166 Account of the Wetland Canal. 



will pass through this canal without breaking bulk, the dis- 

 tance from Welland canal harbor to Oswego, one hundred 

 and twenty miles, will be a mere continuation of voyage. 

 Second, the peculiar formation of lake Erie which contracts 

 to a very narrow space below Port Albino, and the prevalence 

 of westerly winds, together with the current of the Niagara 

 river, cause an accumulation of ice to take place every 

 winter, which prevents the approach of vessels to Buffalo or 

 Fort Erie, from three to five weeks, after the lake at the 

 mouth of Grand river and above it is open. Every merch- 

 ant is anxious to push his commodities to market on the first 

 opening of the navigation, and the facility afforded by the 

 Grand river in removing this natural and formidable obstruc- 

 tion is important. 



It appears that the United States possess as great an ex- 

 tent of lake, as sea coast, and as the opposite side of those 

 waters in the Upper province of Canada presents an equal 

 extent — every philanthropist must dwell with pleasing anti- 

 cipation, on the cheering prospects which are now opening 

 to the citizens of this most extensive and heretofore seclu- 

 ded region. 



It is a matter of little consequence to the grower in what 

 part of the world, his produce is consumed, so long as he 

 has to depend on a foreign market for a demand, or by what 

 channel it reaches that market ; his interest consists in the 

 value of the articles at home, and any measure or any im- 

 provement which tends either to facilitate this foreign inter- 

 course, or to lessen the expense of transportation, adds so 

 much direct wealth to the grower, and consequently to the 

 country. 



The British government has established free ports at 

 Kingston, Montreal and Quebec, where our merchants may- 

 deposit their commodities for exportation. We learn that 

 an application will be made to Congress this present session, 

 to make Buffalo and Oswego on lakes Erie and Ontario, free 

 ports to enable the inhabitants of Canada to export their 

 commodities by the port of New York on similar conditions 

 — this will afford facilities to exports, and open a salutary 

 and desirable competition. 



A Steam Boat canal is likewise in contemplation from 

 Prescott to Montreal, a distance of one hundred and thirty 

 two miles, and from the short distance through which a 

 canal is necessary, only about sixty miles with one hundred 

 and ninety six feet lockage, we have no doubt it will be ac- 



