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 1 2 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 

GRAIN TRAD 
 
 Th 
 
 Memoi 
 
 TO HIS EXCE'J 
 
 The Legislatui 
 1 4tli (lay of Ft 
 lution, which v 
 by the Goveri 
 
 ...„„, ,1 -f ' 
 
 CIJ'DH 
 «£C'508 
 
 598'Wl'SJM'KJ' 
 SSl'88C'lKO'88C' 
 
 9I8'tI«'9W»'0SS'9 
 
 H-i'i05'f.5S(:'6«»'l'a 
 
 19»'I»O'Ill»l'I08't'(i 
 OIS'IIO »*S'I9« a 
 
 puBlSug 
 
 ■uBuuivqo 
 •Tiag ih:^ 
 
 eighteen millions found its way to Montreal. The mo^ 
 this produce must always be greatly influenced by th 
 cheapness and other advantages of the respective re 
 would be available. Montreal is now only second to ^ 
 on this continent as a grain-exporting port. 
 
 For 1862 the quantity of wheat shipped from Montrc 
 year was, according to the best information, over fiftet 
 bushels. As is shown by the evidence herewith subw 
 St. Lawrence line of navi.';ation sufTcrs a disadvantage 
 of return freights for the •. ,3sels Avhich come with grain 
 West. In consequence of this drawback, the receipts 
 ments of Montreal are not so large as they otherwise w( 
 been. But whether the produce of the Western States 
 be shipped from Huron and Michigan Lake ports be 
 for market and consumption in the Eastern States, ' 
 Eastern Provinces of British America, or for shipment t 
 the proper route will be the shortest and cheapest. In 
 New York I'rom ports on Lake Michigan, the canals ant 
 of the State of New York arc the principal available 
 transport between the great lakes and New Vork city. 
 Ottawa navigation opened, the proposed Champlain C 
 structed and the Northern Canal enlarged, this Nort 
 would be 150 miles shorter than any other, and by rea: 
 very superior capacity would afford the best possibl 
 transport between the Great West and New York, j 
 as it does many advantages as regards distance, time, and 
 when compared with existing routes, it seems clear that 
 command a very large portion of the trade. In cons: 
 subject of this magnitude and peculiar character, your C 
 are sensible of the necessity for exercising due caution in 
 at conclusions. On this point, however, they feel that 
 dence which is herewith presented is lull and convincing. 
 
 The character of the country through which this proi 
 of navigation passes is varied. The easterly portion, bei 
 more than half the total distance — lies in a well-settled, 
 country, and is at present navigated by large steame 
 westerly portion is through a wilderness, which as yet is 
 quented by the hunter, the voyager, or the lumberer. Bi 
 a wilderness, it is the very heart of the finest pine forest 
 the world, and would yield immense amounts of lumbe 
 port; at the present time the trade in lumber is the large 
 "ade of home products in Canada, and the supply in thi 
 18, with judicious management, almost inexhaustible. 1 
 ing of this line of navigation would aiford a market, e 
 none in the world, for the sawed lumber of that immens 
 The country is of the granitic formation, rather hilly, am 
 from seventy to seventy-five per cent, of the land is bettei 
 to timber-growing than tillage. There are many ext«ns; 
 of good arable land, beautifully situated and well watere 
 will eventually, and perhaps at no very distant day, s 
 
 large population; but th3 general 
 'r"'' Vt hen it i* consider^ that i 
 
 character of the renor 
 
It 
 
 
 ■^ 
 
 The Grai 
 
 Memorial of the IlUi 
 Commissioners. 
 
 TO HIS EXCELLENCY TllE (^OVEIlNIIU-r. 
 CANADA. 
 
 TllE Legislature of the stntn of Illiii 
 14tli (lay of February, 1S()3, passed a 
 lution, which was on the same day dul; 
 by the Governor, creating a coininisi 
 i'oni|)(i»ed of five citiitcns of Illinois, 
 pointed by the (Jovcrnor, with full 
 authority on behalf of the state to pel 
 proceed personally to the Provincial G 
 and I'arliaincnt of Canada, and, ifdeen 
 ('ommissioncrs advisable, to the Gove 
 Great Hritaiii, for the purpose of pri 
 those Governments, in any propei 
 statistics of the fraiie and productic 
 North-Western StatcM of the Aineric 
 which are seeking mlarged nn<l chcaj 
 to the ti<lc-wnter, by way of the lakes, ; 
 and new or enlarged canals of Cuihk 
 solicit from those Goveinmints their ea 
 siduration of and early actiiin upon a 
 such great and ranidlj growin!> imp 
 them as well as to th(! North-Wcstcrn 1 
 In compliance with the rcquiremei 
 joint resolution referred to, and under tl 
 inent of the Govenior of Illinois, we 
 respectfully and briefly to present to 
 through you to the I'roviMcial Parliamc 
 ISritish Government, th^ importance 
 (treat Uritain and the United .States ol 
 and perfecting the navigation of the St. 
 as to alforil to the commerce of both 
 a cheap communication between the 
 ports on the North-Western lakes 
 Britain. The growing and already vitt 
 for enlarged and cheaper avenues be 
 North■^Vestern States and the Atlantic 
 comparatively neglected, because those ; 
 producing states were S|)ar3ely popul 
 only a few scattered hamlets anil forts, i 
 of the last treaty between the two couni 
 within the last half-century the agrici 
 sources of these states have been deve! 
 a rapidity unparalleled in the history of 
 The surplus of products furnished by tl 
 with their present population of nine r 
 already immense, and, with the increase 
 for reaching a market, that surplus \ 
 creased with a rapidity even beyond tl 
 past twenty-five years. With one-tei 
 arable surface under cultivation, the | 
 jWheat of the North-Western States in 1( 
 j^matcd at one hundred and fifty milli( 
 ,<and of Indian corn at five hundre 
 [* bushels ; and from our own state of Illi 
 Y' there baa been shipped annually, for tl 
 ^f years, a surplus of food sufficient to 
 
 (inillions of people. 
 
 -^ For several years past a lamentabl 
 
 .■ crops actually harvested has occurred 
 
 '•quence of the inability of the railways 
 
 111 leading to the seaboard to take off the e: 
 
 IgNurth-West seems already to have ar 
 
 .point of production beyond any possib 
 
 jfor transportation which can be provid 
 
 I by the great natural outlets. It has fc 
 
 icessive years crowded the canals am 
 
 J! with more than one hundred millions 
 
 t of grain, besides immense quantities of 
 
 [ visions and vast numbers of cattle and 
 
 lincreasingvolume of business cannot be i 
 
 J without recourse to the natural out 
 
 ■lakes. 
 
 The future prosperity of these states 
 I on the great lakes depends, in a grea 
 upon cheap transportation to foreign 
 hence, they are vitally interested in tb 
 Fof opening the St. Lawrence, the grc 
 I thoroughtarc from the lakes to the occa 
 j and by which the people of England m 
 I their supplies of brcadstuHs and provisin 
 ! exceeding the quantity heretofore recc 
 • the United States, at one-fourth less cf 
 khos heretofore been obtained. From 
 Ipericnco derived from shipments of Ii 
 I from Chicago to Liverpool, it is show 
 [freight charges often cover seven-eigb 
 [ value of a bushel of com at Liverpool. 
 " one-half of the cost of wheat is also 
 I Bumed by the present very inadequate 
 I transportation. 
 
 I The annually increasing receipts 
 I grain into the United Kingdom are cb 
 
 43075 
 
The Grain Trade of the North- West, 
 
 riiOPOSEl) SHIP CANAL THROUGH CANADA. 
 Supplement to the Free Press, August, 1863. 
 
 A 
 
 Memorial of the Illinois 
 Commissioners. 
 
