Oswego Free Press (Oswego, NY), Wed., Oct. 30, 1830

Welland Canal Navigation. -- The Schr. Winnebago, Capt. Bill, from Oswego, N.Y. bound for Cleaveland, Ohio, laden with Merchandize and Salt, passed up the Welland canal, with perfect ease and safety, on Monday last. This vessel is the first that has attempted its passage thro' this important communication between the lakes with a full freight, bound from one U.S. port to another.

She is owned by Messrs. Bronson, Marshall & Co. Forwarders, of Oswego, and draws 5 feet 2 inches water. One of the partners, (Mr. Crocker) accompanied the vessel, for the express purpose of examining the canal in person, so as to be able to form a correct opinion of the facilities it presents for making the double voyage on both lakes. We should be pleased to witness a similar feeling in all those interested in the success of this work: for we are certain a personal examination is all that is necessary to establish full confidence in it.

We trust the time is not far distant when a Forwarding Line will be formed between Cleaveland and Oswego; as such an establishment could not fail soon to become profitable to those concerned, and a great benefit & accommodation to the publick.

The merchants in Cleaveland, and at all other ports on lake Erie, if they are alive to their own interests, must soon observe the superiour advantages this route holds out for the transportation of all their Goods up from the seacoast, and their Produce down to market. The greatest difficulty we labour under, is the want of a sufficient number of vessels adopted to the navigation of the canal, as well as the lakes: nothing more is required, to ensure permanent success.

The safe passage of the above vessel must remove all doubts of the utility of this canal; indeed had she drawn 7 1/2 feet of water, the result, we are assured, would have been the same. Other vessels, now the ground is broken, can and will follow the same track; and an extensive trade, through this channel, principally in salt up, and wheat down, will be the consequence in a very short space of time.