No. 112.] 835 , ^ "^ 



one shilling sterling per barrel.* Coal might thus be laid down 



at the mouth of a furnace upon the lake, in large quantities, 



* 



with celerity, precision, and economy. The vessels which im- 

 port it would bear in their return- freight, the iron fabrics and 

 crude'ore of New-York. The only delay and charges incident 

 to canal transit to which these vessels must be subjected, would 

 be that of the Welland canal of twenty-eight miles, and the 

 twenty miles of the Caughnawaga canal. In the return voyage, 

 these expenses would be increased by the passage of the short 

 canals around the rapids of the St. Lawrence. 



Nor do tliese well defined and tangible visions rest here. In 

 the words of an eminent civil engineer of Canada, " this canal will 

 shortly be built. It will make Lake Champlain the great high- 

 way between the Hudson river and the western lakes, the quick- 

 est and cheapest route by water. It will enforce the enlargement 

 of the Northern canal, at the Whitehall gates, of which we shall 

 be thundering with vessels of 500 tons for admission. Failing 

 here we shall give their freights to the railroads on each side of 

 Champlain." f The eventual enlargement of the Champlain 

 canal will thus secure another magnificent result to the industrial 

 pursuits of Essex county, which will flow from this prcject. 



Another proposed improvement, intimatel}^ blended with this 

 subject, is entitled to the tribute of a notice, although prcnounced 

 impracticable by tliose whose science and intelligence enable 

 tliem to speak with high authurity. This plan, proposes a com- 

 munication to commence at Lake Huron, traversing L^kes Ma- 

 touline and Simcop, and the Seven Kiver, to enter Onta.'-io at the 

 city of Toronto. It is asserted tliat this route, while it shortens 

 the distance between Lake Huron and the Atlantic, five hundred 



• I have been furnished by II. Green, Esq., of Keeseville, since writing the above, with 

 the following statistics : He estimates the present cost of tmn«;portation of a barrel of flour from 

 Cleavcland to Port Kent, 50 cents, and the average time required, about two weeks, lie ^aya, 

 ** there is a coal to be purchased at Krie, Pa., at a low rate, whii'h would perhaps In; used for 

 heating iron, and in bl;ist furnaces for making pig iron, if the transportation could be cheap- 

 ened by a .ship canal, to <the watom of Lake Champlain. The Anthrucito coal at tho proAoai 

 time, costs about f per ton at Port Kent.'' 



\ T. C. Keefcr'a letter to author, 0th March, 1S63. I am indebted to Mr. Kccfor for a ma^si 

 of valuable works on this subject, embracing his own able productions aoJ other public doou- 

 mcnts. 