 Ills KXCI;LLENCY the (iOVEIlJIIIU-f.FJIKUAI, OF 
 CANADA. 
 
 \: Legislature of the stiitn of TllinoiM, on tliu 
 li (lay of Fcbruiiry, lS(ia, piissecl ii joint rc«o- 
 on, which was on the s:inie day duly aiiiirovcil 
 the Governor, creating a cninniisslon to be 
 ipoaed of five citizens of Illinois, to be ap- 
 nteil by the (iovcrnor, with full ])owcr ami 
 hority on behalf of the state to petition or to 
 ci'iid personally to the Provincial Government 
 I'arlianicnt of Canada, and, if deemed by the 
 uniissioners advisable, to the Government of 
 :at Uritain, for the purpose of presenting to 
 se Governments, in any proper manner, 
 istios of the trade and productions of the 
 rth-Western StatCM of the American Union, 
 ch are seeking mlarged and cheaper outlets 
 he tide-water, byway of the lakes, and rivers, 
 new or enlarged canals of (Canada, and to 
 it from those Govcinmints their earnest con- 
 ration of and early action upon a subject o( 
 h great and rapidlj grnwinij importance to 
 n as well as to the Nortli-Westi-rn States, 
 n compliance with the roriuircmcnts of the 
 it resolution referred to, and under the appoint- 
 nt of the Governor of Illinois, we have come 
 [lectliilly and briefly to present to you, and 
 nugli you to the I'rovinciat Parliament anil the 
 tish Government, th3 importance both to 
 !at Britain and the United States o( so opening 
 I perfecting the navigation of the St. Lawrence 
 to alford to the commerce of both countries 
 :heap communication between the shipping 
 Is on the North-Western lakes and Great 
 tain. The growing and already vital necessity 
 enlarged and cheaper avenues between the 
 rth-AVestern States and the Atlantic has been 
 inaratively neglected, liecause those great food- 
 ducing states were sjiarsely populated, with 
 y a few scattered hamlets anil forts, at the date 
 he last treaty between the two countries. But 
 bin the last half century the agricultural re- 
 rces of these states have been developed with 
 jpidity unparalleled in the history of the world, 
 e surplus of products furnished by these states, 
 h their present population of nine millions, is 
 ■ady immense, and, with the increased facilities 
 reaching a market, that surplus will be in- 
 ased with a r.ipidity even beyond that of the 
 t twenty-five years. With one-tenth of the 
 ble surface under cultivation, the product of 
 iatof the Xorth-Western States in iaG2 is esti- 
 :cd at one hundred and fittv million bushels 
 . of Indian corn at five liundred million 
 hels ; and from our own state of Ulir.ois alone 
 re has been shipped annually, for the last two 
 rs, a surplus of food sutficient to feed ten 
 lions of people. 
 
 "or several years past a lamentable waste of 
 ps actually harvested has occurred in conse- 
 nce of the inability of the railways and canals 
 ling to the seaboard to take off the excess. The 
 •th-West seems already to have arrived at a 
 it of production beyond any possible capacity 
 transportation which can be provided, except 
 the great natural outlets. It has for two suc- 
 live years crowded the canals and railways 
 li more than one hundred millions of bushels 
 p^in, besides immense quantities of other pro- 
 ons and vast numbers of cattle and bogs. This 
 'easingvolume of business cannot be maintained 
 lOut recourse to the natural outlet of the 
 
 IS. 
 
 'he future prosperity of these states bordering 
 the great lakes depends, in a great measure, 
 n cheap transportation to foreign markets ; 
 cc, they are vitally interested in the question 
 ipening the St. Lawrence, the great natural 
 roughtarc from the lakes to the ocean, through 
 by which the people of England may enlarge 
 r supplies of breadstuffs and provisions, greatly 
 ceding the quantity heretofore received from 
 United States, at one-fourth less cost than it 
 heretofore been obtained. From actual ex- 
 enco derived from shipments of Indian corn 
 a Chicago to Liverpool, it is shown that the 
 ;ht charges often cover seven-eighths of the 
 le of a bushel of corn at Liverpool. More than 
 half of the cost of wheat is also often con- 
 ed by the present very inadequate moans of 
 isportation. 
 
 'be annually increasing receipts of foreign 
 n into the United Kingdom are chiefly made 
 
 up of increased receipts from the United States. 
 The freight charges upon our American bread- 
 stuffs amount in the aggregate to more than 
 double the .ivcragu charges on all the grain im- 
 ported there from the continental markets, yet 
 increased supplies are annually being drawn from 
 America. I ho Kuroptian customer for our 
 breadstuffs determines their price in all of our 
 markets. The surplus <if grain derived from tlin 
 , Xorth-West is fifty or sixty millions of bushels 
 I boyoml the demand of the Kastern States, and 
 t when the surplus i.s carried to their markets the 
 foreign quitations establish the value of the 
 entire harvest. 
 
 Our pniiric soil.s are tilled with the same 'aci- 
 lity as the alluvial soils of tl;c; v;;'ley of the Nile. 
 Ill their natural state they hai'o an abundant 
 growth of the most nutritious ij.asses, which fur- 
 nish the farmer with food for his cattle and 
 horses at a nominal cost. The cultivation of these 
 lands so largely by improved mi'ohanical means 
 reduces the first cost of our grain brlnw that of any 
 I of the Kuropeaii countries ; hence, our products 
 ! have entered largely into competition with the 
 [ pioduit.s of other countries, upon which the freight 
 charges form a small part of the Knirlish importer's 
 expenses. These North- Western States furnished 
 one-third of lf),0i»4,yi4 quarters of grain im- 
 porti-d into Knglaud in the year IMOI, a season of 
 extremely high iieights on the lakes and canals 
 as well as upon the ocean. The ollieial returns 
 of ISd'J are not yet published; it is believed, 
 lionrever, that the proportion of .Vinerioan grain 
 was still larger than in 1801. In this view we 
 may safely conclude that the ((uestion of devising 
 cheaper ijnd more expeditious routes for the 
 transportation of this grain to Kngland has be- 
 come of e(jual iinportaucu to Great Britain and 
 the United States. 
 
 It is the opinion of your Memorialists that the 
 cost of transportation ni.ay be reduced ten shillings 
 per quarter, or thirty cents per bushel. One-half 
 of this sum added to the income of our farmers 
 would give a remarkable stimulus to the produc- 
 tion of grain, and would lead in a few years — 
 within five years at the farthest — to the produc- 
 tion of a surplus exceeding the total of the present 
 importation of grain into England from all 
 countries. And it is equally true that the present 
 heavy freight charges, consequent upon the in- 
 adequacy of the means of transportation, will 
 diminish the production of grain and divert agri- 
 cultur.il labour and enterprise into some other 
 and more remunerative channel. We think we 
 are warranted in expressing the opinion that a 
 luodurate expenditure devoted to connecting the 
 Canadian Kivers with the great lakes in Canada, 
 so as to permit steam navigation to Alontreat 
 and, if practicable, a direct trade with Liveriiool, 
 will open to England a supply of breadstutls as 
 large as she now imports Trom every other country, 
 at lower rates of first cost, and thus give the 
 control of the grain markets of the world to the 
 largest purchaser. 
 
 The interior of North America is drained by 
 the St. Lawrence, which furnishes for the country 
 bordering upon the lakes u natural highway to the 
 sea. Through its deep channels must pass the 
 agricultural productions of the vast lake region. 
 The commercial spirit of the age forbids that in- 
 ternational jealousy should interfere with great 
 natural thoroughfares, and the Governments of 
 Great Britain and the United States will appre- 
 ciate this spirit and cheerfully yield to its influ- 
 ence. The great avenue to the Atlantic through 
 the Sc. Lawrence being once opened to its largest 
 capability, the laws of trade, which it has never 
 been the policy of the Federal Government to 
 obstruct, will carry the commerce of the North 
 West through it. 
 
