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A FEW HISTORICAL FACTS AND THE CANALS--Continued THE ERIE CANAL The Erie canal is a free waterway. Most of the freighting on this canal has been done with canal boats. The length of the eanal from Buffalo to Albany is 363 miles; the total lift is 568 feet. The work of construction commenced in 1817, and the canal was opened in 1825 at a cost of $7,602.00. The State of New York appropriated $101,000,000 to reconstruct this canal from Buffalo to Troy, a distance of 442 miles. The length of the new locks is 328 feet, width 45 feet, depth of water on mitre sill 12 feet; there are 35 new locks. Boats not to exceed 310 feet in length can navigate the new canal; their carrying capacity is about 2,700 to 3,000 tons, and they are operated by mechanical power; the headroom from under the bridges to the water is only 15 feet. CHICAGO DRAINAGE CANAL Length, 28 miles; varies from 160 to 200 feet wide; 22 feet deep. Connects Chicago with the Des Plaines river. Current figured at from 1% to 2 miles an hour. The 22 bridges across this canal are all movable spans, and the canal is a free waterway. The main object in building this canal was to carry off the foul water of the Chicago river. The vertical clearance is about 16 feet above mean Lake level. THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER CANALS A boat coming from Montreal to Lake Ontario would have to pass through six canals and make 21 lockages. These locks would give a lift of 207% feet. The total length of the six canals is 45 miles, and the length of the trip from Montreal to Lake Ontario is 182 miles. The first canal--the Lachine--begins right at the city of Montreal and the last canal--the Galops--is 7 miles below Ogdensburg. There is free sailing from Montreal eastward to the sea and westward from Ogdensburg to Port Weller, The distance from Ogdensburg to Lake Ontario is 62 miles. The dis- tance from Montreal to the mouth of the St. Lawrence river is 986 miles. The names of the six Canadian canals are as follows, beginning at Montreal: The Lachine, the Soulanges, the Cornwall, Farrans Point, Rapide Plat, and Galops. These canals are built to accom- modate boats 255 feet long, 42 feet beam and of 14 feet draft. But the new lock at the Farrans Point canal is 800 feet in length. A short description of these canals is given below: The Lachine Canal Length, 8% miles; 5 locks; total lift, 45 feet; locks are 270 feet long and 45 feet wide; average depth of canal is 14 feet. This canal extends from Montreal to the town of Lachine, and over- comes the St. Louis rapids. The Soulanges Canal Length, 14 miles; 4 lift locks, 1 guard lock; total lift, 84 feet. Locks are 280 feet long and 45 feet wide. This canal overcomes the Cascade rapids, Cedar rapids and Coteau rapids. The Cornwall Canal Length, 11 miles; 6 locks; total lift, 48 feet. Locks are 270 feet long and 45 feet wide. This canal overcomes the Long Sault rapids, from the town of Cornwall to Dickenson's landing. Farrans Point Canal Length, 1 mile; 1 lock: total Hit, 4 feet. Lock is $00 {ee long and 45 feet wide. The old lock is still in use and is 200 feet long and 45 feet wide, with a depth of 9 feet. This canal overcomes the Farrans Point rapids. Descending vessels use the rapids instead of the canal. Rapide Plat Canal Length, 3%4 miles; 2 locks; total lift, 1114 feet. Locks are 270 and 285 feet long and 45 feet wide. This canal extends from Morrisburg to Flaggs bay and overcomes the rapids at that place. Descending vessels run the rapids. 371