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 OF THE 
 
 ^oiglan Bay 
 
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 BKSST" 
 
 "Canada lies directly across the leading 
 route from the far west to the atlan'i . :; 
 
 seaboard, and OVER SOME PORTION OF OUR 
 TERRITORY THE GREAT TIDE OF WESTERN COm- 
 IVIERCE MUST FCREVER ROLL." 
 
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 MONTREAL. OTTAWA AND 
 
 GEORGIAN' BAY CANAL 
 
 COMPANY 
 
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 mills (Jo.np'uo' Unn \»,'i, (oiiu.mI for the |im|>nso of hying out, constructing, f,,',';;,'!';;;,; ;,'[ 
 1 nmintainin;,' lUKl ojii'iMtinj,' a hysteni otCiinals iifcissiiry to tlie conii)lulioii (,„nM>.iny. 
 otiilhronj,'li wattrwiiy via Kroncli Kiver, Lakt: Ni|iissinj,', ami thu Mattawii and 
 OUawH KiviTH fiiiTn tin: fastern side of Qfoiginu Bay to thu hnml of Atliintio 
 Oufiin imvi;,'iitiiin at Montival. < 
 
 Among otlior iiowurs conforred by thu iiicorporatin;; Act (57 and ')S 
 •Vic. t'ap. lOH), the l.'oinpany arc thcndiy cnaUlcdaiid authorized to 
 
 lay out, construct, maintain and operate canals of sucli dimensions as Vowci^. 
 
 to make and construct a navigable clianiiei of at least nine leet in ilepth between 
 the said terminal points to^'et'ier with such locks, dams, towpaths, branches, 
 basins, feeders, reservoirs, cuttings, apparatus, appliancu< and machinery as may 
 be desirable o» necessary, 
 
 — take lands necessary or jiroper, 
 
 inaintain ai;d alter any places or passages over, under or through such 
 
 canals or any of tbeii- branches or connections, 
 
 —take water supply snHicietit to maintain a current at the rate on the 
 average of three miles per hour through the navigable uliannols ot said canals, 
 
 uonstruct,maintainancl operate, nse,leasi' rirothet wise dispoio of terminals 
 
 harbors, wharves, docks, piers, elevat(jrs and warehouses upon said canals, or 
 upon lanil adjoining or near the same, 
 
 --lav out and lease or other otherwis,' <lis|):jso of water I 'ts, and u^c, 
 sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of water lirought by or for said canals or works but 
 not rc(piisite for the same, and produce, lease, suiiply or otherwise dispose of 
 hydraidic, electric and other kinds of power in connection with the works 
 
 authorized, and to 
 
 build,aci|uire and ilisposc of steamers, tugs, boats, barges, and other vessels 
 
 for the piirjioses of said canal, and pro])i'l v.-.ssels of all kinds in and through said 
 canals by any power or foice. 
 
 K X i s I i 11 R 
 
 The (beat F.akes, with a coastlini' of 4,(iO() miles and an area of 9,-),()U0 ^^i"™"""^. „''[ 
 square miles, afford the largest system of (lee|i water inland navigation on thu Lakts. 
 fdobo. Lying in a general diri'Ctioii east ami w.'st between the -ilst and 47tli 
 parallels of latitude the system extends from tiile water on the St. Lawrence, 
 !)00 miles west of the Straits of lielle Isle, 1,400 miles larther into the heart of the 
 continent; Port Arthur and Mmilreal being on tlvj northern, and Chicago 
 and New York on the southern parallel. Its western extremity i.s oidy 
 1,70.) miles irom the waters ot the Pacific, and for one-half the distance 
 between the two oceans these wateis divide the IJondidon from 
 thi^ Unile.l States ; while they lie uliolly along the line on wdiicli 
 poi)ulntion most freely moves w 'Stuiir,!, where fiiuil settlement is 
 most compact, and where the eliniatie ennilitions insuic the largest returns to 
 capital and labor. Vast wi'alth is already centred in the territfUT surrounding 
 them, and in<'aleidabl v lich re.sources r<!niain still undeveloped. Of 44S cities in 
 the United States having a population of 8,000 or over and a tot-il population of 
 1S,2:U,:W5, no less th;u 204 with a tutal population of 10, 137,747 are found in 
 the ei'dil states bordering upon the Lakes ; while of these latter ,57 containing i 
 
 3,184,357 people are within the limits of a 50-milc zone encircling them. The 
 cities of this reeion must eventually be the greatest centres of wealth and popu- 
 lation in the country ; an I the nalnr.d jiathway of their |)roducts and those of 
 the vast country bevond them nuist ever be tlirough tl."; Gi'cat Lakes 
 to the Kast. 
 
 
 Already an enornions traffic has been developed. Upwards of 
 22,000,000 tons of freight pass Detroit annually. Over 10,000,000 tons a year 
 pass through the Sault Ste. Marie canal connecting Lake Superior with Lake 
 Ihii'on. In 1878, 1,01)1 vessels er.tered the Satdt canal ; in 1880, no less than 
 
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 9,571), of whii'li (i,')^*7 wi ru Mtunineis ; iiml in IMI:! tin' inimlicr lui.l iiiciLaMMl t.i 
 fioSO III IS.Mi, till' ii'({ist(MD(| tomm'.'i' iniiii.' Ill'' cniial was |()I,1.SH toim ; in 
 18.S!t, 7,2;!l,|l.'t.'i tons, tilt' ncliml timiiiijii' ln'iii',' HOO.OdO tons in I'Xfi'HH o'' tlvit 
 litiiii.'; wliili' in 1M!»2, it had risen to 1 l;2U,;i:W tons in LSSO. llm total toii- 
 niiyc imsM'il tliioiij,'li tlio Sin'z I'linal wiis 5,IH):t,():!+ tons, or only Mt';'^ of tlint 
 iisiiiji' tliL^ Sank caiinl. On account of tlm oiii'iiing of tlio Saiilt 
 oaniil tlir i|('V('lo|iiii('nt of Liiku Superior'M I'oinuitMct' liaa liuen Bxt;(!|itionally injii'l, 
 iin'rcaHin;,' a-s it lias from 2,0-J!),(UM) tons in |SH2 to !),()U,21:J tons in IX!tO. 
 
 The total toii-niili'iiiit! carried on the (lii'iit Lukus in I.SSII was ir),.">IH,- 
 HOtMKlO ton-niiii'H, lii'iii(4 "iJ-t! /)«/■ rfut of tin' Inl'il ti)>i-m,ili'ii;ii' ,(I.S,727.22:t,14ti) nt' 
 (ill the railways in the United Staten for the year ctiilin^' .liiin' .'iotli, 1.SMI, In 
 ISMt! tlicrc wi'it! hut (I steel vessels alloat on till' laki^s with a toiin«j{e of (>,!'.')!• 
 tons, and. a •.•aliio of SOOfOI'l'. In 1890 tiiere «•< re (is vessels of the same i-lass 
 of !)!),457 tons hurthen and valued at 81 1,!)()4 0()() ; showing; an iiicicase diirinj; 
 four years in nnnilier of vessels of that class of I .Olt.'l .'jli |)er cent.; in tonna^;o 
 of l,4.'ti)H2 per cent. ; and in value ot 1,1)23 !)!) per cent. 
 
 To connect this traffic with tho Atlantic Ocean the existiiij,' wiiterways 
 are the Krie canal thriMii,di the State of New York, and the St. Lawrence Hiver 
 and system of janals reached from the upper lake,-, Iv means of the Welland 
 canal. A few lirief comparisons will servo to shew 'Jic Miperiority of the Ottawa 
 route over either of these. 
 
 1. All tratHc from Lake Michifiian port i well a , i.hatfroni T„iKe Suiierior 
 nnist go north to latitude 40, entering upon the sanie course lu the latter iit a 
 point not far from the Saulte Sto Marie. Thei.ce hotl the St. Lawrence and 
 Erie routes are deflected southward to latitude 41, '.vhili the Ottawa waterv.,iy 
 ill's almost dirrvtlij along the 4<>th paralli'l fioiu thai runivion iiuiiil fn Monlniil ; 
 t^" ocean ports of the several loiites being Montreal and New Vork in latitudes 
 46 and 41 respectively. The Ottawa route, avoiding the sinuosities of the 
 lower portions of the other two, takes the mi>st direct course possible to tide 
 water. 
 
 Mr. T Law t'rawford, writing with legard to the nropo.sed Forth and Clyde 
 Ship t.'anal, says: ''If a straight liiiebedrawn across a luapof the world on Merca tor's 
 projection, from a point at the entrance to the Baltic Sea to the mouth of the 
 River St. Lawrence, it will be found that the line pa,s.ses almost parallel with and 
 in close proximity to the proiiosed Forth and Clyde Shi]) Canal. The entrances 
 to the lialtic tim and the River .S'. Liivrence Jorm the respective gateways to 
 the markets of the interior of Northern Kurope and Northern America." 
 
 The opening up of the Ottawa route would complete a direct an 1 
 unbroken navigation along the continuation of s-ucli line fiU' 2,0(K) miles into the 
 heart of the Western continent, and wculd thus form an important link in 
 the greatest of international waterways. 
 