 In concluding, we will say that we come as 
 agents of the Government of the State of Illinois, 
 not intending to transcend the limits of our power, 
 and carefully avoiding the assumption of any of 
 the functions of the t'ederal Government in its 
 international relations, but to present to the Pro- 
 vincial Government of Canada, and through it to 
 the British Government, such ti>ctB concerning the 
 resources of the North-Western States, their capa- 
 city (or production of the cereals, and the difficultv 
 in reaching tide-water with their products, as will 
 tend to the opening of direct trade between those 
 states and Liverpool.— Respectfully submitted, 
 W. B. Ogden, W. H. Osbobn, 
 
 J. S.W. Singleton, W. H. Green. 
 J. Young Scamuon, 
 
 Chkago, Jllinoit, March 10, 1863. 
 
 43075 
 
 The Canadian Government and 
 the Illinois Memorial. 
 
 The iollowiuj^ is from a private letter, dated 
 Juno ir> :— . 
 
 " 1 have now to report the information I have ob- 
 taini il from the A merican aKencim in London respect- 
 ing the lUludis proposal. Tlie tirst application wu to 
 : tlie American C^onKress for a caniU complrting the 
 I coniiuu nitaiion with Kuro|)i' by ilie iliMiuippi. Con- 
 jiress refused the a|iproprmiioii, and Cummiuioucra 
 I were then app"iiited hy tlie State of Illinois to 
 , propose to the fiiivuriiuitiit of CaimJa, and, if ueces- 
 j sary, to that of Kii|ilaiiil, a ship canal from Lake 
 I Huron to the river Otta\vi^ to as to enable vessels 
 ! to go ilircct I'rum ChicaKo to Liverpool. By this 
 course the transit would be elleeted without touching, 
 I at any piiint, oil the territory of the United States, 
 , and would pass entirely thruugli the territory of 
 Great Hrilaiii. The Commissinuers wire not to at:t 
 out lor (iuebec till the 30tli of May. In the face of 
 the (jcncral electiuu in Canada, caused by the defeat 
 of the Ministry, tliey will iluubtieis have postponed 
 their journey lor a month or two. Their Memorial 
 to the Uovernor of Ciiiada was, liuwevir, forwarded 
 '' lui CliicaKo on the luth of March. A Committee 
 the Cuiiaiiiaii I'lirliainent reported, not indeed on 
 the Memorial, but oii the piopostd (.'anal on the 
 aotli (if April. 'I'iiis reiiort w,ui lavuurable to the 
 project oil evi ry jiuiut. 1 lie t'anadian Uovernmcnt, 
 however, antieipattd tlie reiKjrt by a negative of a 
 most extrauriliuary uature, which requires a word 
 of explanation. Up to the year 1859 there weie 
 tolls on all the Caiiadiaii Canals. There was, how- 
 ever, ((/* trsctption in /ufuur of yrain mul Jiour. After 
 paying toll on the Welland Caual these were allowed 
 to pass free through the !St. Lawrence Canals. 
 j " In IS.i'J the tolls were abolished by an Act of 
 the Legislature. 
 
 '■ On the loth of April last the Canadian GoTem- 
 mciit issued a rroclaniation rtimposing the tolls 
 while rejiealing the exemption in favour of grain. 
 The result is the amiulliugot all the contract* made 
 for the year resiiectiiig the transport of grain through 
 I British territories, and the throwiug back ot the 
 ' exporters of grain upon the ICrie Canal which goes 
 I through the Liiiled States. This proceeding, which 
 is nominally a measure for increasing the revenue, 
 ; is exactly analogous to the export duty imposed 
 on the products of Turkey by the Commercial 
 Treaty of 1S38. It annihilates the export, and of 
 course, with the export, deatroya the export duty. 
 The efli^ct of this measure upon all persons in Eng- 
 land interested in Canada is to excite their indigna- 
 tion against Canada, and to arrest all investment 
 there of Kiiglish capital. They consider the Uovem- 
 nieiit and a large section of the people of Canada as 
 uuder influences originating at Washington, which 
 must end in destroying the Colony. Their only 
 hope is that the electors may return leptesenutivea 
 who will repeat the vote of ' No Confidence' just 
 given by their predecessors against the Administra- 
 tion. Otherwise, they say, Canada is doomed.'' 
 
 Article of the London Times. 
 
 Article of the Times, April 29, IbG3. 
 As the vessel of the American Commonwealth 
 labours more and more heavily in the revolu- 
 tionary ocean on which, in an evil hour, she has 
 embarked, the tendency to separation between 
 her straining timbers becomes daily and hourly 
 more manifest. Interesting and exciting as pass- 
 ing events may be, the future begins to occupy 
 more of men's minds than the present ; and while 
 we hear nothing but the most frantic declarations 
 that the Union must, shall, and will be preserved 
 at the cost, if necessary, of the depopulation of 
 half a continent, and the slavery of the other half, 
 the actions of men are beginning to show how 
 little confidence they repose in their own most 
 solemn declarations. Of course, by the Constitu- 
 tion of the United States, that Government to 
 which everybody is so loudly professing uncondi- 
 tional loyalty has supreme power over the foreign 
 relations of the Republic, and it is only through 
 it that foreign nations can be approached. Liver- 
 pool and Glasgow have exactly as murh right to 
 estabhsb diplrma'ic or ^m^i-diplomatic relations 
 with France ar. ssia as Illinois or Michigan to 
 opoii negotiatio .s with the British Government. 
 Yet this, or something verj like it, hag actually 
 been done. Wc have now before us a paper ad- 
 dressed to the Governor-General of Canada, signed 
 by five influential citizens of lUinois, among whom 
 we observe the name of Mr. Osbobn, the Presi- 
 dent of the Illinois Central Railway, which looki 
 exceedingly like an attempt to establish on a plau- 
 sible basis the means of a regular diplomatic com- 
 munication 'between the State and the Colony. 
 
GRAIN TRADE OF THE NORTH-WEST. 
 
 AVu are the more strengthaned in tbb conviction 
 from the very earnest (liseloimer with wbicli tLc 
 ilociiment enils. " Wo come," say those who sign 
 it, " not intcnilin/{ to trnnseeml thu limitb of our 
 jiower, and carefully avoiilinu; the assumption ol' 
 any other functions of the: I'eilorul Government 
 in it! international relations, hut to (iresunt to the 
 Provincial frovornnient of Canada, and through 
 it to the British GoTemment, such facts concern- 
 ing the vast resources of the North-Wcstern 
 States, their capacity for the production of the 
 cereals, and thj difficulty of reaching tide-water 
 with their pvoduct, as will tend to the opening cf 
 direct trade between those States and Liverpool." 
 
