small canals, the once flourishing north shore trade gradually declined, until it finally became completely prostrated ; and, according to Mr. Masson, in a letter recent- ly addressed to the Minerve, that trade has never since revived. "All we," says Mr. Masson, " who have had our properties ruined, and who have not had restitution made to the extent of one-half the amount of loss we have already incurred, and from the effects of which we still continue to suffer, through the ignorance and dishonesty of engineers who, under Mr. Wakefield's magnetic influince, advised the construction of a canal on the south side of the river, when they well knew that its natural course lay on the north side of the rapids," &c., &c. The magnetic influence of Mr. Wake- field ! ! ! But is Mr. Masson ignorant of the fact that Mr, Wakefield was one of the most admired friends of the Gazette and Minerve? Is he not aware that when he offered himself as a candidate for Parliament in Nov. 1842, the Minerve introduced him to the world as a man possessed of" transcendant talents," of " honest proclivities," and capable of wield ing '• most salutary influence," un homme de talents transcendants, de dispositions konnetes, et d'ane influence salutaire. As to the present efforts on the part of the inhabitants of the north shore, to obtain the construction of a new canal on their side of the rivet- instead of thv proposed enlarge- ment of the Beaharnois Canal, they are not content with the incessant labours of their worthy representatives in the House of Commons — Messrs. Lantbier and Har- wood. Faithfol to the mission of his pre- decessors, a medical gentleman in one ot the parishes of Soulanges — Dr. Fortier, of St. Clet — throws himself might and main into the discmssion. Mr. Masson appeals warmly to his friends in Parliament, while, to assure the success of their cause, the powerful voice of Mr. Cauchon is invoked, a man who can discern nothing but contracts from any point of view, and whose gruntings have been heard throughout che country during the past few days. A more fatal death-blow could not be dealt to the Cedars canal ; for everything touched by this shameless poli- tician is certain to be soiled. As an evidence that the present agitation of this question takes its rise in the County of Soulanges, it may be stated that the Government Commission addressed to Sir Hugh Allan, P. Garneau and others, on the 16th Nov., 1870, does not contain a single sentence in reference thereto. Mr. Masson i^ the only individual who has alluded to it. With the exception of this honourable gentleman, the various Boards of Trade and the other memorialists, among whom are such names as Messrs. Winn, Rimmer, Gilmour and McLennan, all recommend the enlargementof the St. Lawrence canals in general and the Beauharnois Canal in parti- cular. And, with Mr. Lanthier's permis- sion, I beg to state that the Com'nissioner's Report of 24th February, 1871, recommends the enlargement of that canal, and not the construction of a new one on the north side of the river : — "A great difference of opinion has existed," they say, " ever since the com- mencement of the undertaking, and still continues to exist, in reference to the best route ; many contend that for military purposes, the canal should have been loca- ted on the north side ; while others are of opinion that its natural position is tbe one it now occupies. The Commissioners have no intention of discussing this question." At page 79 of their report, the Commis- sioners recommend the enlargement of the St. Lawrence Canals, (one of which, clearly, is the Beauharnois, ) the estimated cost of which, they state, will be $3,160,000. Mr Masson asserts that the Commission- ers were not authorised to report upon the necessity of a north shore canal. I main- tain, however, that according to their in- structions, Mr. Masson's assertion is not justified. The CotHmissioacrs were author- ized to enquire generally into the best means of attracting the great Western trade to Canada, viz : — <t 7 ff 10 ,. fi 185) „ 10 Nov. 2.5 12 iNOV. 25 Nov. 24 18-52 .. 1« Dec. 13 }) 16 jj 24 Dec. 15 185;^ » ''^ Nov. 21 14 Dec. 1 Nov. 28 1851 „ 2 Dec. 2 * 10 1 8 Dec, 21 18.55 Nov 28 Nov. 28 18 " 15 Nov. 27 ISoii Dec. a Dec. 1 6 (i Dec. 1 18.57 xov. ai Nov. 26 M 12 t, 12 ., * 185S Dec. 1 t} 26 7 1, 11 Nov, 29 1S59 Nov. 30 Ti 29 7 ), 5 ,. 28 186() Doc. 5 Dec. 3 1(1 10 Dec. 2 1861 .. 4 fi 3 ^^ 12 . 10 „ 2 18«2 ,. 6 Nov. 30 « ^^ 12 Nov. 30 ,. 2 186S „ 10 Dec. 4 ff 12 Dec 7 , 5 IKUl „ 10 ») 3 yt 10 }1 10 „ 1 18B5 ,. 12 f 1 7 jy 13 tt 13 „ 5 ISW) „ 13 »I 8 4) 13 11 » « 1867 ,> 2 }T 2 1 b „ 3 18a'* ., 5 *1 2 }) W ft 5 Nov 27 1869 .. 