Chronicle & Gazette (Kingston, ON), May 17, 1834

p.2 Mr. Bethune's Steamer - 3 barrels instead of 2 like Burden's boat, paddlewheels to be on each side of the middle one. [Old Quebec Gazette]

The new steam boat building at this port will be launched positively, if all be well, on Tuesday, the 10th day of June. This is assuredly the most singularly constructed boat ever built. The plan is original; it differs materially from the Burdenian model. Let the reader imagine to himself two enormous canoes, each 177 feet in length, by 9 feet in breadth, and placed parallel to each other, at the distance of 12 1/2 feet apart, with oval iron hoops, covered all over with pine plank, something like a barrel, fastened to each other with large oak beams, over which the cabins are built; and he will have some idea of this extraordinary boat. [Prescott Gazette]

There will be over thirty steam boats on Lake Erie alone, during this season, besides a number connecting with them and running on Detroit river and Lake Michigan. Several more will be built during the season. The number of schooners amounts now to about we believe, one hundred and fifty; and before the season is through they will probably exceed two hundred, besides what trades with Lake Ontario through the Welland Canal. [Detroit Journal and Adv.]

The Rideau Canal - This splendid triumph of art and important channel of intercommunication is becoming every day more known, and consequently more valued. There have not been many public works completed under such numerous difficulties, and certainly there has been no one that has suffered so much in public opinion from false reports, and hasty conclusions. We think, however, the time has arrived when the real consequence of the Canal will be seen by the country, and when instead of being a burden, it will become an extensive and profitable source of revenue. Apart from the general usefulness of the Canal, the town of Kingston is likely to be benefitted by it in an especial manner; it therefore becomes our inhabitants to promote its interests as far as they are able; and, accordingly, our duty to set forth its advantages. This we fulfil with much pleasure, not doubting that the rapidly increasing commerce of these colonies will give active employment to every line of communication.

There are now five steam-boats plying, or preparing to ply, through the Rideau Canal from Kingston to Bytown: the Rideau and Margaret owned by the active and persevering friend of the Canal, Mr. Drummond, of this town; the Thomas McKay, owned by Messrs. Yarker, Vanalstine, and Bennett, of Kingston; the Enterprise, belonging to a company of spirited merchants in Perth; and the Toronto, owned by Mr. Parker, of Kingston. These are sufficient to form a daily line to Bytown. The Rideau has already made three trips. She arrived from her last trip, bearing two barges in tow - one of which, the Iroquois, a fine boat, belonging to the Ottawa Forwarding Company, is of 70 tons burthen, and completely decked over. As a part of her cargo, this barge had 15 tons of Iron, from Montreal for Mr. Yarker. The Rideau sailed on Tuesday on her downward trip, towing the Iroquois, laden with 2500 bushels of wheat, and another boat containing 1400 bushels. There is now five feet of water through the whole line of the Canal, and when the Rideau, with two such heavily laden boats in tow can pass through, there can remain no doubt of a sufficiency of water. The Thomas McKay, Captain Bennett, started on her first trip under favourable auspices yesterday morning.

As arrangements have been made between the Ottawa and Rideau lines, to intersect each other at Bytown, there will be no delay in the forwarding of goods or passengers from one end of this route to the other, the passage of which is to be made in four days. After the barges containing freight pass through the Lachine Canal from Montreal to Lachine, they are taken in tow by the steam-boats Ottawa and St. Andrews and conveyed to the Grenville Canal, which is at last in regular operation. At Grenville, (having passed the Canal, 1 1/2 miles long) they are towed by the steamboat Shannon to Bytown, where they are taken by the steam-boats running on the Rideau, and conveyed directly to Kingston. On the route upwards from Bytown, there are various stopping places where freight and passengers can be taken or left - such as Merrick's Mills, Smith's Falls, the mouth of the Tay, Oliver's Ferry, Portland, the Isthmus, etc. The Tay Navigation Company have built a storehouse at the mouth of the Tay, on the shore of the Rideau Lake, 6 miles from Perth, and barges convey freight daily from thence to that flourishing village through the Tay Canal, the locks of which are now nearly completed for boats as large as the Enterprise.