 2. Owing to its directness this route effects a saving in distance between 
 western lake ports and ocean navigation of almost 4?() miles over the Erie, and 
 375 over the St. Lawience. Thus from Chicago to Montreal is 
 
 via the St. Lawrence 1,34H miles 
 
 " " Ottawa 980 " 
 
 (lll.iw.irrmte 
 lllc lii"-l I'l'ln- 
 lULTClal roule. 
 
 1. .Mil 
 reel. 
 
 while from Chicago to 
 
 New York via the Erie route is. 
 Montreal via the Ottawa " 
 
 3li« " 
 
 .. 1,4L5 miles 
 . 9«() " 
 
 2. .Sliurlcst. 
 
 4,35 
 
») 
 
 93' 
 
 "^e^ 
 
») 
 
 It is '>7r) inilus from tlio eiitrnnce of Laki; Micliiiraii to Hiitla'<>,(wliich port 
 of IranshiiMiuMit is -H('> iiiilcs finm mi ocean port) ; wliilo tlu' total di-itsuicu from 
 the siiin(5 point ofdcpartiiri' to tli" lioul of ociMn naviifa'.ioii at Montreal via tho 
 Ottawa is only (i.'i') niilos. In othijr words a vessel leavinij; (,'liicaj^o would roai'h 
 the Atlantic nmikct at Muntrcal in fifty or sixty inilis mure than it now takes 
 her to rciicii Butt ilo. 
 
 The distanii;s l"twt;('n Cliicajjo and Livri[)>il liy the several routes are 
 as follows : — 
 
 I. Via Krii> raiial, 
 
 t'liic-a-o to nnliido (tiiO miles 
 
 Erie canal to Alliany 'i')" " 
 
 Hu'lson lliv(u>to New York 1 45 " 
 
 New York to Liverpool .S,O.S(> " 
 
 4,+!t.J 
 
 't'iii till- St. Liiwrcni'c, 
 
 (.'hiciiyo to Montreal I, ."US miles 
 
 Montreal to Liverpool iHH) " 
 
 :{, Via the Ottawa, 
 
 C'hieago to Montreal O^t' miles 
 
 Montreal to Liverpool 2,H(1II ' 
 
 ••!,7.so 
 
 or over 700 mils less via tiie Ottawa route than oy way of the Krie. 
 
 ;i. Less eanallinu' is recpiired on tli(^ Ottawa ronte than on any other. 
 Accordinjr to the plan suhmitted hy Mr. 'I'. (V Clarke, O. K.only 2;t miles of canal 
 are necessary on this rout" as ajriinst 71 on the St. Liwrenee and .SSI on the 
 Krie. Kstimatine ,,ne mile of canal navigation as etpiival'nt in point of expense 
 am! ilelay iuMilveil to thrc miles of opcni riviM- and lake navij;ation, 
 the routes will compare as follows ; — 
 
 Fi'oni (.'liieajio to Atlantic tide water, via 
 
 i. Ottawa route, !),S() miles, (!)5H-(2!)x:i) ,S7) equivalent to I .(«M1 ,,,11^^ „t „|.cn 
 2. St. Lawrence 1 .•'+S " (1,277 + (71 x :!) 21:1) " 1,491) [river. -.mi lukc 
 
 :5, Krie, 1,41.-. - Otl-l- + c:Jol x :i) I.O.'.:} " 2,117j"^^'K^"''"- 
 
 4. Calculatinu- the average rate ot travel at 4 ndles jier hour for canal and 
 12 miles for open river ami lake, the time con nmed on the several trips will, 
 he, (allowinj; for locka,i,'e at thi' late ot 1^ minutes per foot), 
 
 1. Via Erie to New Yoik, 
 
 lllilc.^ lirs. mills. 
 
 Lake and liver l.OW N.S 4t> 
 
 Can.il :!.5I( (;•■)■> ft lockage) 10-1. ()•> 
 
 liiit; n-'t|uirc(i. 
 
 ' >uicl<e;,t. 
 
 »r 
 
 Total 
 
 lil2 4,5 
 
 2. Via St. Lawrence to Montreal, 
 
 miles Ills. 
 
 Lake and river 1,277 lOli 2.> 
 
 Canal 71 (oo.'H't. lockatje) :U .'{5 
 
 nuns. 
 
 ■ir-i 
 
 Total. 
 
 138 
 
 £ 
 
i i 
 
 
 
 I f 
 
 f 
 
ii. Via Ottiuva to Moiitroiil, 
 
 
 
 miles hrs. tnins. 
 
 Lako ami river i)")l 7 'J 1") 
 
 C'aiml 2!) ((i(i6 ft. iockiige) 2:> .55 
 
 1/ 
 
 Toto! K'3 10 
 
 showing' a snvinjx of noarly four (IniiK over tlio Kric roiitn and oui: (iiid tinr-lmlf 
 days over tin; St. [jawreiicc. 
 
 Tlio importance of tins element caniKit lie over-estimated. It has liien 
 well said liy a writer on the merits .)f the route, " In the j)r('.sent as,'!' it will not 
 di) to expend as much time in running a earjjo ti New York hy one route as it 
 would take to reach Livt^rpool hy another." While a earjio of grain sliip]M'd by 
 the southerly route i.s losing nearly 13 v<s days in passini,' through the .■>.">() mdes 
 of the Erie canal, another sliipped at the same time via the Ottawa wouM he 
 well acro.ss tlie Atlantic on its way to LiverjxK)!. 
 
 So great a saving of time twi each trip will permit a larger nuniher of 
 lrip8 to he made during the season than by any otiier route. Mr. Shaidy has 
 estimated this gain at two full additional ti-ips, wliiie otlwrs have thought thiee 
 probable. The .season on the Erie route is somewhat longer, but since Montreal is 
 practically the most northerly point on the syst<!ni. the length of season during 
 which the Ottawa canals will Ik; open will be about the same as that of the Sault 
 Ste. Marie Canal, or an average of 210 days in the year. The pioporliou of 
 work in hauling ol Ireight to lunount ol capital invested in shipping, elevators 
 etc., being materially increased liy the ad<led trips possible, theie will be an 
 impoitant Inwerui;) of rates of truiis/mrlatioii from this .source. 
 
 '). The vital necessity of the grain export trade is the cheaper transporta- 
 tion which the Ottawa route can aloii« afiovd. Although the bulk of freight 
 carried by railroads annually increases, and with it their expenditnies, yet the 
 amount of serviei; required to be peiTormed to ensure the same- return grows 
 pi-<Jliortionally larger, so that the " aihiitional receil)ts have failed to yield any 
 additional piofits." A succinct explanation of this fact is otfere^l liy Mr. J. 
 Law Crawford when he says " the root of the disease lies in tin; carriage of heavy 
 non-remunerative freight." It i-^ this heavy and cheaply-carried freight tluv^ 
 adds most to tl-.e I'ailroad's expense for maintenance, lolling-stock, etc., and taxes 
 it's capacity to the utmost, while nuiking no corresponding addition to dividends. 
 And it is precisely in relieving of railroads from this non-remunerative trattic 
 that waterways have their most important function. Kor treiglit can always ho 
 conveyed by waterways at about one-third the eo.^t of radway transportation. 
 While the average freijrht raU's jiei- ton-mili; on m.vcu heading trui.k lines of 
 lailwav in tln> United States betwe.;n Chicago and tlie .sra-board declined from 
 211 nnirs in I.S(i') to « fniles in IhSS, lake rates have sunk as low as one mill per 
 ton-niilr and river rater to twice that. And though freigiit has been carried «t 
 the lowest lenumerative priees nmler existing conditions, and evm sometimes at 
 heavy loss cuing to ruinoiis Competition, in 1 Sii.f til • average freight rate on 
 Ani'Tiean railroads was !) mills per ton-mile, and that on eiglitiMii of the l)rin- 
 eipal roads .s mills. The average rates "ii wheat from Chieago to New York by 
 the several American roiiies tor the last eight years have been :— 
 
 1. Via Lakes and Erie cinal (J- 1!» cents per bushel 
 
 2. Via Lakes and rail M'lXi " 
 
 ."i, Viaallrail routes 14;)5 
 
 M.ikii g all due allowance for lack of return fivights at the oiitsi't it is 
 ealculate.l that wheat should be laid down in Montreal by the Ottawa route at 
 a cost for transportation fiom Chicago not to exceed three and one-half cents 
 
 
 
 ChKapost. 
 
t^fm^mmawmm 
 
 ^ 
 
por IpumIioI, or two and onohalf conts ptT Imslifl loss than the lowest pi'CAniling 
 latcH. Kxpc'iicnui'il lorwaiilcrs liiivc i.'stimiiti'il that a I'iitr nf oiu,' ami tlircc- 
 (jiiartor cents jut Imslici ln'twt'cn Kivmli Kivcr iin^l Muntrinl will iiHiu'd 
 I'uniunonitivi! (!Mi|)l(iyin('Ul. to llccts coMsistin;,' each of a pnwcrrnl sli am Ui'^ 
 with convoy of three bavjfos tiavintj a couilmied cipaeity of l,S(),()i)0 IhisIk.'Is. 
 This added to a late of I I cents Or aliont I inill per ton-mile IVoin ('hii'ai;o to 
 French Riven would ^■ive a throUi;h rate of oidy l/iicc i-ails.in' nearly six cents a 
 liushel less than the averai^e cost of transportation to IJutlalo by the Lakes and 
 thence to New ^'ork by rail 
 