 The Cominbsion must be deUcato indeed which 
 requires to be so expressly guarded. The autho- 
 rit' is nothing less tlian an Act of the Governor 
 an<l Legislature of Illinois authorising the Com- 
 missioners to proceed to Canada, and to England 
 if necessary, in order to present statistics of the 
 trade and productions of the North-Wcstern 
 States, and to solicit £i"om thooe Governments 
 early consideration and early action on the sub- 
 ject. Tho ease is a wonJerfully strong one, and 
 though the fact of such u Mission having been 
 sent to enforce it might pasn icilhuul ubseroalina in 
 timrn le.1.1 nentfiil than those in which y"- -jre 
 living, the remarkable coincidence between this 
 movement and the events which seem to prove 
 that the North-AVcst must give up for the future 
 the hope cf seeing the Mississippi again oper to 
 their commerce, seems to point to motives i/et 
 Mure uryeat than a mere iriih lu iuereate an ulreaJy 
 exiilint/ trade. Tho North- West, in fact, seems, 
 however tardily, to be awakening to the real 
 urgency of its situation. It has taken upon itself, 
 with a gallantry equal to its ill-fortune, the task 
 of fighting the battle of the whole Confederacy. 
 It has bled freely at every pore, without receiving 
 any of the consolation which the public pitnider 
 has afi'orded to the fervid patriots of New York ; 
 and the return which it receives for its gallimtry 
 and devotion is that it h.is alienated the South 
 who are its natural customers, 'vithout any hope 
 of restoring that Union lor which it has fought 
 and bled. The North-West seems to have ar- 
 rived at the conclusion that nothing but a ship 
 canal which shall open the liirthest extremities of 
 J.,ake Huron and Lake Alidiigan can enable it to 
 pour its produce on a t^calu eounuen.iurate with its 
 abundance into the lap of Europe. The canals at 
 present connecting the l.iake States with the 
 Atlantic are small, shallow, and, though tit for 
 lake craft, quite unsuittd fur nca-going vessels. 
 The railway commmiication i.^ entirely inade- 
 quate, and large quantities of Indian corn are de- 
 scribed as left in sheds, one of which was two uiiles 
 long, by the side of the railways, from the harvest 
 of one year to the harvest of the next, because 
 the railway is unequal to the transport of so vast 
 a mass of food. In 18(il the United States — 
 which may for this purpose be considered to mean 
 the North-Western States, since tho Eastern States 
 consume more corn than they produce — imported 
 into England alone -2,507,744 quaiters of wheat, 
 1,7-J3,334 quaiters of Indian corn, and 3,794,805 
 hundredweights of Hour, the who!.: of which are 
 computed to have been sold in England lor 
 12,643,918/. Hut this wheat, Hour, and Indian 
 com was worth in Chicago only 4,817,567/., so 
 that tie difference between the value at Chicago 
 and the value in London is no less than 7,8-'i.-I.J 1 /. 
 The freight from the North-West to Liverpool is, 
 on wheat, one-half its price ; on flour, one-third ; 
 aud on Indian corn, seven-eighths of its price. It 
 is calculated that were a ship canal to be made, 
 so Its to allow a direct communication, without 
 transhipment, between (Chicago and Liverpool, 
 the grain might be brought to market for one- 
 lourtli of its present price. But this calculation, 
 stupendous us it is, fails to give the least idea of 
 what we may reasonably expect the future to be. 
 The State of IlUnois is the most thickly peopled 
 of these regions, and yet even there only one-tenth 
 of the arable land which it possesses a under cul- 
 tivation. Its surface, naturally cleared, watered 
 by noble rivers, and possessing the same rich 
 quality of soil as tho black country of Eussia, or 
 as that which made the deltas of the Nile, the 
 Ganges, the Euphrates, and the Tigris, the seats 
 of the earliest civilisation known to us, is capable 
 of yielding through almost any number of years 
 ten times its present amount of grain. 
 
 In urdiHary times such statements as these would 
 fill tie hearts of all patriotic Americans with joy 
 and exultation. Their lot has, indeed, fallen in 
 pleasant places. They are the heirs of all the 
 ages, and have come in the fulness of time to reap 
 a glorious inheritance, such as never fell to the 
 lot of any other people. Unibrtuiiately, man has 
 lent himself with almost unexampled perversity to 
 mar and destroy the blessings which nature tries 
 in vain to shower upon him. It is proposed that 
 the canal should be cut from Lake Huron to tba 
 
 Ottawa, and it is estimated that the expctiic on 
 
 the canal, together with the deepening of the 
 river, would amount to some 4,(^0,000/. But 
 where is the money to come Irom!' It is not 
 likely that Cauada would contribute largely lo 
 such an oliji'i't fn>t, because she is oiiTy inei- 
 ilentally interested in its completion, thu per- 
 sons mainly interested being tho producer aud 
 consumer; and, secondly, because a long course 
 of extravugancu and waste has reduced Canada 
 to a positiuii in which, on her own showing, she is 
 incapable of contributing to any object, however 
 necessary or however beneficial. In England there 
 is always capital for any undertaking which holds 
 out a fur less brilliant prospect, aitd yet nuthiiig 
 i.i more imprubahle titan that Eiiglaitd stionlU con- 
 tribute a niiKjle fartldngfor such a purpose. America 
 must not hope to enjoy at the same time the ex- 
 citement of civil war and the blessings of peace. 
 If she is oU'ering human hecatombs every day to 
 the demons nf strife and war, she must content 
 herself with that satisfaction. If the North arc 
 still bent on restoring the Union, at whatever 
 price, and uleitding their dominion to tho mouth 
 of the Mississippi, let them abide by their election, 
 and give up as wor^e than hopeless the chance of 
 carrying their trade down the waters ol the St. 
 Lawrence. What English company will be frantic 
 cnougli to sink its capitJil in a land where every 
 one's attention is absorbed in the single thought 
 of how to alienate, to ruin, and ta exterminate his 
 neighbour ? 
 
 These things are so evident that we cannot 
 believe the men of Illinois would have opened 
 negotiations on tlie subject had they intended to 
 stay exactly as they are. The ver.y fact of their 
 insisting so loudly on tho necessity of farther 
 openings for their produce seems to show that, 
 whatever niiiy hi! the case in New York, there is 
 on the still ^.eacel'ul plains of the West a disposi- 
 tion to look with no unlriendly eye on the restora- 
 tiou of peace upon the basis of (existing boundaries 
 and rights. It is very singular to find that while 
 in the East the estrangement from England is 
 glowing greater and greater every day, that 
 estrangement seems to tie counterbalanced by a 
 desire in the Wtst to draw closer to this country. 
 These are the first taint indications of tendencies 
 which may be destineil to plag a pruiuinenl part in 
 tin: liidiirji ol the Jidurr. They concern England, 
 as a great American Power, and point to the time 
 when America shall have a political system of her 
 own, as caricd and as complicated as thai of 
 Europe. It is useless to speculate on the expe- 
 diency of such a state of things, for it is clearly 
 inevitable. AU we can desire is that the change 
 whicli is coming may be allowed to take place 
 without two or three more yeai's of fruitless 
 misery and wanton bloodshed. 
 
 Sheffield Memorial in Favour of 
 the Ottawa Canal. 
 
 At the Monthly Meeting of the Council 
 of the Borough of Sheffield, July 8, 1863, 
 it was 
 
 Resolteu UNAN1MOD8LY, that a Me- 
 morial from the Council be addressed to 
 His Grace tlie Duke of Newcastle, Her 
 Majesty's Colonial Secretary, requesting 
 that the support of the British and Cana- 
 dian Governments may be given t<} the 
 proposed Ship Canal from Lake Huron 
 to the Ottawa, by which the immense 
 produce of the Western States of Ame- 
 rica would bo brouglit direct from Chicago 
 to England, and the expense of transit 
 thereby diminished to one-fourth of the 
 cost by the present route. 
 
 To THE Most Noble His Gracb the Duke of 
 Newcastle, Her Majesty's Colonul Secke- 
 
 TAKY. 
 
 The Memorial of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Bur- 
 gesMt of the Borough of Sheffield, in Council 
 aasembled, 
 Sboweth, 
 
 That, on the 14th of February last, the State 
 Legislature of Illinois authorised the appointment 
 of a Commission, with plenary powers to appeal to 
 the Canadian and Britbh Governments, in favour of 
 enlarged and cheaper outlets for the great and 
 rapidly-increasing produce of tho North-Western 
 States of America, by way of Canada, to Eng 
 land. 
 
