268 REVIEWS. 



3. "That the balance of probability is not in favor of the supposition, that the 

 grain freights to the Eastern States will take the Caughnawaga Canal to Burling- 

 ton. Therefore, that the eanal would be at the best, an experiment made at the 

 cost of four millions, and concerning -which opinion is much divided. 



4. " It would therefore seem that the project posseses no positive and assured 

 result beyond extending faeilities to the Ottawa trade for New York and Boston. 

 That it is desirable to have as direct a route as possible is a commercial axiom. 

 But would the Country in its present condition be justified in expending $4,000,000 

 to save at the most a couple of days to the vessels engaged in the trade. For the 

 limit of the Whitehall Canal would still control the tonnage of vessels passing 

 through it. All the lines pointed out have solid advantages, and much can be 

 said in favor of nearly every location. Perhaps the route with a navigable feeder 

 from the Beauharnois Canal with its special terminus at Caughnawaga may claim 

 the preference. For evidently to lock down the difference of level between the 

 River at Caughnawaga, and at Montreal again to lock up to the level of the Cham- 

 plain Canal, can hardly be commended. 



" The difference in distance from Lake St. Louis to Saint John's would be 16.25 

 miles in its favor, viz : 



" To cross River 2 miles. 



" Distance by the Lachine Canal 8.5 " 



" Across river at Montreal 8 " 



" By Canal from Longueuil 28.26 " 



" Total 41.75 miles. 



" Caughnawaga Canal, being to the same point 25.5 miles. 



*' This subject has been entered into at some length in detail, as it will doubtless 

 again become a topic of public discussion." 



The Eideau Canal system unites the Ottawa with the city of 

 Kingston on Lake Ontario, and thus practically connects the latter 

 with Montreal, without the intervention of the St. Lawrence. It 

 consists of the Rideau Canal proper ; the Grenville and Carillon 

 Canals ; the Saint Anne's lock and dam ; and the Lachine Canal. 

 The latter, however, may be considered more conveniently as form- 

 ing part of the St. Lawrence system. The Rideau Canal connects 

 the Eiideau and Cattaraqui Eivers, availing itself, within is course, of 

 several intervening lakes of small size. It contains 47 locks, of 134^ 



gallon and accordingly admit of a more rapid passage through it. It now lakes 13 days to get a 

 boat through from Buffalo to Albany. My own opinion is, that with locks 250 feet long, 45 feel 

 wide, with 13 feel of water, vessels would sail through the Caughnawaga and Whiethall Canal* 

 direct from Chicago to Boston, and that the western grain shipper would eniirely abandon the 

 Erie Canal. A contigency of this character, and with these results, would awaken an opposition 

 which at the moment seems insurmountable, more especially as the interests of the city of New 

 York lie in the direction of maintaining the present condition of trade. 