 (i. In addition to all othei- advantages the Ottawa naile is safer than any 
 other and freight carried throtii^rh it will be subjected to the least risk possible. 
 Ki'om the month of Lake Miehigan vessels will pass inider the sludter of Mani- 
 toulin Island to the mouth of Kieneh Ki\er, avoidiiin' altiu'ether the daiigi'rs of 
 soutiicrn Lake Huron, the shallow and dangerous l-aki' Lrie. Lake Ontario, and 
 the currents ami shoals of the l'|)per St. Lawrence and Lake St. Francis. From 
 Sault Ste. Marie, with the exception of a few miles on (.ieorgian I'uy, the route 
 will be on landlocked waters contiiiumisly to Montreal. Cirain will not oidy 
 'be insured at luiiAmum mti's on this route, bnt passing through the eool di.'ep 
 waters of tlio Ottawa in so miieh sluatcr time will rr,i,li m-nk' t in lidtci' coii- 
 dii'um than if shipped by tln' Krie. 
 
 The St. Lawrence route lii>s for a g-reat part nf itscairse on the lioumluy 
 line of a foreign country, and f-luiuM dittieiiUies with tie' I'nitcd States arise 
 would almost inevitably be at once renolercd useless as a means of eoMMMiinica- 
 tioii with the upper lakes. The remoteness of the Ottawa fiom the bimndary 
 renderinf; it comparatively safe fnan interference in case of ioternatiomd com- 
 plications, it would be of great military importance to tie' Ei]i|iire. Wlu'ii oiic(^ 
 enlarged to liS or 20 feet in ilepth, a work which mi.tsf im'vitibly be pinformei!. 
 many of the .smalli.'r vi'ssels of the ISrilish navy, li^iitencd nf thcii- !.'iins, e iidil 
 ))ioceed from Montreal by its means to [^ake Huron, and thenci; easily, iVom 
 French River as headipiarters, control Lakes Erie, Huron, MiehiL,'ari and Superior. 
 iippearint] heforiChiciui') in liUU' vmre llnui o Inni'lri-l Inm r^ 'flier li'ivinij 
 Montieid. The eidargment or extension of any ollei- r-uilr tn the nc.dect of 
 tilts W(aild only the more siiridy place C'.iu.id.a at tlir ner.-\ nf ilu' ('iiitr.l .States, 
 
 bnt th(_' opeuiing of thr Ottawa ( Id tint fail to ^■i\ •• h.-r a yri'al ad\antige in 
 
 the negotiation of lutuiii treaties as to inti-rnatinn.il watci w.'ivs .\n.| it wnuld 
 prove not only a source nl niilitaiy ^timgth in ras.' nl war, but w.-uld In.' an 
 i.'idireet protc'tion by atl'nrding an aiMitional iiirrritiv.' in the ]aeservation nf 
 peace, so tiruily W(nild its gi'eat connnercial impnn.inc' ti ihr W'esti'iii SliiteS 
 bind them, in ih.e tnrthi'raiiee of their own inteii'st, to snrh a polii^y as wcei'd 
 ensure the freest possibli' passage tn thi'ir produi'ts in\ tie' w-.w to Hastcrn 
 markets. IJe.strii'tioin iinpnsi'd nii Can.i'lian liallie passinu' ihrougii the Sault 
 canal have led to the e iiisn ii,'ti,m b\- tie' Dniaiiii-ni ( irivi'rmui'iit of a canal on 
 the ("anadian side of St. .Marys Kivei. This eaiial. npen.''l in ls!l.'). cost §:) 000,- 
 000. and has one lock !I00 feet long liO leet wiile, airl :iO feet .'! inches deep. Its 
 cianpli'tiim when supplenn'iiteil by thi' (Ittaw.i River iiiivigetiou will give 
 ( 'anada an independent ei.uise to the si a eiitir.ly thr'iUi.;li her nwu tcritnry aiel 
 the least subject to iiil''i feienei' hnni withoiu of ,'ii;v pns~ib|i' rniite. 
 
 (Icneial (afterwards Field Marshal the liight lloimurable Sir .Inhn Michel, 
 at one time Coinmander in Chief of Ihr Majesty's l''oic'es in I 'anada, several years 
 ago in a public address at, Ottawa saiil ; '1 b.lievc thit the ti.'s which happily 
 unite (ireat Britain aiel ('anada uill be el.isir drauii iiy the opeinng of 
 this r(.)nte. I believe tliiit tic coinnier.'ial develnpnn'ot which wnuld be pro- 
 diu'ed woidd III' incideul.alile I believe thai .\uieiiea and (.'anada and 
 consciiucntly (ireat liiitain would be so eniinneieiaiiy allied by the ii|ienin,g ^<^' 
 this route that the grand object of all true lovers of either ol these countries 
 
 Safosl. 
 
 ll-i niilitiiry 
 imi»'irlnnce. 
 
I I 
 
 I 
 
 ~iMtriiinMit»iBiiirijp»»i 
 
 "'**"'**■' a>*ft»M*u»ja».fc. 
 
 li 
 
would Ijo iittiiiiUMl, imiiK'ly tlio certain pcacel'iil ili.s|ier-«ioii of (^vcry little cloiid 
 timt iiiiylit arise in tlio political lioiizim oC North Ainorii'a." Spoakiiii,' of tlio 
 position of Montreal lie fuitlier said : " You are placed in a position held hy iin 
 other city that I know of in tho world. You arc |)lacod on the only spot on a 
 vast continent whii'h can ho made the receiving house of one-third a continent's 
 exterior trade, and nhle to dispatch that third to Euroi)e. lUit you are unsiiffly 
 situated. The firand route to the sijii b} the Ottawa ami French Rivers .should as 
 s(,on as ]iossilile lie undertaken, },'ivin!,' you a Imckhone of military .^treni,'th, and 
 lirinj,'in{{ to your doors the vast trade of the vaster west. " 
 
 And the late Hon. Ale.\. Mackenzie, for sonic time Premier of Canada, 
 oxpiessed hinis(df thus in an ahle addicss on Confederation : ' I am c.K.vineed 
 that the true route for a canal to the <«eori.rian buy is up the Ottawa, heeau.se 
 that would lie giving a j^reat hacklione to the coinitry If we had a fine canal 
 eapahlo of carryinj; vessels ot wiir in that direction, it woidd lie a splendid nu-ans 
 of defence, as well as a great highway for the commercial products of the West. " 
 
 There i« and long has lieeii an active public opinion in the t)ttawa valley 
 an<l elsewhere in Cauaila in favor of this work and no dissentient voice as to its 
 feasibility and desirability. The Right Honoiiralile Sir John JIacdonald, ti.C.B., 
 late Rroinier of the Dominion, and the most eminent of Canada's statesmen, 
 classed th(! oppuing of this route as ei|U.al in iin[iuitiiiice with the building of the 
 Canadian I'acilic Railway. ■ Tlie Ottawa Ship Canal and the Pacitio Railway 
 must be constructed and iin voice would be raised against the great national 
 work which would ojicii the Western Slates and Colonies to the seabnanl, " were 
 his words on-one occasion. 
 
 Hon. Ale.K. \[ackenzie at another time said ; " I am perfectly satistiod 
 that the Ottawa valley presents the greatest facilities of any route upon the 
 continent for the transportation of the ]irod!i('ls of the Northwest to the Atlantic 
 Ocean.' 
 
 Mr. Walter .Shanly, the prominent ('iinadian engineer, after a glowing 
 eulogy of tlui physical advantages of the mute, says: "Tn thosi' who have m.ade 
 the laws that govern the inoveiie'nts cf western tiathe their study I leave it to 
 estimate the height to which Canada would iie elevated in cuiimercial importance 
 by opening through the heart uf her dnminioii a coiitiiuious navigation, shortening 
 by fully one hundred and HI'ty miles, the shortest water communication that now 
 does or ever can exist besides lietween tide-water, whether in the Gulf of St. 
 Lawrence or in the estuary of the llielson, and the broadest e.Ktent of grain 
 growing country in the world.' 
 
 Hon. Joseph Alderic Oiiiinet, ])re.sent ^[inistel• of I'ublic Works of Canada, 
 says: "I am a believer myself in the feasibility of the .scheme and its tinaneial 
 success." ' 
 
 Sir William \'an Horiie. ol the I 'anadian Pacific IJailway Company, has 
 expressed himself as bi'ing favorable to the construction cif the canals, insisting 
 that this is the natural route between the upper lakes and the lower ,St 
 Ivawreiice, and that it should be o]iened at the earliest date possible. And 
 believes that the country would be greatly beiielitted by it, and that it would be 
 of great assistance, and certainly no injury to his Company, 
 
 Its importance as a factor in the development ef the Canadian Northwest 
 can hardly bo overestiniated. Mr. I'. Iv Walker, Oeneral Managorof the Canadian 
 liaiik of Commerce, recognizes this fact, as well as the tinaneial inipnrtanco of the 
 (|Uostion of opening the route, in the Hank's annual report for last year. 
 Referring to the wheat trade he says : "D jubtless as with most of the world's 
 products, the ((Uestion is one of transportatinn. The great i|uestion which is 
 agitating many |)ooide in Canada and the I'uitcd States is the po.ssibility of 
 
 Public opin- 
 ion in (. an'ula. 
 