7 Nov. 30 7 3 .. 21 lf-70 „ HI Dec. 5 1871 I. « j% 2Dee. h Dec."* ♦i Nov. 7 1872 1 Nov. 28 The risks of navigation, dating from 25th November, are generally so great, that the Beauharnois Canal may be considered as opened to trade and navigation, in the fall, to as late a date as the Lachine and Wil- liamsburgh Canals. But even supposing — after its enlargement — the Beauharnois were to close some days sooner than the Lachine, would that be a sufficient reason to condemn it and prefer a north shore canal whose outlet must be into the calm shallow water at the cascades, where navigation every spring and fall would be retarded and lessened to a much greater extent than at Beauharnois ? Mr. Lanthier may possibly be able to ex- plain how it happcuK that the St. Ann's Lock, barely an eighth of a mile in extent, and situated at the foot of a pretty strong current, is closed every season before any of the canals on the St. Lawrence — a fact established beyond all doubt by the figures in the foregoing table. Mr. Lanthier asks : — '' Why were 1 74 working days lost at the Beauharnois Canal, between the years 184G and 1867, taking tor comparison the Cornwall Canal during the same period of time?'' Supposing his figures to be correct, the reply to his ques- tion is not difficult. The conditions of the Cornwall are very diflferent from those of the Beauharnois, as regards climate and loca- tion. Situated more to the West, it is open ( 1* ) to navigation later than either the Lachine or Beauharnois Canals. This result, proved by the figures in the foregoing table, is also uue to the dimensions of the Cornwall Canal the latter having but seven locks against nine m tlie Beauharnois, The locks in the Cornwall Canal are 200 feet in length by 55 in width, while those of the Beauharnois are 200 by 45 only. The width of the Cornwall, at bottom, is 100 feet by 150 at the surface, against 80 and 120 in the Beau- harnois. OrvPARATlVE DSPTH OF WATBR IM THK CANALS. UPPER MITRE SILLS. Lowest Water. Lachine. Beauh'ois.Cornt^all Lock 5. Lock 14. Lock 21. ft. <& ins. 9.10J 9.10 Year. Month 1849 rhe mere mention of these details will suffice to show the advantages pos- sessed by the Cornwall canal, in point of safety and navigati()ii, not only over the Beauharnois, but over all the canals on the St. Lawrence, with the exception of the Welland. This is so patent that even the Williamsburg canals, situated some miles further west than the Cornwall, but whose dimensions are less, do not afford the same number of working days. Mr. Lanthier may probably gay that my reply to his question is not satisfactory • therefore, in the public interest, I will take the liberty of asking him one or two ' questions :_lst. Why did the Lachine c<»nal, which is more rapid and three miles less in length than either the Beauharnois or Cornwall canals, lost 172 working days during the years 18 JO to 1867, taking for comparison the working days of the Corn- wall canal during the same period of time "> 2ad. How many working days would the proposed Cedars canal lose annually, tak. ing for comparison «»,/ of the canals on the St. Lawrence ? 1850 1834 1865 1871 Sept. Oct. Nov. Sept. Oct. Nov. Oct. Nov. Oct. Nov. Sept. Oct. Nov. ft. & ins. ft. & ins. 9.2 8.6 9.0 9.1 8.11 8.0 9.9 9.3 9.4 9.1 THK WATRR IN THE BEAUHARNOIS CANAL. Statistics indicating the depth of water on the floor of certain locks in the under- mentioned three canals (prepared by the Department of Public Works, for points of comparison, at low-water seasons) prove that the Beauharnois Canal is not only equal in efficiency to either the Lachine or Cornwall canals ; but, that it is the best adapted for the required enlargement. The following statement does not give the depth of water at the lower mitre sills, as there is always over nine feet of water there : — 10.7 10.4 9.10 10.11 9.8 11.2 9.10 11.2 9.9 10.10 9.11 11.9 9.10 11.6 9.4 11.3 9.6 11.3 9.9 11.8 9.1 11.1 ^•10 11.0 ....■.