OP WESTERN CANADA. 37 



The following will give an idea of the facilities for travelling in 

 1839 : " The navigation from Quebec to Buflfalo, with all the present 

 interrnptions, may be performed in a week ; and from thence to the 

 River St. Claii", either to Detroit, or Sandwich, in three days. From 

 thence into the Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior, the impedi- 

 ments are few and trifling. From the Island of Anticosti, at the 

 mouth of the St. Lawrence, to the head of Lake Superior, we have a 

 navigation of an extent little less than 3,000 mUes, the greater part 

 of which is ship navigation, and may be run over, with all the present 

 obstacles, during the summer months, at the rate of about 80 miles 

 per day ; and that through the greatest extent of fertile country to 

 be found, in continuity, in any part of the world, and a climate 

 highly favourable to agricultural labour." 



Though the present railway system, at least of the Grand Trunk, 

 had not yet been th-ought of, a railroad is, nevertheless, projected. 

 We have it mentioned at the close of some unavailing, but curious, 

 lamentations over the cession of Michigan to the United States in 

 by -gone times : — " Ever since the emigi-ation from the Eastern to the 

 Western States of the Union by the route of Lake Erie, the Canadians 

 have been constantly twitted by tourists and others with the contrast 

 of superiority exhibited on the Detroit frontier over that of our own 

 opposite to it, forgetting that it could not have been otherwise, since 

 we were fools enoiigh to cede the Michigan territory to our rivals, 

 and not only give them the landing-place, but tlie grand portage 

 itself, to boundless regions. Having committed this incalculably 

 mad and egregious eri-or, could we wonder that the shores of our 

 beautiful little peninsula, directly in view, but out of the line, 

 remained commercially desolate. All that the magnificent under- 

 taking of the Welland Canal has done, or all that it ever can do, 

 will not make amends to the Western and London Districts for the 

 great loss sustained in the cession of Michigan, since it can merely 

 transfer the shippiag from one lake into the other. But there is a 

 measure which would go far to recompense the evil that has been 

 inflicted. It has been much talked of; but, as yet, little has been 

 done in it. We mean the Lake Huron Railroad from Toronto. 

 There will be no end to the advantages arising from this national 

 work, if it is undertaken on the scale and in the spuit in which such 

 public works should be undertaken. Enterprising merchants at 

 Oswego have long regarded this great measure as one of superlative 

 importance," 