 1 
 
'.'"•M 
 
 nS 
 
 '"''SWSeswBiiMwMIBebar* 
 
II IxittiT wiitor ti iiisit. ('(in \vr not iiii|iiiivc ii|i()ii tin; Krir cannl iis a iiieans <it 
 i^i'itiiij; to tliu Hca-lioiinl ' Ai'o wo to sue tliu loiiMj^'M-bouiiil tniflic of the ii|)|i('r 
 lakus (UijHdtcd at Bullalo, oi- an; wu to try and scciu'!: that tiatlii", anil wliat is 
 moru iniportant proviilo tlio ncct'ssary cliuaimr traiisportatioii to our Noitliwost 
 I'rovinc'os ? " 
 
 Ml'. A. M. Wellin^'ton, Hyilianlic KiiL,'iiiL'(M', and one of tlic editors of 
 till! Knjiini'i'iirif; News of New Voik. ;^'iviiig nn opinion as to tlu^ leasiliility cd' 
 tlio ufidertakiiig, says; " My <'oMviotion lliat tlio Ottawa River affords tlic lio.st 
 opportunity mi thr i/lalK- for a well-planned siiip canal is ii lixed oin;." 
 
 'I'lie piaetiialiility of tlii^ completion of a system ol iidand navii;ation on 
 tliis route upon such a scale as eonteinpliiti'd lias lieen placed lieyond a cloulit li^' 
 s\n-veyK ali-eady inailo. The principal points to lie taken into accoinit on this 
 score arc : — 
 
 1. — Tint physical charactei istics of the several streams passed throu;^li ; 
 
 2. — The nature of the summit ridife to Ik; cinssed ami the water supply 
 at summit level ; 
 
 ;i. — The terminal 1 
 
 lari 
 
 ir facilities for lake and ocean vessels. 
 
 1. Th(! Ottawa river leseinlple- the Rhine in Icneth of course, and the 
 Danulie in mat{nitude, its most prominent characteristic heine; its yntat volume 
 even in its upper reacluM while it has yet to receive Irilintaries ccpnil to the 
 Hudson, the Shamiun, the Thames, the Tweed, the Sp..'y, and the Clyde. 
 Consistinir as it does of long stretches of deep and still water interrupted liy 
 rapids and falls, it will lend itself readily to the forniatiou of one of the most 
 perfect .systems of iidand navigation on the glohe. The rapids and falls aie so 
 located as to admit of heing oveieonio in most instances hy nieie locks and dams, 
 and lietweeii them will lie slack water navig.ition equal generally to that of the 
 lakes themselves. Mr. Clarke says: "To improve the navigation of such a river 
 system is a comparatively simple matter, for the greater part is alioadj' done to 
 our hand, and we have only to devise some means of getting from one lake to 
 another, an<l our task is accoin|)lished." Thus in the ."idO miles of the Ottawa 
 River portion of the route, the following lakes are eiici'iintered : Luke St. Louis, 
 l;{ miles in huigth ; Lake of the Two Mountains, 2.') miles; Dcschenes Lake, 27 
 miles; Ghats Luke, 1!) miles; Coulonge Lake, 20 iiiile^i. For tin; most jiart 
 these lakes have a channel depth of from 20 to ."{() feet at low- water, tew spots 
 having as little as 14 feel. Deep River, a jiortion of the upper Ottawa ;i() miles 
 in length, is from 1000 to 2000 I'ei't wide and of great depth, said to be over 100 
 fathoms in some places, ami capable throughout the entire di.stance of floating 
 the largest ocean vesscds. The Mattawa and Freneh River.s arc of the .same 
 general character as the Ottawa, consisting of long deep lakelike liasins separated 
 by short shoals Of the 42 miles of the Mattawa, which is the broadest and 
 deepest of the western tributaries of the Ottawa, about 24 miles have more than 
 30 foot soundings, and only aliitit liv.' mih's of tin; i-ntire e lurse have naturally 
 less than a ten fiot chanie'l. Of the French River .Mr, Slianly says: " It might 
 more properly be deseribi'd as a succession ot lakes than as a continuous river. 
 'I'lie ascent is made in a series of level terrai'es. the rapids or falls between wdiich 
 are short, assuming in nearly every instance tin; cascade t(Uiii. The depth of 
 water between rapids is generally very great. I took soundings throughout 
 with my own haml, and raiely lighted u]))n any spot where less than 12 feet of 
 water was to be had, three times that depth being probably mole common." 
 
 Speaking generally of the system, Mr. Shaiily says that fully one-fourth 
 of wdiat he classes in Irs repiut as tliu river navigation of the Ottawa route 
 might justly be put down as lake "having width and de|)th sullicieiit to admit 
 half a dozen ves.sels as big as the (ireat Eastern running side b^- sicle." 
 
 I'l-^i-ihiliiy 
 f the prtijfcl. 
 
 5*«WI|I»MPtl1WIIBaM« 
 
Mr. (), Ulako Wnlk.T, K. (IS, Vicc-Pivsidoiit ol' tin; Mi.llnii.l Iiistitiitc of 
 
 '.tiji 
 
 iiuM-rs, III 
 
 11 pa|H 
 
 'l'i)lt,' tliilt Siifii'ly, s|M'ill<ilii,' III till' NiraiilJ^llil 
 
 rtiik 
 
 III;;, Hiiu 
 
 I : " Tl 
 
 I'lll-llll' wlli(fll 
 
 niij)rovi-mfnl «)i (lu// jurrwim si/.ih'ti 
 
 still IlllllCltl). It 
 
 I will iiiiw ili"icrilM' 111 yciii is it ijivnt 
 III' ciiiml iiinkiiii;. iiml (.■ri'tiiiiily fur in 
 
 ailvaiice of aiiytliiii^ siij;^! 
 
 caiiiiU witliiml oxi;avatii)ii liy iitili/.iiifj 
 
 nsjits III' u systi'iii 
 
 \f\^, a 
 liu otitaiiic 
 
 ll 
 ml liv raisiiii; tlif li'Vi'l of llii' wnti'i 
 
 11' iiiitiuiil liounilaiics 
 
 IMV wnllli nil 
 
 llli 
 
 il i.i tlu' i|iir»tiiiii .>iiiii 
 
 ily .if ,1 
 
 iiiiiiiiiii;; nil till' valli'y 
 
 if nmkiii^' 
 if till' livir 
 i'|itli iif wiitcr 
 In till' 
 
 ca.si; iif till 
 theiMflvM 
 
 JicaraLjiian sc 
 
 lli'lliu llic jilii/nirdl fidlurc.i III llif iliiiiilii) lend 
 
 I II ll rcih 
 
 iiiil-iilili- ii-iiij III llir nihil ri'iiiciil of lliin i/('.vi'//, 
 
 As lias liuiMi pdiiituil oiit,Naturi 
 
 If lias alivaily iloiiu tlic ;,'rcati'i' part 
 
 tdwarils iiniviilinH Hiirli II systi'iii uC iiiiviHiitinii mi llic Ottawa rmiti 
 
 III tl 
 
 iniKMi 1 
 
 if til. 
 
 1I1-.1.U1C1 
 
 ini'li 
 'III.'. Mr. fill 
 
 ,( tl 
 
 lliit.'ltlnn Ml.' 
 
 'On till 
 
 iiiai'U.'.lly ami pai tiunlnily iip|ili.,'lil.'. .\lr. t lai Uc, lli.' .nuin.'.'r, says. "On lln^ 
 ;,'ri'at..'r part nf tin! rivi'r whi'i.' tliL wat.'i' is ri'i|niri.il to li.' raiscil, tin' slmri's ar.i 
 liol.l, ami tlio il.'sir.'il lift wmiM uv 'illow Imt littli' lainl. Ilrrc \M' liavr iinly tn 
 raisi' tin; natural ilaiiis ur r.'i'i'r, nf mi'ks tn tin: ili'sncl li.'iylit liy ailili.'ial 
 slnicturr.i tlins ri'sturiiij,' n .•.iiiilitinii wliicli pmsilily I'.'iistril licfori' tli.' ci-asiili'ss 
 rnsli iif tlie wiitris III j;lai'ial m-tinii li;i,| wnni tin' r.u'k lianis iluwii tu their 
 ]ir.'.-<L'iit stati'." '■ Kiii'tanati'ly, rv.'iy existing' I'linlitinii favors this iiiii.l..' of 
 I'oiistrnctinn. Tin' ln'il hI tin' ii\.'i' .'oiisi^s nf haril ciystalli'iL' nicks, worn 
 siinnitli ami j;.'ni'rally friT fimii lioiil. Ill's , ;iinl till' slmri's ut tlu' sann' uiati'iial 
 rise alirnptly mi ritlicr siih', illiiiini^hiiiL;- the li'ri;ilh nf ilaiii rri|iiiii'il." 
 