■; Alluding to the water level of the La- chine and Beauharnois canals, in 1871 the Hon. Mr. Langevin observed ':—" From tha month of Septembi^r, theSt Lawrence River was so low that the gates of the guard lock had to be kept opened during the day until the close of navigation, to admit the great- est possible flow of water to supply the T^t^u "" M-- • . A^'^'^^ding to the report of the Hon. Minister, it would appear that no scarcity of water was felt In the Beauhar- nois Canal, for he states that "the work- ing of this canal was efticientiy main- tained thronghout the season, notwith- standing the Jow water in the St Law- TfT' c'^^" '"^P*""' "^""^ based upon that of Mr. Sippeli, our worthy Superintending Engineer, who expressed himself in the lollowing more precise terms — " The low water in the St. Lawrence River had no ef- fect on the eflicient working of this canal, which was supplied with the full draft of nine feet on the sills throughout the year except at the lower entrance, where there' was a difliculty which has since been re- moved." COST OK TUB CEDARS CANAL. th?R!r,: lanthier and Masson tell us that that It was found necesary to erect light houses and to construct numerous pfers c^ZZ^iL'^T' '"^^'^^^ torende'rS canal possible of access and passage. They tell us, also, that shipwrecks are I common occurrence ; and, therefore, thev have™ south shore m 1842 was a great mistake. Supposing for a moment that the picture of difficulties men, in the this canal, suffice to ju the fruits of taking the coi north shore. Bent canal ? by Messrs. I been paid, a will the Dom These genf habitants of ] yourselves," closing your ^ for 8mall trafi Valleyfield ii navigation ; shipwrecks ai sert it does, h small light \ inconsistency hoUowuess i: opponents. Now, what Canal cost ? ontiro cost i which sum 5 Valleyfield ai 807 for damaj Hungry Bay, July, 1867,) $2,587,552; I 152; the Wii: All these can same time ; a Lachine and with nearly Williamsburg larly favourec tages presenti will account of their const Messrs. La so much to SI Beauharnois nothing abou Cedars Canal worth while which those lightened the have not ei Library, nor \ the Public W in the "Ion Lanthier has serving publi TBK IM THB CANAI,S, SILLS. Iter. auh'ois.Corntyall. ock 14. Lock 21. ;. & ins. ft. & ins. 10.7 9.2 10.4 8.6 10.11 9.0 [1.2 9.1 1.2 8.U 0.10 8.0 1.9 9.9 1.6 9.3 1.3 9.4 1.3 9.1 1.8 1.1 1.0 ; level of the Lu- lls, in 1871. the ed:— "Fromtha Lawrence River if the guard lock ijJK the day until admit the great- to supply the ng to the report old appear that in the Beauhar- hat 'as8age. They are a common bfty hare come eetion of the sat mistake, at the picture ( 15 ) of difficulties represented by these gentle- men, in the construction and working of this canal, is not overdrawn, would it suffice to justify the country in dropping the fruits of past expenditure, and under- taking the coustrtiction of a new canal on the north shore, instead ot enlarging the pre- sent canal ? The immense sumrf alluded to by Messrs. Lanthier and Masson have all been paid, and therefore, s > much the less will the Dominion have to provide. These gentlemen kindly console the in- habitants of Beauharnois ! <'Do not alarm yourselves," they say, "we do not propose closing your canal ; we desire to preserve it for small traffic." But, if the entrance to Vulleyfield is so frightfully dangerous to navigation ; if it occasions such terrible shipwrecks and even loss of life as they as- sert it does, how can they recommend it for small light vessels ? This is the greatest inconsistency and most palpable proof of hollowness in the objections raised by our opponents. Now, what in reality did the Btauharnois Canal cost? On the 1st July, 1867, the fintiro cost amounted to $1,611,424, of which sum $^2,783 were paid for dams at Vaileyfield and Me-aux-Chats, and $254,- 807 for damages by inundation of farms at Hungry Bay. Up to the same period (1st July, 1867,) the Lachine Canal had coft $2,587,.552; the Cornwall Canal, $1,933,- 152 ; the Williamsburg Canals, $1,320,665. All these canals were constructed about the same time ; and, with the exception of the Lachine and Williamsburg, they all met with nearly the same difficulties. The Williamsburg canals happened to be singu- larly favoured by the great natural advan- tages presented by the river bank, which will account for the comparatively low cost of their construction. Messrs. Lanthier and Masson, who have so much to say and gainsay respecting the Beauharnois Canal, take great care to say nothing about the probable cost of their pet Cedars Canal. This is a point, certainly, worth while examining, and one upon which those gentlemen should have en- lightened the public . I am no enginser ; I have not even access to the Parliament Library, nor to the Board of Engineers of the Public Works Department ; but I find in the "long document" to which Mr. Lanthier has alluded certain estimates de- serving public attention. THE CBDAR.S CANAL. {Probable cost of itf conHruction baited upon estimates made over thirtij yars ago.) MR, mill's estimatk — 1833. Mill's Route, apart from the pur- chase of land and planking of ravine batiks £235 782 Inland Route 324 943 Harwood Route 442 763 MR. KEBFER's ISTIMATE. The Mills' Route, estimate of 1841 .X255,900 Do. do, do, 1842. 