 That on the lOtli of March, the Commissioners 
 addressed a Memorial to the Governor-Qer.jral of 
 Canada, setting forth the facts of the case, and so- 
 liciting earnest attention thereto. 
 
 That, thereupon a Select Committee of the Ca- 
 
 iiiidiau rarliamcul was uppo'ulcd lo "investigatn 
 the subject <if a navigable line of coiamunicaliou by 
 way ol till' Ottawa and Mattawan river'<, Lake 
 Niuissing, anil ImcikIi Uiver, between Montreal 
 and Laki^ Huron." 
 
 That, on tho ;tUtli of April, tho Counnilleu 
 issued llicir rcjiort, wherein they stated that their 
 iiKjuiry had been divided into seven branches, and 
 that upon each of them the cvidcure was full and 
 couchisivo ill favour of a ship caiuil from Lake 
 Huron to the Ottawa. 
 
 Thai, from these; and other official documents it 
 appears, on incontestable evidence, 
 
 i. That the surplus products of the North- 
 Western States have increased during the last half 
 century with an unparalleled rapidity, and that the 
 increase will '.jvcn be much greater in the future. 
 
 i. That, in 1862, the produce of wheat in these 
 States was estimated at one hundred and fifty mil- 
 lions of bushels, and of Indian corn at five hundred 
 millions of bushels. 
 
 .'i. That, for several years a lamentable waste of 
 this moduce has taken place, iiicouscqucncc of the 
 iuabilitjr to move it by the present means of transit ; 
 the existing canals and railways having been 
 crowded, for the last two years, with more than 
 one hundred million bushels of grain, besides im- 
 mense quantities of other provisions, together with 
 vast numbers of cattle and hogs. 
 
 4. That ail enormous quantity of produce is left in 
 sheds at Chicago, from one harvest to another, to 
 take its chance of being moved ; imd one shed alouc 
 is two miles in length, which is filled therewith. 
 
 .'i. That the present annual quantity of grain 
 which requires moving from Chicago is not less 
 than one hundred and twenty niillioos of bushels, 
 or liftecn millions of (|uarters. 
 
 0. That the present mode of moving this jiro- 
 duce from Chicago to England is by way of Lake 
 Alichignn, Lake Huron, across to liake Erie, by a 
 lak(; and two p:issage3. Lake Erie, the Erie canal, 
 and the Hudson lo New York, a distance of 1300 
 miles, there being several transhipments, in coiise- 
 (pience of the canals being small, shallow, and quite 
 uusuitcd for sea-going vessels. 
 
 7. That till! present cost of the transit of wheat 
 is equal to one-half the value at Liverpool ; of flour 
 to one-third tho value, and of Indian corn to seven- 
 eighths the value. 
 
 5. That, notwithstanding these serious disad- 
 vantages, the import of wheat from these States to 
 England in IbOl, was 2,507,744 quarters of wheat 
 as compared witli 713,182 quarters in 1S53; and 
 3,7'J4,S0a cwts. of flour as compared with 3,043,107 
 cwts. iu 1».")3, together with 1,723,334 quarters of 
 Indian corn. 
 
 9. That the cost of this produce at Chicago 
 was 4,817,")07/., and was sold in Liverpool at 
 12,643,918/, the expense of transit being no less 
 than 7,820,351/. 
 
 10. That the direct distuuco betweeu the 
 Georgian Bay of Lake Huron and the Ottawa, is, 
 less than 200 miles, and the intervening country^ 
 is perfectly adapted for a ship canal, which is pro- ' 
 posed to he made, thereby reducing the extreme- 
 distance of deep water communication from Chicago! 
 to Montreal, by not less than 500 miles, as com-l 
 pared with the present inefficient water commuui-l 
 cation to New York. f 
 
 11. That the cost of mokmg the canal would notJ 
 exceed 4,000,000/., and the expense of coaveyiug 
 produce from Chicago to England would be reduced 
 to one-fourth of the present amount by means oil 
 the canal. That iu presenting the facta herein! 
 rehearsed, to your Grace, your Memorialists submit,L 
 Tliat as the proposed canal would b<! corriedl 
 entirely through British territory, it could not be I 
 made without the concurrence of the British and | 
 Canadian Governments. 
 
 That as England is unable to grow sufficient! 
 food for her population, the quantity of wheat atl 
 present yearly imported into Liigland being nearlyl 
 seven millions of quarters, and nearly seven millionl 
 cwts. of flour — it is indispensable to facilitate the! 
 making of this canal by which the surplus of fiftyl 
 million quarters of grain, now annually produced ial 
 the Western States of America may be brought inl 
 a cheap and direct manner to England. I 
 
 That Sheffield is peculiarly interested in the canall 
 being made, as a great portion of her manufocluredl 
 gooos are taken by the Western States of America,! 
 and her artizans have severely suffered for sevenll 
 years in consequence of the American trade bemgl 
 paralysed. , I 
 
 Your Memorialists therefore earnestly press this I 
 case on the serious attention of Tour Qrace, inl 
 order that the support — not however in a pecuniary I 
 sense — of the Bntish and Canadian Governments,! 
 and the utmost facilities they possess, may bel 
 promptly given to the promoters of the undertakinff. I 
 
 Given under the Corporate Common Seal of tbe| 
 said Borough this Sth day of July, 1863. 
 
 (Corporate Seal.) Johm Bbowk, Mayor. 
 
PROPOSED SHIP CANAL FKOM LAKE HURON TO THE OTTAWA. 
 
 a 
 
 ee of the Ca- 
 
 "iiivestigatn 
 nuniculioii by 
 river", Lake 
 en MoiiliL'al 
 
 I Comiiiittcu 
 :d that tlieir 
 )raiichc», mid 
 was fiJI and 
 il fruiii Laku 
 
 ducumeiiU it 
 
 the Nurth- 
 ; thu last half 
 
 and that the 
 tlic future. 
 ^Iieat ill tlii'se 
 and lifty mil- 
 
 five huudi'cil 
 
 al)l(! waste of 
 qucuce of the 
 us of transit ; 
 having been 
 th more tlian 
 besides im- 
 together with 
 
 )duee is left in 
 tu anotlier, to 
 )ne shed aluuc 
 therewith, 
 itlty of grain 
 ;o IS not less 
 lis of bushels, 
 
 viiig this ))ro- 
 way of Lake 
 ikc Eric, by a 
 he Erie canal, 
 tauce of 1300 
 nts, in coiise- 
 low, and quite 
 
 nsit of wheat 
 pool ; uf flour 
 corn to seven- 
 serious disad- 
 tliese Stales to 
 rters'of wheat 
 in 1S5S ; and 
 with 3,043,107 
 131 quarters of 
 
 :e at Chicago 
 
 Liverpool at 
 
 ^ being no less 
 
 betweeu the 
 the Ottawa, is, 
 fcning country y 
 , which is pro- 
 ig the extreme, 
 a from Chicagol 
 miles, as com-T 
 rater coininuui-[ 
 
 anal would notj 
 i of conveyiu 
 }uld be reduced 
 it by means ofl 
 c facts herein 
 jrialists submit,L 
 lid b<! carriedl 
 t could not be I 
 he British and I 
 
 grow sufficient! 
 ity of wheat atl 
 ul being ucarlyl 
 iy seven millionl 
 to facilitate the I 
 surplus of fifty! 
 dly produced inl 
 be brought in| 
 nd. 
 
 itcd in the canall 
 r manufactured! 
 ites of Ainerica.1 
 ered for ■eTerall 
 :an trade being! 
 
 lestly prens this! 
 Your Grace, in! 
 :r in a pecuniary I 
 I GoTernmenta.l 
 )ssess, may be I 
 he undeTtakinx. [ 
 non Seal of tDe| 
 L863. 
 loWH, Mayor. 
 
