Secrion I'V., 1895. [163 ] Trans. R.S. C- 
Vil.—The Physical Features and Geology of the Route of the Proposed 
Ottawa Canal between the St. Lawrence River and Lake Huron. 
By R. W. Ezzs, LL.D., and A. E. Bartow, M.A. 
un 
(Read May 15, 1895.) 
The construction of a direct water way between the upper great 
lakes and the head of ship navigation on the St. Lawrence, by way of 
the French, Mattawa and Ottawa rivers and Lake Nipissing, is a problem 
of by no means recent date. At different times the project has come pro- 
minently before the Canadian public, and the comparative shortness of 
this route, as compared with the distance traversed by the Welland and 
St. Lawrence system, has always caused it to be regarded with much 
favour by many who saw in its completion a probable diversion of much 
of the immense traffic of the West and Northwest from its present course, 
and a corresponding lessening of freight rates, which would go far towards 
solving the question of: the successful development of our great western 
heritage. 
The route of the proposed canal as indicated has, until quite recent 
times, formed one of the most important and convenient avenues for 
Canadian intercourse and commerce. For hundreds of years it was the 
favourite means of communication between the tribes of the East and the 
West. But in 1615 that intrepid explorer, Samuel Champlain, urged on 
by the spirit of adventure, and under the guidance of his friendly Algon- 
quin allies, boldly ascended the Ottawa and pushed westward to the 
height of land at the source of the Mattawa. Here he crossed the 
divide, and, sailing over the beautiful waters of the great Lake Nipis- 
sing, descended the French River to its outlet on Lake Huron, and thus 
earned for himself the proud distinction of being the first man of Euro- 
pean descent to gaze upon the broad expanse of our vast inland seas. 
This route having thus been made known, other courageous voya- 
geurs and traders, led on by a like thirst for adventure or by the hope of 
gain, speedily followed along the track Champlain had so bravely pointed 
out ; and during the period of the French régime in Canada this consti- 
tuted the principal highway of communication between the scattered colo- 
nies along the lower St. Lawrence and the vast and almost unknown areas 
now known as Western Ontario and the Northwest. For many years sub- 
sequently it formed the principal channel for carrying on the business of 
the Hudson’s Bay Company, whose line of forts or trading stations were 
distributed along its whole extent, at widely separated points. Along the 
waters of its several streams, and lake expansions also, the great brigades 
of boats and canoes passed year by year, bearing eastward the annual 


1 Published by permission of the Director of the Geological Survey of Canada. 