354,400 N.B.— Mr. Killaly stated before the Special Committee in 1842, that Mr. Reefer's esti- mate of 1841 was brouijht before the House with the distinct understanding that the canal was to be located on the south shore. It was without doubt for this reason that Mr. Reefer inserted a foot note, stating that the cost of a south shore oaual would be £50,000 less than one on the north. COI.ONEI, nilLLPOTT's E'lTIMATE, 1S39. The MilLs' Route, apart from the cost of planking the banks of the two Ravines £415,900 DAVID M. Thompson's estimate, 1842. The Mills' Route £415,553 HON. MR. KILLALT's ESTIMATK, 1842. The Mills' Route £329,838 The foregoing figures supply more infor- mation as to the pretended advantages possessed by the north sliore, than anything to be said on the subject by Messrs. Lanthier and Masson . The average estimates show that in 1842 the Cedars canal would have cost, by the Mills route, about £400,000, •nd about a fourth more if the inland route along the river bank had been adopted. Comparing things as they existed thuty years ago, with our position t' -day, what do we And? Everything has enhanced in price — timber facilities are far removed —the cost of mcnual labour has tripled itself, while that of mechanics is nearly quadrupled— iron and other materials in general have doubled in cost. Taking all this into account, the member for Soulan- ges may calculate with a degree of certainty that the Dominion P.arii.imcnt would neither satisfy him nor his constituents in the demand they are making, unless they are prepared to incur an expenditure of over $4,000,000— a sum which would be more ( 16 ) than Biiffiaient (according to the Commis- sioners Report of 1871) to enlarge all the canals on the St. Lawrence, and improve the navigation of the rapida. It has been also stated that the entrance to the iJeauharnois Canal is solid rock. Now, according to all the Reports of En- gineers who have surveyed that locality up to the present time, the bottom or bed of the river at that entrance, from the head of tlie canal to La Grosse I'ointe, is shown to con- stitute clay and stone, or, to use Mr. Keefer's own words, " clay, with a few boulders," which could be easily removed. THH DIFFICULTIES OF CONSTKITCTINO A CANAL ON TUB NORTH SHOKK. Taking into consideration the length of the contemplated north shore canal, and the ertgineering difficulties which would have attended its construction, the estimates sub- mitted by these engineers appear to have been reasonable and moderate. I have no intention of entering into the details of those difficulties ; they are all minutely described and carefully consider- ed in the various documents which accom- pany the Report made by the Special Committee in 1842. The re-production here of all the opinions then given by the engineers employed in connection with that enterprise, however interesting they might be, would occupy too many pages to justify me in imposing so much upon the patience of the reader. Suffice it to say, that the main difficulties comprise :— The peculiar nature of the soil, which is clay and quick- sand ; excavation of the ravines ; their rapid currents ; the staying of the embank- ments ; the construction of piers and of pathways for hauling purposes ; the con- struction of aqueducts to the Rivers Rouge, de risle and a La Graisse ; the removal of rock at Coteau and at the foot of the Cascades ; |the ditference of water level between Lakes St. Francis and -t. Louis, which is higher on the north side than on the south, &c , &c. But the inferiority of the north shore as compared with the south, is still moie forcibly exhibited in the opinion of Mr. Mills himself, who considtfTs it to be impost sible to construct by land a canal along the ravines or on the river bank. These are his own words :— » Above the Cedar.'*, the banks are from twenty to thirty feet high, com- posed of clay, with some veins of sand, frequently sliding ofl" in very large bodies, showing the destruction which would be consequent upon constructing a canal along or near its foot, or upon the top. Here also, below the Cedars, it would be im- possible, with any reasonable expense, 'to maintain a canal, either upon or at the foot of the bank of the river, on account of the great bodies of It which frequently slide into the ravine." Mr. Mills' friend (Mr. Wright) also ob- serves ; — ' ' The shores are a formation of clay and loam, underlaid with quicksand, which occasions, yearly, very considerable slides ; and a canal carried on such ground would be in great danger if anywhere near the river." And