Passengers to Upper Canada may take the Canal route without any convenience. The steam-boats now running possess every accommodation, and those who wish to pass through a new but important part of our Province, and witness one of its greatest public works and ornaments will lack no facility in their passage. A new steam-boat will join the Shannon from Grenville to Bytown, so that there soon will be a daily line for passengers through the whole way.

We understand it is the intention of the Canada Company to forward their Emigrants via the Rideau Canal, and that those sent out under the care of the Earl of Egremont will also take the same channel of conveyance. We should think emigrants generally would prefer it, their voyage by it being the most speedy and comfortable.

Among the reasons why the route of the Rideau is preferable, we may mention the following. 1st - The passage from Montreal to Kingston may be made much quicker than by the St. Lawrence - the time by the latter route, taking at least six days (often longer) while those by the former will be made in four days. 2nd - It will be seen by the tariff of charges of the Ottawa and Rideau Steam Boat Company, published in this paper, that freight is conveyed much cheaper by them than by the St. Lawrence. 3rd - The safety of the Rideau route renders insurance unnecessary - an important item in the River transport; and even if insurance should be thought essential, it can be effected at a lower rate. 4th - There will be no occasion for breaking bulk as on the St. Lawrence. Goods may be placed in barges at Montreal, locked under hatches, and remain perfectly undisturbed till they arrive at Kingston. When are also taken into view, the liability of goods to injury from the dangers of the River navigation, the cartage around the Rapids, and the frequent shifting of cargoes, - a decided preference must be given to the Ottawa and Rideau line.

The successful operation of the Rideau Canal will materially improve the country bordering upon it - developing resources in a measure unknown, and opening up a wide field for enterprise. Already the counties of Carleton and Lanark, and other portions of the Bathurst District are fast improving, and consequently furnishing produce, and requiring goods, to increase commerce. The very extensive flouring establishment erected near Bytown by Thomas McKay, Esq., and the exertions of himself and other public spirited gentlemen on the line of the Canal have contributed much to increase the amount of business - exertions that we hope may be crowned with success. When we consider to what a great extent the waters of the Canal may be applied in manufacturing purposes and with how much facility; when we look upon the extensive country on its borders that is yet to team with the rich fruits of the farmer; when we think of the villages even now flourishing upon its banks; and lastly, when we take into account the great amount of produce that is to pass through it, making it a vein of wealth in the land: no one can help acknowledging that the Rideau Canal is not the useless work which so many have considered it, but one of real and lasting benefit to this Province, and eminently worthy of the munificent Government that made it.

Since writing the above, we have seen the communication of "An Ottawa Settler" in the last Montreal Gazette, setting forth the advantages of the Rideau Canal - an article we shall copy in our next.

We are sorry to learn that the beautiful new steam boat Oswego, built in the village of that name has been driven ashore. We hope she has not sustained material injury. The following is from the Oswego Palladium:

Steamboat Oswego - The new Steamboat Oswego, on her second trip, we regret to say, was run ashore about four miles to the west of this port on the night of the 12th. The passengers were landed with little inconvenience. We are glad to learn she will be got off without difficulty, having sustained little injury, and will be ready to take her station in the line in about 14 days.

The Ottawa and Rideau Steam Boat Company, it will be seen, have made an alteration in their Tariff of Freight, whereby the prices are made still lower.

The United States steamboat now leaves Ogdensburgh at 9 o'clock A.M. instead of 5 P.M. We presume, as no further alteration is advertised, that she will stop over Sunday night at Kingston.

Storage and Wharfage - At the Store House and Wharf lately in the possession of Mr. John Strange, situate at the foot of Brock street. All orders in the above line of business thankfully received and punctually attended to. Robert Wilson. Kingston, May 15th, 1834.

Notice - The Subscriber hereby gives public notice to those persons supplying the Steam Packet St. George with Stores, etc. that he will not hold himself responsible for debts incurred on account of said vessel, except by a written order from the Captain.

David John Smith

Kingston, May 17th, 1834.

p.3 ad for St. Lawrence Inland Marine Assurance Co., of Prescott, chartered by an Act of the Provincial Parliament of Upper Canada, covering merchandise from Prescott to any port on Lake Ontario, have reduced rates between 25-33 1/3 % below rates charged by private assurance companies, hope to issue tariff on steamboats, schooners and boats, by trip or season, in a few days; lists Board of Directors.