HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2012-07-04, Page 3LAW
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CAMM.
HE T. OSEPH TORY
THE CANAL PROJECT
The first application to the Canadian Government for a Charter to construct
a canal from Lake Huron to Lake Erie was made by Narcisse Cantin in 1898. The
corporation was to be called the Huron & Erle Canal Company and proposed
to build a canal running from St. Joseph to Lake Erie ending at a point between
Port Talbot and Port Stanley.
Cantin's vision Included a canal paralleling and located west of today's
Welland Canal, entering lake Ontario between Hamilton and Port Dalhousie.
From that point, shipping would continue east on Lake Ontario to
Prescott, where another canal would link Prescott to Ottawa. From
Ottawa, via the Ottawa River, shipping would move to the St. Lawrence
and Montreal Harbour by way of Riviere de Praires.
Cantin believed hydro electric power developments would advance
along with the canal projects and create enough electricity to power
southern Ontario's railroad system.
The feasibility for Cantin's project was based on: travel distance, freight
handling, and quantity of shipping.
Inbound or outbound freight travelling the Great Lakes passed through
an "unnecessary" 241km (150 miles) through the St. Clair River and
Detroit River to either Lake Ontario or Lake Huron, which translated into
483km (300 miles) for round trips. Differences in water depth necessitated
additional handling of freight, as it was unpacked and repacked between
large great -lake ships to smaller canal boats and barges.
"1 sats' that a canal between lake's Huron and Erie would
he an economical proposition and would bring entirely
into Canadian Territory the pivotal point o/the greatest
transportation and industrial activity in the world"
Canadian federal engineers were satisfied with Cantin's canal proposal. Unfor-
tunately, Cantin faced political, financial and competitive challenges. For more
information visit the website at:
http://www.stjosephmuseum.ca
Soreh"
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