Mr. Casey says: — "With reference to the wash of the ravine, the canal will re- quire cleaning out ten times oftener than the ravine, owing to the great additional depth and width." This peculiarity of soil afl'orded one of the principal reasons which induced Messrs. Mills and Wright to recommend the adop- tion of the two ravines in the river route. However, i jc canal by the ravines would not meet the exigencies of trade. Mr. Casey, who agrees on this point with Messrs. Mills and Wright, says that this is a steamboat canal. Messrs. Keefer, Baird and Thompson coincide with this view. There is no doubt that the trade of the Dominion, as well as that of the United States, require canals open to the naviga- tion of barges and schooners, as well as to that of steamers and propellers. If my op- ponents doubt this fact, let them consult the Appendix to the Report of the Canal Commissioners of 1871 . TUB MILITARY VIEW OF THE QUESTION. One word now in reference to the objec- tion raised against the Beauharnois Canal, based upon military considerations. I feel certain that neither Messrs. Lanthier or Masson, nor ev„n the patriotic Dr. Fortier, claim to bo more national or devoted to the British Crown than the late Governor- General, Sir Charles Bagot. And here is what His Excellency said in reply to an address presented by the loyal inhabitants of Soulanges (with Mr. Simpson at their head), in which it was represented to His Excellency that the Beauharnois Canal was an enormous blunder, in a military point of view ; — " Assuming," he said, " Canada to be in- vaded from the United States by the line of Lake Cbamplain, the battle will have to be fought on the south shore of the St.Lawrence. Dg a canal along the top. Here it would be im- ble expense, 'to a or at the foot account of th« frequently slide Wright) also ob- a formation of vitU quicksand, evy conKiderabie on Huch ground anywhere near With reference ie caual will re- les oftener than great additional afforded one of induced Messrs. mend the adop- le river route. u ravines would of trade. Mr. m point with says that this s. Keefer, Baird nth this vie^v. ho trade of tiie i of the United to the naviga- s, as well as to ers. If my op- '< them consult rt of the Canal B QUESTION. s to the objec- harnois Canal, trations. I feel s. Lanthier or tic Dr. Fortier, or devoted to late Governor- And here is in reply to au |ral inhabitants ipsoa at their ssented to His nois Canal was litary point of inada to be in- 8 by the liae of will have to be [ieSt.Lawrence. ( 17 ) Any force which could drive Her Majesty's troops across the river would have little difficulty in getting possession of Montreal, which is undefended. But, in such a case, the canal in question would afford the in- vaders no advantages or facilities of any kind. It would never be used for the trans- port of troops or stores to Montreal, because such troops or stores could be sent down the rapids, which are perfectly navigable downwards, with much greater ease and quickness, It would not be used for as- cending vessels, because it would be much more easy to communicate with the States by the Richelieu and Lake Champlain. It would not affect the communication be- tween Upper and Lower Canada, because that is secured by tlie Ottawa and liideau, which, in case of war, must always be the line of communication. It would be sub- ject, if taken, lo be injured or destroyed ; but in the improbable event of our being driven from the soutli shore, the canals on the north would be scarcely more secure ; they would, of course, be the objects of at- tack, and it would be impossible to protect them from a -force which, it is assumed, would have been powerful enough to drive the British army across the frontier." Besides, it is a well known fact that the Cornwall Canal is within the range of Ame- rican gun-shot, at several points along its line, and more particularly so from Barn- hart and Chimney Islands. Consequently, it is absurd to suppose for an instant that, in case of war, the St. Lawrence Canals — especially a canal at the Cedars — could be of any utility. CONCLUSION. To sum up this discussion, the whole question appears to me to resolve itself into this : — Will the enlargement of the Beau- harnois Canal, and the deepening of the en- trance at Valleyfleld, cost less money than the construction of a new canal on the north shore of the river— ani how much? Even supposing it to be shown that the enlarge, ment will cost more, the public should be assured, before adopting the north shore enterprise, that the seasons of navigation on that side of the river will not be