212 PRICES OF WHEAT IN ROCHESTER AND TORONTO. 



millers could afford to pay this premium for Canadian 

 wheat of equal quality with that of western New York, 

 and grown upon similar soils. But such is not the case. 

 Abundance of this flour, if I am not misinformed, comes 

 to Liverpool, and is sold in the English, and I believe 

 also in the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia markets. 

 What a premium there is here, therefore, upon the 

 expenditure of Canadian enterprise ! 



At the period of my visit to the neighbourhood of 

 Bochester, wheat was selling in the Toronto market at 

 75 to 80 cents a bushel ; while at Bochester, the same 

 qualities brought 106 to 112| cents — being a difference 

 of about 25 per cent. In six hours a packet can cross 

 from Toronto to Bochester and bring grain at 2 cents a 

 bushel ; and it is the opinion of the Upper Canadians, 

 that if they had reciprocity with the States, either by 

 annexation or otherwise, their wheat would rise to the 

 full amount of the duty now paid on importation to the 

 States. The Bochester and Oswego millers, on the other 

 hand, are favourable to reciprocity, because they think 

 that a large proportion of the duty now paid, would 

 come into their pockets ; while the New York farmers 

 are naturally averse to the introduction of Canadian 

 wheat duty-free, to compete with, and reduce the price 

 of their own, at the season of the year in which it is in 

 greatest request. 



I shall return to this subject hereafter, when I speak 

 of my observations in Canada. I will only observe, in 

 this place, that the expectations of the Canadians from 

 this reciprocity are in my opinion greatly exaggerated. 

 The differential duty ought to be removed if possible, on 

 the ground that all such obstructions stand in the way 

 of the full and natural development of the resources of 

 great countries, and create artificial interests, as they 

 have done among us, which it is very difficult after- 

 wards to do away with. But the policy of Canada is to 