 Ami Mr. 11. K. \Vi(;kst(,'i'il, ( '. K , says : " Tla: groatcr portinii of the roiitu 
 is ailniirably a.lapteil for a wati'i'way, liavini,' ini'ky walls wliii'h a[)|iruacli niu' 
 aiioth.n- vi'i-y closoly at points, ami iiU'iiriliii;^ nia^'iiilici'iit iip]H)i'tunitie3 for tli.' 
 croatiiin of r.'at'lms of slack watiM- Ky nnaiis nl' ilanis anoss tin' valleys of 
 stroanis." 
 
 'I'll.; voloiii.' nf water is mil oiily ainpli' su that at the tiiiii' ol lowest 
 wat.'r till' ilains wmilil always K.' suliiner^eil with from mie to two feet of water 
 rnniiin,e over their erests) lait, owing to the e.\teiisi\e .system of reservoirs 
 alliirileil liv the iniineroiis hikes, the How is extremely uniform. Tin' averag.' 
 rise of ill.' Ottawa whi'ie free I'loiii oli^truelious is aliout \'Z t.'.'t ; ami a v.'iy 
 iliiportaiit elie.'t .if the eoiistnu'tion ol a system of ilaiii.- vsouM he to ilimiiiish 
 this variation hetwoi'ii high ami low water. Nor i> the riser sulijeet In smlijeii 
 risi! or .'Xtraonliiiary llooils. Mr. ( 'l.irke says on this point : " Its eoiuimm rise 
 is one iii.'h p.'r .lay, ami il never averages over tliiue inches in -4 hotiis for any 
 niinili.'r of .lays in siieci'ssion. Its ri.se to high-water mark, stainl, ami subscijiieiit 
 fall oecnr ev.'ry y.'ar at ne u iy llie sume ilates with the utmost regularity." 
 
 2. 'I'liu smninit level is obtaiiieil hy 1. ringing to tin' same h.-ight Lac 
 Tal.iii, '{"r.mt J^ike, ami Lake Nipissing, the iaiier a line sheet of water (10 mill's 
 in length, from 1 .■) to .'iO in lueailth, ami h'll hy lliiee rivers. 'I'hiis the water 
 su|iplv' at the siimniit will he praetieally inexhaustilil.', or as expressiil hy 
 tlio engineer, ' siitlicieiit for any seale of navigation ami for all time to 
 come." 'riie plan inoposoil gives a summit level for navigation of iill miles in 
 length with a rocption hasin SO miles long ami varying from lialf-a-niile to twelv.' 
 miles in wiiltli making a surfac of aliont ih'iO sipiare miles. On lli.' crossing .>f 
 the height .if lainl h.'tween the two last iiame.l lak'S followeil hy Clarke ami 
 Shanly, an elevation ol 2;i fct aliove the s'jilaee of Trout Lake was ein'onnter.'il. 
 Later exploiatious hy meinliers of the statfof the t.eological Survey hav.- disci. iseii 
 a practicahic cro.ssing where the siiiumil riilijf uuwtwic ris::s move lliaii 
 /'[)!(/■/«'< o/iocc .y'l'od/ Ad/.-c, a fact hro'.ight out in a pap.'r reail in May of this 
 year before the Uoyal Society .if Clamnla by Dr. U. \V. Klls, L.L.I)., M.A , Oeolo- 
 gist of the survey, onibo.lying results of his persimal exaiiiinatiniis ol tin' route 
 and those of Mr. A. L. Bailow. .M.A., Assistant (Jeohigist. The ilistaiice between 
 
m>mm i« rv v miumm m«m 
 
 mfmmmjm ' mmmmmMMiMc . 
 
 W0^i 
 
Ilii- Iwo lakes lit tli>' |Miiiil iin|Mc'stinii i^ iiluiiil tliivc mil''-, iiii'l il'" exit ili>iiii 
 
 Liikr Nipissiiix' it ivrnicut tn ili^' tuvMi mC N'.Jitli liny on tlic Caimiliaii I'lU'iHi; 
 
 Itinlwiiy 'I'lic cuttiiif,' (111 till' Mniiiiiit iiil„'i' is Mii.l in !).• Iiirni'ly tlnoiitjli mrtli 
 iiikI siiimI, iiiili'li (p| till! spiicc lii'inu' iiri'il|ii«'<l liy "n "I"'" "ii""*'i ''Hsiiy (liiiilicil 
 
 ;f, A smI'i', cillMMIiMlinlls, mill Wi'll .|l.|ti'H'i| lllllliiil- 111 till' llli.lllll of Kli'licll 
 
 lliwr «ilhillHi-,li,|ial tnuiiiiMl l;irililirs mi (icniwiiin Hay. 'I'ln' li\ ilni;,'iiiiiliir 
 siiiAvy nl(lrMi-mii Hay ami tin' Nnitli Cliaiiii"! ul \.ii\«- llm"ii iiiaiji^ at iicosl «\' 
 X:;i.".,(i(H» 'iUoiK'i liy Ml \V.. I. Si, wait iimli r iiisiiintions nl tlir l)c|.iii'tiiiiMit 
 (iC Maiiiii' Mini i'VliiiiiN was coiHiili'liil ill \>>'n, ami accnmti' cliarts i.f tlnwi) 
 pails of III.' laki'H ii.iw.'xiHt. Mr Sliaiily says nl' lln' liay at llic iiimitli ,.f tin- 
 Kiviirli IJivci tliMt ill'illlilsall tlicM'i.iKlitii'iiHi'f ii iinlili. Iiiiilmr, licini;- |iri.lirli'i| 
 nil III • siiiilii ami ~.iiilli-wr>l l.y llir ruislaiii unaip ut islamis, iiml i.ii tlio imitli- 
 wcst liy a piiijivtili^' liraillaml nrnTaiiitc, wliilr Dr K.lls stllti'S that lliu li^'lits 
 alivaily in pnsilimi siitlicinitly mark tln' cliaiincl to its tiilnimv tn iiiakis it por- 
 t'l'i'lly safe I'nr any vi'ssris iinw iia\ ii^atiii;,' tin' lakrs 
 
 At III'' I'llsti'lll I'll'! llic iilltl't "I 111,, iiaviijalinll Wnilld Im' t'itlli'l' tlirnli;rll 
 Liiki' St, Luiiisainl till' l.i.'liiiM' laiial, nr pivfi'i'iilily I'y Hack Hivci' ^,'iviny: 
 Mniilical, like Niw ^■|lrk. a .Inulil,' wati't iVnlitiyi) aii'l emu mniNly iiu'iviisi'il 
 liai'linl' ari'iiliiiiiii'laliiiii 
 
 It IS i|,i. iiiiaiiiinniis npiiiinii nf tin' si'Vi'ml i'iij;in.'i!i's wlm 
 liavi' I'xainiiii'.l til.' miit.', lliat it pr^'-.'iits im uiumial .'ii^jin.'.'i'in'^' .litMfulti-'s 
 
 ami tliat it is iii.'i-.'ly a .pi.-ti.iii .if s any .'ul.i.' yanU .,1' I'.i.ik fx.'avatinii 
 
 ami caitli ili'.'.lLriti,^', aii.l nl' 111.' .'nnstrm:ti..n of a I'.'itain nuinlior nl' ilains ainJ 
 ,'iiiliankiiii'iifs. On til,' Inw.'i |ii.rti..iis ..f tlw Ottawa passing tlii'.m^'li a f.'i'tik' 
 liii'iiiiii;;- cniiiitiy I'liltiva'.'.l In tli,' walcis ,'.|,i,'.', tli.' pi in is tn iiiaiiitaili -'xistili^' 
 levels as I'ai' as pnssililc, ami nvi'i-cnnii' ,'liaii,L;,'.s nf level liy caniilliiii,' ; mi tliu 
 reiiiaiiiil.i' nf tlio rmite wlieie the river walls are hi;,'ti nml tlio valleys narrow, 
 ali.l til.' prilieiple wealth nf the I'niiiitiy is in tin' luin.- ami fmi'^t^, tn 'j;n\i\ thu 
 ileplh le.piiie.l I'nr i.avi^ralimi hy rai-iiiL;- ih" -intiiee of tli.' watrr I'iith.'r than hy 
 expensive snlniiaiiiie rnek ex.'avatinM. 
 
