REVIEWS. 269 



by 32 feet*. Devised, at tlie outset, entirely for military or defensive 

 purposes, its construction was carried out by tlie Imperial Grovern- 

 ment, and it was only transferred to the Provincial Executive in 

 1856. It appears to have been commenced in 1826. In its forma- 

 tion, dams have been largely used to overcome the effects of rapids. 

 This mode of structure may be economical in the first instance, 

 but, in addition to its liability to drown many acres of land, it is 

 open to the great risk of being damaged and often entirely destroyed 

 by ice and freshets ; and it necessarily entails, after a few years, a 

 considerable annual outlay for repairs and maintenance, even if it 

 escape any serious disaster. The total cost of the Eideau Canal is 

 usually quoted at about £1,000,000 sterling, but that estimate is 

 probably above the true sum. Its expenses in 1863 appear to have 

 exceeded its revenue by about $8,000, and to have been still more 

 disproportionate during the five or six preceding years. 



The Carillon and Grenville Canals are three in number, but their 

 combined length is under six miles. They are constructed to avoid 

 the Longue Sault rapids on the Ottawa, and the Chute-a-Blondeau, 

 and other rapids near Carillon, on the same river. Altogether, the 

 locks are eleven in number, three on the Grenville Canal being less 

 than 20 feet broad. Yessels drawing more than 4| feet of water are 

 unable to pass through these canals. The Saint Anne's Lock and 

 Dam, situated near the celebrated rapids lower down the stream — 

 the burden of Moore's familiar boat-song — was completed in 1843. 

 The lock is 190 feet long by 45 feet broad, with a lift of 3^ feet. 

 The Carillon and Grenville Canals appear to have been always 

 worked at a loss, ranging from $700 in 1863, to $7,425 in 1862, 

 $7,295 in 1861, and $9,491 in 1860. In 1863, the returns of the 

 Saint Anne's lock exhibit a net revenue of $3,816 ; but during the 

 three preceding years, there was an annual loss of between $2,000 

 and $3,000. On the other hand, between 1843 and 1859, the lock 

 appears to have yielded an annual profit, averaging from $2,000 to 

 $5,000. These figures are, of course, exclusive of the interest on 

 the construction cost. 



The St. Lawrence Canals, constructed for the purpose of con- 

 necting Lake Ontario directly with the seaboard, are properly four 



• The limits and general character of a review compel us to omit many technical and 

 engineering details in reference to this and other canals brought under the reader's notice 

 It is but right to state, however, that these details are given with great exactness and. 

 amplitude in Mr. Kingsford's book. 