 , Canadian Report. 
 
 THK rilOfOHEU OTTAWA CANAF.. 
 
 Thk Select Corniiiitteu uppuintcd to invustlguU! tlio subjout of a 
 navigable lino of communication by way of the Ottawa and Mat- 
 tuwuii Rivers, Lake Nipisainu and French Kiver, between Mon- 
 treal and Lake Huron, beg leave to make the ibllowing us their 
 Ueport: — 
 
 In proceeding to investigate the subject of a navigable line of 
 communication between Montreal and Lake Huron by way of the 
 Ottawa and Mattawau Hivers, Lake Nipissing and French River, 
 your Committee agreca to direct attention to the lollowing 
 branches of enquiry : — 
 
 1st. As to the character of the route, and its adaptation to 
 being made navigable, (irst, lor steamers and propellers of large 
 size, and second, for barges and other vessels of less draught of 
 water, and the cost of opening the route in both points of view. 
 
 2nd. The advantages and disadvantages of this route as com- 
 pared with other existing lines of communication. 
 
 3rd. The extent of the trade at present between the Western 
 States, tiie Great Lakes, especially Lake Huron, and the ocean, 
 and its increase and development, and the proportion of that trade 
 that would probably be attracted to this line if opened. 
 
 4th. The character of the region through which the line 
 passes. 
 
 6th. The probable effect upon the commerce and ,'ettlement of 
 the country, of the opening of the line of intercommuiiication. 
 6th. Its advantages as a means of military defence. 
 7th. The means to be adopted for the execution of the work. 
 The evidence obtained on the several heads is herewith sub- 
 mitted. 
 
 As regards the character of the route, the facts presented are 
 so well established, and the evidence so full and conclusive, that 
 your committee do not ieel called upon to 'take up much space on 
 the subject. Very superior iacilities are shown to exist for o])en- 
 ing a first class navigation on the line proposed. Th;; surveys 
 made under the direction of Messrs. H. 8hanly, T. C. Clarke, 
 and H. B. Gallway, enable them to give minute and accurate 
 information respecting the whole line from St. Anne's, near 
 Montreal, through to Lake Huron, and the information oflbrded 
 by Captain Sclaikk, .'especting the section below St. Anne's 
 Lock, make the evidence on that portion of the subject complete. 
 From actual surveys the fact is estabUshed beyond any question 
 that there are no engineering dithculties to ovt-rcome in opening 
 the through navigation by this route for vessels of any class up to 
 twelve feet draught of water, and between Montreal and Chicago 
 this line is more than three hundred and fifly miles shorter than 
 the existing line of navigation. 
 
 The difference of cost between a deep water navigation and one 
 ibr vessels of light draught of water is very considerable. In 
 /857 Mr. Shanly estimated the cost of constructing the works 
 aid canjing out a scale of construction, allowing ten feet draught 
 pf water on the mitre sills, and 'with locks 250,850 feet chamber 
 It 24,000,000 dollars. This estimate included the enlargement 
 If the canal between Lachine and Montreal, and was made from 
 ae surveys then made of the westerly portion of the route, and a 
 lursory examination of the eastern portion, between Ottawa and 
 lontreal. On this lower or eastern section it was believed that 
 Ihere existed considerable engineering difficulties, which were 
 ^uly considered in that estimate. For reasons stated in the evi- 
 Icnce herewith submitted, Mr. Shanly says, "ho never had the 
 opportunity either of surveying or making a general r"'>mination 
 kt the Lower Ottawa from the city of Ottawa to iSt. Anne's." 
 Since that estimate was madel it has been shown by surveys that 
 Ihe lake of Two Mountains afibrds a straight deep natural chantiel 
 pf thirteen feet least depth, where it was believed a good deep 
 channel could only be obtained by very expensive excaTBtion, 
 and for that expected obstruction a large amount forms part of 
 Ithis estimate. On this fact Mr. Shanly says in the evidence 
 herewith submitted: — " An important and highly favourable fact 
 has been established by the surveys of Mr. T. C. OLAbKE. I was 
 apprehensive that a natural channel of sufficient depth did not exist 
 jthrough the kke of Two Mountains (page 25 of Report), and could 
 only be obtained at very great expense." Mr. Shanly, for these 
 Reasons, in his evidence, reduces the estimate of cost to 21,000,000 
 ■dollars, and by modifying the stvlo of work in some cases the 
 Icost may be still further reducea very considerably. As shown 
 in the evidence, Mr. Shanly lefl the survey before it was com- 
 pleted, and as stated in his report, only estimated approximately 
 ^om the examination then made. Mr. Clarke, who succeeded 
 Shanly, and completed the survey, and reported on the 
 jibject to the Goveminent, is of opinion, as stated in his evidence, 
 Mt the cost of opening a barge navigation of, say. five or six 
 \x water, would be about fiye millionfi of dollars. His estimate 
 
 for the cost of nine feet draught of water is 12,0*7, o80 dollars. In 
 Mr. Sha.mi.y'.s report of 1H57 the total length if canal is assumed 
 to be 58 miles, but the surveys subsequently made show that the 
 channels were greatly more favour .ble than was supposed, and 
 tliiit so great a dift;iiico of canal was not required. Twenty-two 
 miles oi "close ciuul" is the distance computed by Mr. Clark, 
 and this is based upon the complete surveys made between St. 
 Anne's and Lachine. Captain SclatEk's evidence shows that a 
 moderate outlay will afford a good channel on this section if 
 there be not a good natural channel existing. It is clear that the 
 scih; of navigation decided upon will dctcriiiinc tlie extent of 
 outlay required, and whether a barge navigation of six feet 
 draught, m the locks 250 in length by .10 leet in breadth, be 
 adopted, or ten (eet water at least depth, with locks the same 
 length and width as stated, will determine whether the work will 
 cost six millions or twenty millions of dollars. Ten feet was re- 
 garded by Mr. Shanly as the extreme depth, by reason of the 
 harbours of the ports on Lake Michigan at that time allowing of 
 no greater draugnt of water. It was his opinion that the greatest 
 depth of water in these harbours should be the extreme measure 
 of the draught in. this navigation, and when it is considered that 
 vessels navigating these waters must receive their cargoes from 
 those ports, it is Jcar that his reasoning is correct. 
 
 In any enquiry of the kind under consideration, distance must 
 always bu regarded as of importance. In this case assuming that 
 Montreal ana the entrance to Lake Michigan, are points that are 
 common, to better the existing and this proposed means of water 
 communication between Montreal and Chicago, wo find the dis- 
 tance to be : 
 
 Miles. 
 From Montreal to Mackinaw by way of the St. Ijawrcnce route . . . lOlS 
 
 From Montreal to Mackinaw by way of the Oltuwii route JO 
 
 Difference in favour of the Ottawa route is 3(iS 
 
 For estimating the time required to make the passages respec- 
 tively, we may take Mr. Suanly's Report on the subject as u 
 fair mode of estimating. He Siiys, " Allowing a vessel to make 
 8 miles an hour on the river or lake, .3 on the canal, and giving 
 
 her 1 i minutes for each foot of lockage, we obtain : 
 
 Hours. 
 
 1st. Wcllimd voyage, requires lOlJ 
 
 2nd. Geori;ian fiay, requires 17<) 
 
 3rd. Ottawa HO 
 
 This estimate is based, however, upon the assumed 58 miles 
 of " close canal," which, when reduced to 23 miles or less, makes 
 the time required for canal passage proportionately less on the 
 Ottawa route. 
 
 The difference in point of safety between lake and river nayi- 
 gatiori involves risk, and consequently greater expense for in- 
 surance. This proposed route by the Ottawa between Lake 
 Huron and Montreal, is entirely free from such risks and 
 expense. 
 