 Surveys nf tli,- r..iit.' wer,' iinl,' a. "arly a- l^r.S- 1 Mid uml.'r the 
 . lireeti, Ills nf till' llniiiiiiinn (inv.i'iiiii. 'Ill, plans aiil maps nf which aru iinw in 
 the D.'partuieiit nf I'.iMic W.irks ,,t Caiia.la, aii.l uill h.' pla.'e.l fr,.ely at tli,' 
 ilispnsal nf the Cnmpaiiy. '1\\ ., plans .,f iinpi.iv.'iii.'iit nf ih,' naviL;ati.iii were 
 Mllaiiilteil, viz; thns,. n! M r, Wall.^i Sliaiily an 1 Mr, 'I', < '. t'lark", 'I'lie lalti'r 
 resnrte.l iiim-h mmi' Ir.'.'ly In iinprnM'in.'iit nf tli-' ii.iliiial wat.'ir.iiiise hy .lams in 
 preferi'iii',' t,M'.lll■^trn,•ti.al nf canals ilni, pin liiciii^ 1 ni;; >lr.'tch.'s .lUla-k water 
 cmim-'ti'il hy In.'k^ al lie pniiit^ ..f -r.'at.-sl .l.'s.'.'iit, Ti this incthi.l th,; natiii',' 
 ,,f ihr M'V.'ial rivers t rav,'l■^.•.|, a-> ahva.ly sf.ii.'.l, is rxtr.'iii.'ly fav.nahle, the hanks 
 heinn Lji.nrially hinh, aid Ih.' aiiiniiiil ..1 laid tln.i.l.'.l in any caM' small, Mr. 
 Clark, ''s estimate ealle.l I, a- -il) iiiil.'> •■( .'anal lietwi'eii tii'nri;ian ISay ami 
 Montreal, at a co,st,(cxclmliiii;- Laehin,' ( 'anal, ah'eaily I'onstriu'te.l ), nf S12,0."),S,flM) 
 or llhout Xi,40(),00(). liis r.'pmt is t.i th,' eir.'ct that .if th.' -f:)!) iiiil.s l.ital 
 ilistiincc, :!')1..SI m'llfs mr, al viiidi) n <iiui,l milui-iil luviiiat'ion. aii.l rcpiir.' no 
 inuirnvcnieiit ; ami that it is pi'rfwtly |ii'a,'ti,'ahlc sn tn iiiijirov" the rciiiaiiiiiin 
 7S,!i:i liiilis a^ tn cniiv.'i't th" whnle int., a liistcfi--^ iiavi^atinii I'm sli'aiii vessels, 
 aii.l leiliice the leiii^th nf canalliiii,' r.'.piir.'.l l.i :i<l.'^2 mih's .'X.'liisive of the 
 La.'liine ,aiial. A,lolitiiin a 1 2 fnnt clniniicl as that h.'-^l ailapt.'.l tn th,' rniile, 
 
 his estimate at that liim' (IMIO was that the ,'n.-t .if , '..1111111 tii f tlii' whole 
 
 nuvi^'atimi mi that .scale wmiM !„' I. ss than i'tl.mttt p.'f mile 
 
 Several |i.iilits are tn he ii.ili'.l as alt','0tile4' this estimate : 
 
 ]. Sine,' it wa> iiia.l.' the St. Aiin.'s ,iml (Ir.'iivilli' .'anaU liav,' heeii 
 
 eiilarj,'C(l to nine 1,','t in ,1,'ptli cniiipli'tiii;;' a channel nf that .leptli as far as 
 
 Ottawa City, a ilistam-c ,if IKi miles. Almiit i;i,.')l)l),l)l)l) have hceii spent to 
 
 ilate on the iiii|)rnvcniciit nf the navi:;atinn nf the Inwer r.'aches ..if the Ottawa, 
 
 V. st i Ml a It'll 
 
 i>l. 
 
If- 
 
 r-fr ■ I I irrmi 
 
 ■toMMMMlBaMia 
 
 i I j 
 
 -t. 
 
Kivcr. Wliilc, a>.i)Vo tilt! (Jitv i.f Ottawa /'SO.OOK liavi' liciMi cxiMMiilncl t.n tlic 
 (-'iilliulo canal, the lii'm.-tit dI wliich the Company will n," I'ive. 
 
 2. At tlic tiin(! of tli<! Hinvny, tor iiiimy 'iiilis o( its cimisi', tin: ripiitc! 
 
 tiaviMscil an iinlnokcri wildi-riii'ss, nci^fssiMi' in siiniiiw r on 
 
 ly t'y 
 
 lit' ciur 
 
 mill in winter on hiiowsIiocs. Now tlio (,'aniicliiui l'ii(ili(- anil other railways run 
 contii,'iioiH to it for .'!8() out of the l-.'tO miles, au'l allonl (he m'. atest possilile 
 
 i| su|i|)lies (hviiii{ to tills luet also work can Im 
 
 facilities 
 
 rr)r tfettiiii; in all m 
 
 |iros(MMiteil to ai|vaijta;,'e at numerous points at the same time, and thus pushed 
 rapidly to completion. 
 
 N'^' 
 
 8. Iinprovemenl. in methoils and iieans of e.\ia\ atinii ^uid eaual 
 construction since that time will lead to a ''reat diminution of the i^jst lor work 
 
 >f that iwitu 
 
 re. Aecon 
 
 liiiU to Mr ('laiki's estimate (he t.otal amount of 
 
 excavation and dredi^in;^ necessary to I'ompli-te a \2 foot eliiuoie! is a little over 
 4,l)(>t),()l)() cuhie yards. His calculations wire made on the Oasis that -',:!7l>, 1110 
 cuhie yards of rock excavation Would he rei|uii.d at a total cost of ^<.■t !»)■(), "i".'), 
 l)ein;4 an averaije of $1 (iti per cuhie yaid. W'ane'r Miller, I'ri-sideiit of the 
 Nicaragua (Janal (Company, in a recent, article on thi; Ni(!aiai,'na canal under- 
 taking, says : "The cost of fork excavation has lu'cu reduced in actual practici; 
 in the irieat draina;^e canal now hidn;,' r-aisl i-iieti il at ( 'hica;;o to less than thirty 
 cents per yard." Snpoosin;^ the exeavaliou on this route, from the hiird nature 
 of the rock met with, to cost twice that much, or sixty cents a yard, theic would 
 
 still lie a sav 
 
 lill'ected over the oii'iinal ■■^timale nf 
 
 S2 0(IO,()()(l 
 
 £MWfMO, provided no additional excavation w ic found I p 1 
 
 II' neecss-ary. 
 
 Mr. H Adams Davy, C.lv, in reportiui,' on the proje 
 
 't in Novell 
 
 h-r. is;i|. 
 
 from pei'Mtnal kiMwdei|;je and examination of the route, and after carefully 
 o' I r the seveial )dans and surveys mai 
 
 le liv the other i-ni'iiii'crs nieiitiom 
 
 estimates thai the cost of construction (or a canal often feet draft should not 
 
 exceid SJ.^OOD.dOl) or /,":t.OI)( 1,1 10(1 ; and (hat the tii icciipiiMJ in its construction 
 
 need not exceed thnpe years 
 
 While a cliaunel of from nine to 1 wclvc hit depth has lieeii eoii.sideied 
 
 lllicient for idosetit I 
 
 leeds, an important i(eiii in eslinialne^ (lie eo.,( ol (In- 
 work is the prospective cost of enlar;,'emen( loa slop channel nfsny K; (., iJO fee( m 
 depth when (he traflie shall deiiiiiiid it. On lliis poiii( .Mr II K. Wiiksti id, 
 
 cost lietweell a loud' f^r \H \irl. 
 
 CK., says : " The ditleieiK i; in 
 
 one for !) feet navi;,(ation is not nearly as ^'re,i(, 
 
 /iif llii' liilhr iiroh ilih/ '') jiir i:<iil. ii'niilil In' if'iilnlil' Im' fl'<; /miii 
 
 liiilli'f iiitiir ifiit." 
 
 li:i\ l'4;i( loll an< 
 
 a^ III Mi'(niai\' i,i>e 
 
 // 
 
 illidiil 
 
 As lias lireli sail 
 
 the or. 
 
 ■d F.irdl \- Clyde e;lll:ll (I, 
 
 pr. 
 
 inception will have (he ad vaiit.iL,'e of the t;iit (lia( ill eiiniiiioie 
 ready to lieneli( and he heiielittecl Here the ' '< 
 ilitiiiii. iiiviiiliiii/ I'i'iil iiiil/rlx" 
 
 tnill 
 
 le liiiw e.Msts 
 
 ll^tncss r.tist'* ill II i-.i'nn 
 
 J',1,, 
 
 A route pos.sessiiin siieli mad'iial .■idvaii(.a;;es over all others in poinl, of 
 directness, shortness, savin;,' of time eti'ected, cheapness, and s.ifciv nnist !„• a 
 stro'i;; cuinpetitor for ihrouirh traflie from the day it is opened, and will a( once 
 ali.sorli a lar;;e shaie ot I he east I. on nd tr: 
 route for the ^fiaiii traflie which has It 
 
 Thus 1( nill-t hecdlll.. ih< 
 
 s source piincipallv in hake 
 
 ,Mi 
 
 liii^iili aiel 
 
 Lak(! Superior ports, tin; lat(er alone scinlii::,,' iiu( nearly -SO 000 000 Imshels a 
 year of ;rraiii and orain pi.M|iic(s, ,in am.,iii.( whieh will iind.iul.ddly doiil.l. 
 
 within 10 
 
 The divei.sion of^raiii tintlic to the Ottawa route i 
 
 mist result, 
 
 in cheaper return rates for freiehi from .Montreal owinj.' to tie- numhen.f vessels 
 that would .seek we.slhound car(,'o at that point, while (| pemtioii ul (he s.iin*' 
 
 cause must lowyr ocean rates to and fmni .M'inlreal, s'l 
 
 ice ^laiii Would he sliio-ied 
 
 ftoni that port in larj{e ipiaiitities that now tiiids its wuy to New Vork hy rail 
 
f 
 
 MH 
 
 ! I i 
 
 M 
 
 ■-.:t 
 
 111 
 
 ..aiS"- 
 
and the Erie canal. British luul Cniiadinii intore-ils would lif liost served by the 
 Ottawa route wliieli i>t preforalile tn all others in that thev one iitnl all .siiii'-trnek 
 Montreal for the lienefit of New York, while it directly tends to inerense the 
 inijiortaiice of Moutieal as a distribiitini,' point hrr the iiurtheni |):irt of the eoii- 
 tincnt. 
 