shocter than they are on the south side — keeping in view the existence of the Ottawa Eiver, and the peculiarities attaching to the local- ity at the foot of the Cascades. Such a cal- culation can only be undertaken by com- petent and disinterested engineers, after making scientific surveys on botb sides of the river. At the request of Mr. Lanthier — for he himself informs us that "the Legislature, intending to discuss during the present ses- sion the question of river improvements on the St. Lawrence, he seized the opportunity of inducing the E.xecutive and the Assembly to correct the blunder of 1842' — the Do- minion Government ordered a new survey to be made last fall Mr. Crawford was entrusted with the examination of Lake St. Francis, while the survey of the north bank of the river was undertaken by Mr. Bail- large, assisted by Mr. Farigenea. Mr. Harwood tells us that Mr. Baillarge's report will be " au honest and disinterested one." Mr. Lanthier says that I insinuate or suspect that Mr. Baillarge has been bought. Neither of those assertions have any foun- (liition. No one disputes that Mr. Bail- large is an honest man, nor will any one credit the statement that he has been bribed. But I deny that he is a disinterested party in the premises. I have already stated that Mr. Baillarge must be interested, in- asmuch as he not only is a resiuent at the Cedars, but that he owns property there, and his family connections are all there. Have my statements on this point ever been refuted ? The disinterestedness claimed for Mr. Baillarge is of such a nature that Mr. Harwood, in a letter published in the Minerve on the 27th March last, is able to announce in advance that his report "would shortly be submitted to the House, when it would be seen that it would correspond with that of Messrs. Mills and Casey." Neither the country, nor the Beauharnois County, will accept the decision of such an important case by such a judge. In all civilized nations an ex- pert may be recused by reason of his being au interested party in the case. Judges of the highest Courts are not permitted to act in matters in which they are personally ia> terested — themselves, their wives, their children, their parents, or their first cousins. Shall it not be permitted to recuse a public expert on the ground of being indi- vidually interested, to say nothing of the interest which attaches to his cousins? Such a pretension is too monstrous and dangerous in its consequences to receive any intelligent or impartial public approbation. When a heavy expenditure of the peo- ple's money is about to be made for public improvements — such, for instance, as for the enlargement of a canal already in good working order, or the construction of a new one instead — it becomes above all things necessary that even a suspicion of serving private Interests should be removed. If ( 18 ) the deepening of the Bay at ValleyfieJd is found to present difficulties of a more seri- ous nature than those discovered to exist in the proposed canal at the Cedars, let the |)oint8 be established by Engineers, who Iwive no local interests to servo. The people have too much confidence in the integrity of the present Government, and in the in- telligence of its Parliament to suppose for a moment that Mr. Brtillnrge's report will lie adopted by either one body or the other. If the survey of the localities in question be only entrusted to competent strangers I have no fears for the result— it will beas'it Lver has been before, viz: that the south siiore is the best, whether considered in point of economy or in reference to trade and navigation. The words of Mr. Kil- lally, as stated before the Special Committee in 1842, may bo here repeated— .ind he spoke them having a perfect knowledge of the subject ;— "I am convinced that if twice I the number of Engineers were to make sur- I veys and reports upon the subject, no other I conclusion can be come to than that which I I firmly maintain, viz : timt the line of ca- nal on the south side now in progress, is greatly superior in point of efficiency to anv line on the north side." Before the idea of constructing a canal at the Cedars can be seriously entertained It must be demonstrated that the trade of the country requires a double chain of canals along the whole of the St. Law- rence— a necessity which may probably be felt at no distant day— but even then, it may not be without interest to consider whether a canal by the "Baird route" via the St. Louis River, from Hungry Bay to the Town of Baauharnois, may not be of greater advantage than a canal on the north shore of the river. D. GIROUARD.