 In all grstems of inland navigation where vessels must be raised 
 and lowered Dcora one level to another, an abundant supply of 
 water is an absolute necessity. However favourable the position 
 of a route may be, or however great or profitable the traffic 
 offered or required to be upon it, a limited supply of water must 
 accordingly limit the services which the works can perform. Tlie 
 entHneers who have examined this proposed route, agree in 
 opinion that Lake Nipissing and the lakes near the source of the 
 Mattawan River should be united and be made the summit feeder 
 to supply both westward to Lake Huron fifty miles, and eastward 
 to the Ottawa River thirty-three miles. This, we arc informed 
 by Mr. Clarke, in his evidence, afibrds a supply many times 
 greater than can ever possibly be used for lockages. On this 
 point, it being of vital importance, it became the duty of your 
 CotYimittec to enquire specially ; and the result of the enquiry is 
 as stated. 
 
 Respecting the harbourage that can be afforded at the mouth 
 of French Iffiver, the evidence of the engineers is very favourable. 
 A clear channel is found from the open lake, passing in deep 
 water and free from any obstruction into the mouth of French 
 River, and the formation of the shore is such as to afford good 
 harbourage and protection for vessels. Several lights will be re- 
 quired at the harbour entrance to guide vessels coming in, but it 
 does not appear that further outlay in respect to the harbour is 
 required. 
 
 The trade between the Western States and the seaboard has 
 
 now become so great, that increased facilities for transport of 
 produtse are urgently asked for. We find from the information 
 obtained from various sources with respect to that trade, that the 
 quantity of wheat and other grain which requires movement, 
 may be set down at present as not less than 120,000,000 bushels 
 per annum. This fact, and the very great progressive increase 
 during the past four years, are shown very fully by the accom- 
 panying tables which were obtained from the statistical branch 
 of the Financial Department. Of that immense quantity, over 
 
1 
 
 GRAIN TRADE OF THE NORTH-WEST. 
 
 eifjhtecn millions i'ound iu way to Montrcul. The movement of 
 this produce must always bo greatly inlluenceJ by the rcLttive 
 cheapness and other udvuntaKCH of tlio respcutivo routes that 
 would be available. Montreal is now only second to New York 
 on this continent as a grain-exporting port. 
 
 For 1H(>2 the quantity of wheat shipped from Montreal in that 
 year was, according to the best inlbrmution, over fifteen million 
 bushels. As is sliown by the evidence herewith eubmitted, the 
 St. Lawrence line of navigation sudors u disadvantage for want 
 of return freights for the vessels wliich come with grain from the 
 West. In consequence ol' this drawback, the receipts and ship- 
 ments of IMoiitreal ore not so large as they otlicrwisc would liave 
 been. But whether tlio produce of the Western States that will 
 be shipped from Huron and Michigan Lake ports be destined 
 for markut and consumption in the Eastern States, or in the 
 Eastern Provinces of British America, or lor shipment to Europe, 
 the proper route will be the shortest and cheapest. lu reaching 
 New York from purts on Lake Michigan, the canals and railways 
 of the State of New York arc the principal available means of 
 transport between the great lakes and New York city. With tlie 
 Ottawa navigation opened, the proposed Champlain Canal con- I 
 structed and the Northern Canal enlarged, tliis Northern line ' 
 would be 150 miles sliorter than any other, and by reason uf its 
 very superior capacity would aflord tlie best possible line of ' 
 transport between tlio (ireat West and New York, possessing ; 
 as it does many advantages as regards distance, time, and expense; ; 
 when compared with existing route.-', it seems clear that it would 
 command a very large portion of the trade. In considering a | 
 subject of this magnitude and peculiar character, your (.'oramittce I 
 are sensible of the necessity for exercising due caution in arriving ' 
 at conclusions. On this point, however, they feel that the evi- . 
 dence which is licrewith presented is full and convincing. I 
 
 The character of the country through which this projKised line ' 
 of navigation passes is varied. The easterly portion, being rather 
 more than half the total distance — lies in a well-settled, populous 
 country, and is at present navigated by large steamers. The 
 westerly portion is through a wilderness, which as yet is only fre- 
 quented by the hunter, the voyager, or the lumberer. But though ; 
 a wilderness, it is the very heart of the finest pine forest known in : 
 the world, and would yield immense amounts of lumber for ex- | 
 port; at the present time the trade in lumber is the largest export : 
 trade of home products in Canada, and the supply in tliis quarter 
 is, with judicious management, almost inexhaustible. Tlie open- ! 
 ing of this line of navigation would afford a market, second to , 
 none in the world, for the sawed lumber of that immense region. | 
 The country is of the granitic formation, rather hilly, and perhaps 
 from seventy to seventy-five per cent, of the land is better adapted 
 to timber-growing than tillage. There arc many extensive tracts 
 of good arable land, beautifully situated and well watered, which 
 will eventually, and perhaps at no very distant day, support a 
 large population ; but the general character of the region is difie- 
 rcnt. U hen it is considered that (he tract of country IiuA spoken 
 of exceeds in area the whole of the five New England States to- 
 gether, it will be apparent that there is room for varieties aa re- 
 gards quality of soil. 
 
 One uniform feature, however, prevails. The countw through- 
 out is covered with heavy forest, and the largest portion of that 
 forest would become marketable wood ; only the superior qualities 
 of pine are worth the cost of manufacture and transport at present, 
 and even that is limited to the portion of the region whose waters 
 flow to the Ottawa. 
 
 With this navigation opened through to Lake Huron, the wood 
 of all kinds would be marketable; even the coarsest qualities 
 Would furnish fuel for the Prairie Counties. The trade in wood 
 for fuel at the port of Chicago alone, in 1862, exceeded 500,000 
 dollars, and the demand must increase and continue. 
 
 From these facts disclosed by the evidence before us, it is 
 apparent that the trafBc on the St. Lawrence route is stated at 
 much less than it would be if vessels from Upper Lake ports were 
 sure of retui-n cargo. The uncertainty in that respect has a 
 serious effect, and greatly influences the course of trafBc. On 
 the Ottawa route no such disadvantage could arise; return cargo 
 of lumber would always be certain. The supply of lumber is 
 practically unlimited, and the demand and consumption in the 
 Prairie States will always be immense. To supply the Chicago 
 market at the present time would employ a large fleet of vessels. 
 
 The effect to the country generally of the opening of this 
 navigation could not fail to be highly beneficial. With the 
 increase of the carrying trade there would be, of necessity, in- 
 crease of tonnage and of commerce generally in our sea ports. 
 
 Alone the lino of the navigation, water-power is ab 
 most easily and cheaply available for manufacturir 
 With the facilities of communication provided, no sii 
 found more fitvourabic for manufactories; it would 
 Bc-ttlcment on the arable lands and at the favourably i 
 for manufactories, and aflbrd opportunity for the pi 
 ploymcnt of productive industry and capital thro 
 interior of the country. Tlic cities and towns along ( 
 frontier road would be opened up, communication wi 
 tained at all seasons, and the vast extent of wildemci 
 in rear of our narrow frontier strip of cultivated coi 
 speedily be settled (at least in all portions fit for settl 
 by this manner greatly increase the trade in that di 
 generally lead to the prosperity of the country, 
 cannot possibly be regarded as local or sectional. F. 
 to Lake Huron, both on the frontier and in the reini 
 the etTects would be sensibly felt, and could not be otl 
 Ijeneficial. And, as regards eflects immediately on t 
 Ottawa belonging alike to Upper and Lower Canada, 
 portion of the routu must be alike beneficial to both ] 
 
 Your Committee feel that this proposed work is 
 than ordinary importance to the country by reasoi 
 vant^tgcs it would aflbrd as a means ot milita 
 Its position, removed from the frontier ani 
 a communication between tidewater in the 
 rence and the weatem Iiakea by the very 
 and most direct route, gives to it a high 
 value in that respect. Not wishing to discuss 
 in tiiis place, or to enter upon particulars in relation t 
 tages in that line they humbly submit merely, that t 
 deserves the best and most favourable consideration 
 the part of tlie Lcgisloture and Government of Ci 
 the Imperial authorities. While the advantages of 
 if opened, would be great and general, as regards i 
 benefits resulting to the Western States would also bi 
 commercially. Their commerce and the carrying tri 
 the West and the seaboard can only bo secured to 
 affording them facilities superior to those aftbrdcd els 
 at more favourable rates to outlay. But their produ 
 valuable commercially to them when means of ti 
 afibrded, and as this work would present advantages 
 any other, it therefore would yield them benefits to 
 beyond what they enjoy at present. 
 