 Mr. R. Adams Davy say.s : "The amount of freijfht jjassini; Di'troit 
 annually is over 20,00(1,0(10 tons, and is rapidly inereasinij, so that at the end of 
 five yeai-s from now it will prohahly exceed :!l),()()O,O()0 tons. If only 1-10 of 
 this ean he diverted, whiyli it is (piile reasonahh^ to e.\pe(rt, a t'dl of fifty cents a 
 ton on 3,0()0,()()0 tons will yive a reveniii! of !*l,r>')0,00 1 from this source 
 alone, which is ample to provide for the interest and rnnnini; e.Kpenses." 
 
 Mr. H. K. VVicksteed .says : "Makin.;every allowance. I cannot estimate less 
 than it or 10 million tons, which woidd he innn.MliMtely diverted ovci the shorter 
 route were the cainil to he opencil to-mori-ow." 
 
 Adopting til's UKire conservative of these estimates, it may fairly ho 
 calculated that the total traflic from all sources nt the o\itsct will he .">,()0(),0()0 
 tons annually. With a toll rate of .")() cents per ton, there would he from this 
 source of revenue alone an income of ><2,-">00,OI)(), or suttieient to pay, (supposing 
 the total cost not tu exceed ?2.'<,0()0,()()0) : 
 
 Interest at 4 per ci'iit. on S2.-),0()0,(>ll(l Sl,()(l(),0()0 
 
 Maintenance aMd_operation .")00,00(l 
 
 Sinkinj,' fuml .')(K),0()() 
 
 Diviilenils .")ilO,()00 
 
 Nor is the diversion of an i'xis(in'4 trathc of such innncnse .-md rapidiv 
 increasiii}^ pro)iortions the ordy prospective .-•oiirce of tiade alonjj; the route, for 
 its opening will ilevelop resources of inestimable ri('hness. ISouchette writinjf in 
 1.S.32 estimated that the Otiawii valley is capable of supportinc,' .S,00(',0()0 
 jieople ; its present lio])nl,'ition is abmit 4liO,0(ll) In salubrity of climate, fertility- 
 of its well-waterei! valleys, trans])arcnt puiity of its trout-tilled lakes ami brooks, 
 wealth of mines and forests, and variety and value of resourei's no like tract of 
 country in Canada can surpass it Thus, vessels cariyine; tirain eascwaid woidd 
 find return carifoe:. of hnnber for |;ike ports. ("hi<'aL;o is the i^rcat centre,' of 
 distribution foi- hnuber on the continent As lon^; Miaous ISS.'! according; to a 
 speech delivered by Mr. .loseph Tasse in the (,'anadiaii Mouse of Commons its 
 receipts by laki; and rail were l,i)()il,!»l(),();l() feel, of which more than l,O(i.'),O00,- 
 0(10 were re-shipped, lailioa.ds receiving,' S-fODO.OllO and shipowners S:!,()0(l,()()0 
 for transportation. The route yiKsv.s' ilirmii/li 'In: lifinl of otiv of the riflifst, 
 lumber (I ixf) icif of tlif ri>iillni:iit. Michii,'an and Wisconsin pine woods are 
 heini^ rapidly exh.-uisted and a laiec traflic in luuibei- UiU^t hi' developc.l alone- 
 •his route from the he;ivily timbered districts of noi'lhern Ontario and (Jiuebi c 
 to Chieai(o and other lake ports for distribution to the yreat prairii; States of 
 the West. 
 
 The country passed throiiLjh possesses not only vast stores of ])inc, but 
 also maiilo, spruce, hendock, jioplar, bidsam, white cedar, tamarac, bir( h, beech 
 oak, elm, ash, basswood, ami other uci^ds of commeicial value ami usiil in 
 rapidly increasins; ipuintities in the manufacturi' of furniture, finishing of houses, 
 making'; of pldp, etc. The f^iowth of the last-named industry has been veiy 
 rapid, and low freiyjlit rates would create new lacilities for its successfid earryiuj^ 
 on. Thus the exports from Canada of wood pulp lia\'e increased ii-om nil in 
 
 18.S!t to !?;iS(i,0!)2 in iNICi and those of w I for pulp fr.mi nil to s!4.-,.vs!);i .hirini; 
 
 the .same perical. 
 
 Mdlions of ai!res of fertile laiicls in Northern Ontario now covered with 
 timber will with the advent of cheap transportation fill u]> with settlers ; and 
 
 «3 
 
 V 
 
 Soiirci's 
 
in Aluoina, T('iiiiscniiiinii;\if niul Ni|iiss'm;4 l')istiicts many tliousamls of [)eo|)1e 
 will iniikc liDiiu's. Miiiiiij,' luid siiii'ltiii^ ii|ii'iiitions, till! ivi|iiiioiiicnts oF iimmi- 
 foctiiriiij;, anil ut' tln' |Ki|iiilation will ;.'ivo ris<' tn an cvit inci'easing ili'nmnil fur 
 ciial ; iind nil ini|K)rtiinl friitmv of the tniftic in tin,' near future will lio tliu 
 carriiigu of cdiil Iroiii LiiKi.' Kiio I'oits to jioints on the systoni, and to Fruni'li 
 River as n coftlint; stnlinn I'or vcssrls rn!,'ngp(l in tliu grain trailc, with return 
 tm(K(^ of liinilicr iinil ores from tlic rich tiinhi'i' and niinoral regions along the 
 route. Mining is yet in its inlancy in tin' Ottawa counuy, hut researches made 
 U|i to the )>reseiit time have sliewii it t(. lie possessed of iriealculahle stores of 
 mineral wealth. Within a few niili's of the city of Ottnwii are inimen.se i|uanti- 
 ties of iron ore of great liohnes^. The niekei and co|i])er depositsof the Sudlmrj' 
 region are already famous : and at main' |ioiiits the IJuidiiiaii formation which 
 extends for long distances has Immh tuiind to al>oiind in niiiiiTals. Gold, silver- 
 hearing galena, zinc, lilatininii, tin, molylnh iniiii. gia|iliifo, apatite, mica and iron 
 are found, and to some iwt'iit nlieudy mined. Fine granites, sandstones, rootiiig- 
 slates, .serpentine and clulomitie mai hies, I'te , are among the noii-metallie mineral 
 resources of eommereial importanei! awaiting development ; and the carriage of 
 ores, huilding-stones. maililes, grniiit >, rte.. must in a short time nti'oid the 
 .source of consideralde revi nue to the canals. 
 
 I lydraulir. 
 |n>vvcr. 
 
 The four items already meiitioneil. viz.: grain, lumber, coal and ores con- 
 tain almost itO per cent, of the tratlie of the great lakes, and the liulk of the traffic 
 of the ()ttawa routi' will no doiihl he derivccl lidiii tin; same .sources. 
 
