voyage of the paper canoe-第6章
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at a cost of one ton of coal per day。 At ten o'clock on Monday morning we resumed our journey up the Richelieu； the current of which was nothing compared with that of the great river we had left。 The average width of the stream was about a quarter of a mile； and the grassy shores were made picturesque by groves of trees and quaintly constructed farm…houses。
It was a rich； pastoral land； abounding in fine herds of cattle。 The country reminded me of the Acadian region of Grand Pre； which I had visited during the earlier part of the season。 Here； as there； were delightful pastoral scenes and rich verdure； but here we still had the Acadian peasants； while in the land of beautiful Evangeline no longer were they to be found； The New Englander now holds the titles to those deserted old farms of the scattered colonists。 Our rowing was frequently interrupted by heavy showers； which drove us under our hatch…cloth for protection。 The same large； two…steepled stone churches； with their unpainted tin roofs glistening like silver in the sunlight； marked out here； as on the high banks of the St。 Lawrence River； the site of a village。
Twelve miles of rowing brought us to St。 Ours； where we rested for the night； after wandering through its shaded and quaint streets。 The village boys and girls came down to see us off the next morning； waving their kerchiefs； and shouting 〃Bon voyage！〃 Two miles above the town we encountered a dam three feet high； which deepened the water on a shoal above it。 We passed through a single lock in company with rafts of pine logs which were on the way to New York； to be used for spars。 A lockage fee of twenty…five cents for our boat the lock…master told us would be collected at Chambly Basin。 It was a pull of nearly six miles to St。 Denis； where the same scene of comfort and plenty prevailed。 Women were washing clothes in large iron pots at the river's edge； and the hum of the spinning…wheels issued from the doorways of the farm…houses。 Beehives in the well…stocked gardens were filled with honey； and the strawthatched barns had their doors thrown wide open； as though waiting to receive the harvest。 At intervals along the highway； over the grassy hills； tall； white wooden crosses were erected； for this people； like the Acadians of old； are very religious。 Down the current floated 〃pin…flats；〃 a curious scow…like boat； which carries a square sail； and makes good time only when running before the wind。 St。 Antoine and St。 Marks were passed； and the isolated peak of St。 Hilaire loomed up grandly twelve hundred feet on the right bank of the Richelieu； opposite the town Beloeil。 One mile above Beloeil the Grand Trunk Railroad crosses the stream； and here we passed the night。 Strong winds and rain squalls interrupted our progress。 At Chambly Basin we tarried until the evening of July 16； before entering the canal。 Chambly is a watering…place for Montreal people； who come here to enjoy the fishing； which is said to be fair。
We had ascended one water…step at St。 Ours。 Here we had eight steps to ascend within the distance of one mile。 By means of eight locks； each one hundred and ten feet long by twenty…two wide； the Mayeta was lifted seventy…five feet and one inch in height to the upper level of the canal。 The lock…masters were courteous； and wished us the usual 〃Bon voyage！〃 This canal was built thirty…four years prior to my visit。 By ten o'clock P。 M。 We had passed the last lock； and went into camp in a depression in the bank of the canal。 The journey was resumed at half past three o'clock the following morning； and the row of twelve miles to St。 Johns was a delightful one。 The last lock （the only one at St。 Johns） was passed； and we had a full clearance at the Dominion custom…house before noon。
We were again on the Richelieu； with about twenty…three miles between us and the boundary line of the United States and Canada； and with very little current to impede us。 As dusk approached we passed a dismantled old fort； situated upon an island called Ile aux Noix； and entered a region inhabited by the large bull…frog； where we camped for the night； amid the dolorous voices of these choristers。 On Saturday； the 18th； at an early hour； we were pulling for the United States； which was about six miles from our camping…ground。 The Richelieu widened； and we entered Lake Champlain； passing Fort Montgomery； which is about one thousand feet south of the boundary line。 Champlain has a width of three fourths of a mile at Fort Montgomery； and at Rouse's Point expands to two miles and three quarters。 The erection of the fort was commenced soon after 1812； but in 1818 the work was suspended； as some one discovered that the site was in Canada； and the cognomen of Fort Blunder was applied。 In the Webster treaty of 1842； England ceded the ground to the United States； and Fort Montgomery was finished at a cost of over half a million of dollars。
At Rouse's Point； which lies on the west shore of Lake Champlain about one and one…half miles south of its confluence with the Richelieu； the Mayeta was inspected by the United States custom…house officer； and nothing contraband being discovered； the little craft was permitted to continue her voyage。
At the northern end of the harbor of Rouse's Point is the terminus of the Ogdensburg and the Champlain and St。 Lawrence railroads。 The Vermont Central Railroad connects with the above by means of a bridge twenty…two hundred feet in length； which crosses the lake。 Before proceeding further it may interest the reader of practical mind to know that a very important movement is on foot to facilitate the navigation of vessels between the great Lakes； St。 Lawrence River； and Champlain； by the construction of a ship…canal。 The Caughnawaga Ship Canal Company； 〃incorporated by special act of the Dominion of Parliament of Canada； 12th May； 1870；〃 （capital； three million dollars； shares； one hundred dollars each；） with a board of directors composed of citizens of the United States and Canada； has issued its prospectus； from which I extract the following： 〃The commissioners of public works； in their report of 1859； approved by government； finally settled the question of route； by declaring that； 'after a patient and mature consideration of all the surveys and reports； we are of opinion that the line following the Chambly Canal and then crossing to Lake St。 Louis near Caughnawaga； is that which combines and affords in the greatest degree all the advantages contemplated by this improvement； and which has been approved by Messrs。 Mills； Swift； and Gamble。'
〃The company's Act of Incorporation is in every respect complete and comprehensive in its details。 It empowers the company to survey； to take； appropriate； have and hold； to and for the use of them and their successors； the line and boundaries of a canal between the St。 Lawrence and Lake Champlain； to build and erect the same； to select such sites as may be necessary for basins and docks； as may be considered expedient by the directors； and to purchase and dispose of same； with any water…power； as may be deemed best by the directors for the use and profit of the company。
〃It also empowers the company to cause their canal to enter into the Chambly Canal； and to widen； deepen； and enlarge the same； not less in size than the present St。 Lawrence canals； also the company may take； hold； and use any portion of the Chambly Canal； and the works therewith connected； and all the tolls； receipts； and revenues thereof； upon terms to be settled and agreed upon between the company and the governor in council。
〃The cost of the canal； with locks of three hundred feet by forty…five； and with ten feet six inches the mitre…sill； is now estimated at two million five hundred thousand dollars； and the time for its construction may not exceed two years after breaking ground。
〃Probably no question is of more vital importance to Canada and the western and eastern United States than the subject of transportation。 The increasing commerce of the Great West； the rapidity with which the population has of late flowed into that vast tract of country to the west and northwest of lakes Erie； Michigan； Huron； and Superior； have s