 As regards the best means by which to accomplisl 
 tion of this work, your Committee humbly submit, 
 existing circumstances, they believe that a company 
 for the purpose, appears to be the best course 
 adopted, but under provisions such as to fully secui 
 of the Crown on that important thoroughfare, and 
 time afford the company needful powers, for the purp 
 and afford aid in lands or otherwise as may be coi 
 to promote the success of the undertaking. 
 
 ROB£ 
 
 Thursday, 30th April, 1862. 
 
 Wheat and Wheat- Meal imported into 
 from 1853 to 1861. 
 
 (Fr(m the Betum* of the Board of Trade.) 
 
 Wheat— Qiurteni. 
 18KI I IfM I 189.1 1890 I 1897 { 1898 I 1839 
 
 Ottonuui Em- 
 pire I aM.363l 989,708' S27,76!l 
 
 Ranis .l,07U,»or e0fi,8.18 
 
 Oiber put! oT I 
 
 Europe, *c U,!!12,413 1,»0],919 l,878,4e7il 
 
 roiled Stal«s . 713,187 417,607i 348,9061, 
 
 Britlah ^axlh 
 
 Amerin I 84,971 1S,I90| 14,970 
 
 Other psrta of 
 
 America.. 
 
 Total l4.915,43O'3,431,2ii72,607,70al4,072,B383,437,997!4,a41,719'4,0(X1.93 
 
 808,3941 240,3801 C64,794' 490,84 
 799,499; 706,379 012,216; 889,46 
 
 114,112 1,729,693{2,369,344 2,637,70 
 ,279,190| 690,794 994,044 30,90 
 
 111,818 114,799 100,821 
 
 Ottoman Em- 
 pire. 
 
 Other parta of 
 
 3,043,1072,970,970 
 
 Aiutralla. 
 
 United states 
 Brltiah North! 
 
 Amerles J 292,0761 lls.K^O 
 
 Other parte or 
 
 America. 
 
 Whe. VMeal— Cwie, 
 
 l.au,.333 888,4» 1,149,409 713,7101 684,204 1,. 40,993 
 72,088 
 
 084,136:2,893,917 
 10,928 304,119 
 
 69,768 36,629 — 
 
 1,404,807 
 179,077 
 
 Total |4,621,9«0|:J,64«,9O9i1,904,334!3^0,100;3,178,148{m60,137 
 
 1,76:799 
 312,768 
 37,681 
 
 >,9e7,S3 
 310,40 
 113,39 
 11,17 
 
 3,828,3! 
 
 PKINTED AND PUBLISHED BY C. D. COLLET. AT 4, EAST TEMPLE CHAMBERS. 
 
EST. 
 
 navigation, water-power is abundant, and 
 \y available for manufacturing purpogcs. 
 ominunication provided, no sites could bo 
 for manufactories; it would thus induce 
 ! lands and at the favourably situated sites 
 aflbrd opportunity for the profitable cm- 
 e industry and capital throughout the 
 The cities and towns along our southern 
 i)poncd up, communication with them ob- 
 d the vast extent of wilderness now lying 
 ronticr strip of cultivated country would 
 cost in all portions fit for settlement), and 
 increase the trade in that direction, and 
 prosperity of the country. The effocts 
 rded as local or sectional. From Quebec 
 n the frontier and in the remote interior, 
 isibly felt, and could not be otherwise than 
 jards effects immediately on the line, the 
 ! to Upper and Lower Canada, the greatest 
 ist be ulilcc beneficial to both Provinces. 
 I that this proposed work is one of more 
 nee to the country by reason of the ad- 
 ford as a means oi military defence. 
 red ttota the frontier and forming 
 >etween tidewater in the St. Law- 
 item IiakeB by the very shortest 
 oute, gives to it a high degree of 
 ict. Not wishing to discuss that subject 
 r upon particulars in relation to its advnn- 
 huinbly submit merely, that this fact well 
 most favourable consideration, as well on 
 .aturc and Government of Canada, as of 
 While the advantages of this route, 
 teat and general, as regards Canada, the 
 e Western States would also bo very great 
 commerce and the carrying trade between 
 board can only bo secured to Canada by 
 ;s superior to tnose afforded elsewhere, and 
 es to outlay. But their products ire only 
 to them when means of transport are 
 ^ork would present advantages superior to 
 would yield them benefits to that extent 
 )y at present. 
 
 means by which to accomplish the execu- 
 r Committee humbly submit, that, under 
 I, they believe that a company incorporated 
 icars to be the best course that can be 
 •ovisions such as to fully secure the rights 
 ; important thoroughfare, and at the san o 
 ny needful powers, for the purp«»e in view, 
 is or otherwise as may be considered besi. 
 s of the undertaking. 
 
 Robert Bell. 
 iril, 1862. Oh airman.] 
 
 jat-Meal imported into England| 
 om 1853 to 1S61. 
 
 Returns of the Board of Trade.) 
 
 Wheat— Quarters. 
 Vm 1850 { 1897 I 1858 I 1859 
 
 1860 I 18(11 
 
 3' 11:17,759 
 
 808,3941 340,3801 l!64,794 4.W,847 S«l,3<4j 571,310 1 
 75<J,4.'>9: 70«,375 Wi,2W. 8tl5,4eo;i,»01,14Cl,Ml,48l| 
 
 J I 
 
 »l,87e,4C7it,114,113 1,735, e5ai3,3Cg,344 
 7i 348,906 1,379,150| 650,754, 594,044 
 
 111,818 
 
 3,637,709 3,535,741,3,301,578 1 
 30,900 1,499,385 3,507,744 1 
 
 114,795 100,831 
 
 183,433 549,5341 
 41,30sl 
 
 7 3,607,7034,073,8383,437,957:4,341,7104,000,933 5,880,958 6,913j81S 
 
 Wbs. (-Meal-Cwts. 
 1855 1860 '857 | 1858 
 
 24,339 
 
 31,149,403 713,710> 
 3 - 
 
 10,038 
 59,708 
 
 3,892,517 
 304,115 
 36,535 
 
 5(4,204 
 
 1,404,867 
 
 179,077 
 
 1,'40,993 
 
 1,70; 793 
 
 313,758 
 
 37,581 
 
 3,987,8i9{2, 
 316,463 
 113,358 
 11,179 
 
 1860 
 
 17,838 
 
 ,388,0341. 
 
 ,254,233 
 
 412,058 
 
 13,958 
 
 1801 
 
 31,988 1 
 
 3iifi»3 I 
 
 3,794,80s I 
 
 805,339 I 
 
 148,213 I 
 
 511,904,3243,970,1002,178,14813,856,12713,828,834 
 
 5,066,320 0,152,9 aj 
 
 MPLE CHAMBERS.