 According to tlu' Otiiiwa S'lrvev. tie' d^'iinage area of the Ottawa iliver 
 is .s(),0()0 si|uare i.mes; its length 701) miles ; Volume at Oreuville :13 miles fron; 
 its mouth -di.schaige in i:uhie fee't per second at low water .'j-^OOO — at hig'' 
 water, l.')(),()i)l) — mean flow, s.").()ll() ; nr noiirly three times that of the Rhine and 
 roughly seventeen times tliiit of the TIimiiics. Bi'tweeu Deschenes Lake and 
 Ottawa, a distance of (irid miles, aie lajids with a descent of (!() feet, .'!6 of 
 wdnch are tnkeii op liy the ( 'hiiidieic falU, n magniticeiit fall which affords one 
 of the finest waterpowers on the continent. At De.s iloaehims the fall is 2(i'4 
 feet in 1 1)4 niile,->. At Uoclier (.'a|iit."ine tin' fall is 40!) in \ '•)') miles. Pietwi^eu 
 thi' lead of t'hats hake and the heiel .,t ( ■.ilumet Islaml there is a fall of 102 +!S 
 feet, n, ore tliiin half of which, nil tie iimiiIi chniinel is enncentrated at (irand 
 (..'aliimet Kails, The total locknge on the Ottau'ii lieing 440 feet, there remains 
 200 feet descent avaihdile at various points on the ri\cr other than those men- 
 tioned. The possibilities of the Ottiiw.i mnte in the production of hydraulic 
 power have been stateil by ,M r, Shunly as follow^ ; Its water ))ower is not only 
 uidimited in capacity, but av;iil;ible (n it^ full extent lit iiumheiless stages 
 along the route. l|y the opening of the i)rojeeted navigation this great manu- 
 facturing agent would lie brought into eompanitive pr(>xiiuity to the granaries 
 of Lake Michigan, and «ould imiiiedialely !"■ turned to :ic"ouiit in preparing the 
 cereals of the West for til ■ markets of the East With such a combination of 
 advantages in possession or prospect if is surelv not dittlcult of belief that the 
 
 Vllllfl/ Ot till' Oitiliri is ili'.tli in'tl ti) III' nut mil;/ tin' irorkslliijl (if (.'((lillllll. Ijlll OH** 
 
 ()/ ///(' cliief iniiiml'iii III riiiij (li.^lrirln ut' A noi ifn " 
 
 A most signilii lint feature of the export trade in lireadstulls from this 
 continent is the rajiid increase in shipiiu'iits of flour, a fact clearly pointing to 
 the possibility .if the establisliiueiit ol a milliiie indu-try of gigniitie proportions . 
 on the Ottawa liixer when its vast water power shall be rendered available, and 
 at the' same time given the best po.ssible shipping facilities by the opening of the 
 shortest of all routes to the sen. 
 
 Mr O, lligimin. Member of the Institute of EleetiieallMigineeis and Asso- KU^ciric 
 
 ciate Member of the ( 'iiuadiaii iSuciety of Civil Engineeis. says with regard to the l'"^'^''- 
 development of eh-etrical eie'i'gy from the various water powers along the route: 
 
■BiPiPilBBP 
 
 111 
 
HM 
 
 "It would be (lirticult td t'liid, on tliis continent at any lato, a Nimilnr succession 
 of watei-f'alln alonjj a liiii clistanp(>, and tlir.iugli a country so well (avored for 
 manutacturiiij,' imiposos. With tlio niotliods of loiij; (iistribntion of the electric 
 current that arc now being iierfected by 'IVsla and others, there is no reason why 
 sufficient energy should not l)e generated along the Ottawa and its tributaries, 
 not onlj' (or lo -al purposes along the route, but tor the operation of the Canadian 
 Pacific and Canada Atlantic and Parry Sound Railways between Georgian Bay 
 and Montreal." 
 
 At the present time when the applieiition of electric energy to the 
 ])roceFSCs of manufacturing and to transpoitalioii, heating, lighting (Src, is making 
 rapid strides every day, it would be rash to attempt to treat in any other than 
 the most general way the subject of the value of the enormous water power on 
 the Ottawa River aniirits tributariis for the geneiation of this force. There 
 seerns little rea.son to doubt that wherever water power is readily availaVde it will 
 in the near future be turned to aceount in this way, superseding .■iteam in most 
 of its ordinary employment as a motive fon^e. In the hydraulic powers along its 
 route therefore, there is ever)- reason to bolie-e that the Company will be 
 possessed of a resource of inestimable value. 
 
 The Ottawa River navigation system has iis outlet at the port of 
 Montreal, the head of Atlantic Ocean navigation, there lieing a channel of 
 twenty-seven feet and si.\ inches in depth from that point eastward on the 8t. 
 Lawrence. At Monti eal it leaches 
 
 1. An ocean poit over three hundred miles nearer to Liverpool than 
 New York is ; 
 
 2. The Grand Trunk, Canadian Pacific, Central Vermont, and connecting 
 systems of railway to New York, Boston, Portland and Halifax, and all inter- 
 mediate points in New Engaid, Quebec, and the Maritime Piovinces; 
 
 3. An existing vaterway to New York via the St. Lawrence and 
 Richelieu Rivers, Lake C'.ianiplain and the Hmlson River, the highway for the 
 lumber traffic ironi the Ottawa district to New York. 
 
 The construction of thirty-two miles of canal from a point on Lake St 
 Louis to the level of Lake Cha:nplain at St. Johns on the Richelieu River, and 
 the enlargement of the Chaniplain canal trom the south end of Lake Champlain 
 to the Hudson River, in connection with the completed Ottawa route would 
 afford a waterway between Chicago and New York seventy miles shorter than 
 the Erie and with 2'M) miles less of canal, 100 miles less than the route via the 
 Welland canal and the Erie from Osw^ego and with 110 miles less of canal, and 
 250 miles shorter than the St. Lawrence anil with 45 mill's less of canal. The 
 respective distances between Chiengo and New York by such routes being as 
 follows : — 
 
 Canal. Lake I't River. Total. 
 1. via Ottawa and French Rivers and Lake 
 
 Champlain 120 1228 134S miles. 
 
 2.— via Erie Canal and Hudson River ;J50 I0()5 1415 " 
 
 3._via Welland Canal fc Krio from Oswego 2;!0 1215 1445 " 
 
 4.— via St. Law'-ence Route l(i-S 1441 lti04 " 
 
 By the ('ompletion of such waterway in enunection with the Ottawa 
 route the distance from Chicago to New England ports on the east side of Lake 
 Champlain woidd be hssened to 1000 or 1100 miles with only a.'J miles of 
 canalling as compaied with a distance of l.SOO to 1400 miles by the Erie with no 
 less than 420 miles of e;inal. 
 
 The City of Ottnwn, IKi nules fr mi Montreal, is already a railway centre 
 of some importance. The Cnnuda Atlantic, the Prescottand Brockvillc branches 
 of the Canadian Pacific, as well as its main tvanscontinental line, the Arnprior 
 
 IS 
 
 C o n n e c- 
 tions. 
 
I 
 
 it 
 
 ■U 
 
 mtmimmmiiKmaim 
 
r 
 
 and Parry Sound Riiilway, the Pontine and Pacltip Junction Railway, and the 
 Gatineau Valley Railway a' ready have entrance to the city. 
 
 The River Du Lievre, a tributary on the north side of the Ottiiwn, a tew 
 miles farther down is navigated hy small vessels plying from Buckingham on 
 the Canadian Pacific to the apatite and mica mines of the region. At Ottawa, 
 the Gatineau, a fine stream of 400 nnles in length eiiteis from the nortli,and the 
 Rideau from the south. The Rideau Canal, 12.") miles in length, between Ottawa 
 city and Kingston, at the foot of Lake Ontario, was built as an Imperial military 
 undertaking about IHJJO, and in connection with the lower Ottawa, formed the 
 only highway to Lake Ontario until the ccai.st ruction of the St. Lawrence canals 
 impaired its usefulness. With a large grain traffic on the Ottawa, something of 
 its old importance would perhaps be restoreil by increase of coal freightage 
 from Oswego to Ottawa as a coaling station for the grain fleet. 
 
 Tlio Kingston and Pendtroke Railway runs from the foot of Luke Ontario 
 to a point on the Ottawa a hundred nnles farther up. 
 
 A branch of the Grand Trunk Railway extends northward from Toronto 
 to North Bay on Lake Nijiissing; ami a railway is projected to run from North 
 Bay or Mattawa to James Hay through the Temiscamingue country. 
 
 From French River there is, of course, ready access to all the railroads 
 which touch the upper lakes and very great facilities are atlbrde.l, both of 
 col ecting freights from all the country bor.lering uiion them and of distributing 
 over a wide area the products of the Ottawa country. 
 
 Should the proposed junction of the Mississippi River sy.stem of 
 navigation with that of the Great Lakes be effected, it would lead toiw in.menso^^ 
 augmentation of traffic in which the Ottawa route would share. %■ ■'^<' 
 
 The importance of the tributary system of the Ottawa will be seen trpm 
 the following list of its principal feeders, many of which have valuable water- 
 powers along their courses, and pass through rich uuneral, timber oi-agricultui-al 
 lands : — 
 
 Entering from the south are the 
 
 Course in miles. Area of basin. 
 
 South Nation River JOO — «<!• '»''- 
 
 ,,., .. IK) 1-iot) 
 
 y'^"". . ,. 101 1120 
 
 J^'7'Ta " 210 4100 
 
 ^'^'^'^T! •' 10" 980 
 
 Bonnechere _ ^^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 Pete wawa 
 
 And the Mattawa River described as " the bro.idest and deepest of the 
 
 western tributaries of the Ottawa ; while from the north come the 
 
 Course ill miles. Area of bii.sin. 
 
 n- I'M Sq. miles. 
 
 Assoraption River '•'" 
 
 l^ouge „ 
 
 North Nation '_'_ _^JJ ^jy,, 
 
 »" Lievre _ • "^^^ ^^^^^^ 
 
 ^''^r"" ■• 100 100 
 
 Coul^Se __ ^3„ 1120 
 
 Black .< 
 
 Indian " „ 
 
 DeBmoines " ~ „ 
 
 Jlill'tC^eepawa, "a river^^xcei^llng in Volume the largest rivers of G. eat Britain. 
 
 N'*- 
 
■^