Mr. MILLER Niagara Falls Ship Canal. SPEECH OF ION. G. F. MILLER, OF PENNSYLVANIA, May 1, 1866, On the bill providing for a ship canal around the falls of Niagara. Mr. MILLER.Mr. Speaker, the bill under consideration provides for the construction by a company of a ship canal around the falls of Niagara, in the State of NewYork commencing at some convenient point on the Niagara river above the falls and terminating at some convenient point below upon the stream, or upon the shore of Lake Ontario, which shall not be less than 105 feet wide on the surface, and 90 feet in the bottom, with not less than 14 feet of water, with locks not less than 275 feet long, and 46 wide, to be carefully surveyed and located by topographical an civil engineers to be appointed by the pOTUS. It also provides for securin the right of way, and said company allowe to charge tolls, to be imposed on vessels, km, which are not to exceed 6 rate of tolls charged. on the Welland canal in Canada West; but with the reservation that said canal shall at all times after its construction be free from toll from the U.S., and open to its use for the transportation of military steres, munitions ofwar, and troops, and for the passing gunboat s, Government transports, and vessels engaged in the transportation of property or troops for the Government. The bill also provides that the sum of $6,000,000 shall be loaned by the U.S. to aid in the construction 0 said canal, to be paid in bonds of the U.S., in denomi nations of $1,000 each, to be dated the 1st of September, 1867, payable in 20 years there after, with interest at the rate of 6%. perannum, payable semi annually upon war rants or coupons annexed thereto, signed by the Treasurer of the U.S., to be duly numbered, and registered in a book to be kept by him for that purpose. The bill also provides that said bonds are to be delivered over to said company in installments of $200,000 whenever $300,000 has been expended by the company in the construction of said canal, and in same manner until the whole sum is paid over. It is also provided that from the tolls which shall be co lected on said canal, ten%. thereof, after deducting costs of repairs, &c shall, on the 1st of January in each year, be paid into the'freasury of the U.S., which moneys shall be up lied toward the payment of the sum so loane, with interest; and it is also provided in the bill that the U.S. may elect to purchase said canal by refunding the money the company expended, with interest thereon at the rate of 7%. I might add that the bill is so drawn as to sufficiently protect the U.S and the p'ublic gener ly. As to the feasibility of the project there can be no doubt, many surve s having been made and among the most ela crate and reliable of these surveys is that made by direction of the General Government in 1836, by the late Captain William G. Williams, of the U.S. Engineer corps, an oficer of distinguished ability and high professional attainments, and reported to the 1st session of the 24th congress. This proposed ship canal is the only link wanting to give a free communication through and between the great lakes, to wit, Lakes Ontario, Erie, Michigan, and Superior, and the river StLawrence, for vessels of the largest size navigating these lakes. The Niag ara river, around whose stupendous cataract this canal is proposed to be made, is 36 miles in length, 27 of which are now navigable for the largest class of ships on the lakes, leaving but 9 miles of obstruction in the whole I‘eugth' of the river. The great waters of our northwestern possessions, covering an area of 150,000 square miles, bounded by a coast 0 about 3,294 miles, and of the British possessions 2,425, are at length discharged through the narrow channel of the Niagara. As to the authority of the U.S. to aid in the construction of such an enterprise there can be no doubt. The doctrine contended for by the honorable Gentfrom Buffalo, New Work, [Mr. J. M. Hux ruusr, ] has long since been exploded, and the authority of Congress to make ports and encourage the improvament of rivers, harbors, ship canals, did, as a.war measure, or for the encouragement of commerce, or the transportation of the U.S. mails, has become too well established to be shaken. This contemplated improvement is of great national importance in a double aspect: 1st, as a measure of military defense; and 2nd ly, in regard to commerce. Then, as to the 1st, as a war measure, history shows this to bea place of note during the late war with Great ritain. On the banks of the Niagara river were concentrated extensive military operations of both nations. At the month of the river, on the American side, stands the once impreg nable Fort Niagara; on the opposite side and extreme of the river stands the British Fort Erie; and near the cataract lies the battle field of Lundy’s Laue. Here the contending armies, composed of the bravest of men, met m battle array contending for supremacy, and in case of another war with that powerful nation no doubt here again a large force and military stores would be concentrated. The history of the naval operations on Lake Ontario during that contest affords striking proof of the vast importance of the proposed work in a military point of view. The system of gunbouts and other iron cladsfighting upon lakes, rivers, and other waters has become so efficient and popu hr in the late rebellion that the attention of Congress and the Government has been turned toward the developing and extending to it a much larger and a more perfect system togive it still greater ellicienc. The extent of our ffontiers, both maritime and inland, is too great to warrant the hope that our Government will defend them by a system of fortifications, as it would require an immense army and be an enormous expense. This vast coast of upward of 3,000 miles, along which are planted towns and cities, and the commerce on these lakes carried in more than 1600 steam and sail vessels, must depend for security on gunboats and other iron clads. The British Government have been reparing, so as to be ready in case we should have another war with her. She has, among other things, constructed the Rideau canal, decidedl a military work, connectin Montreal withingston, on Lake Ontario, an has also constructed the Welland canal connectin Lake Ontario with the upper lakes, throng which large siZed gunboats can be taken, thus rendering it indispensable for the protection of our frontier and commerce upon the lakes tohave the proposed canal on the American side constructed. But the honorable gentleman, [ML J. M. Human, who has spoken against this bill, has refc to the treaty of 1817 with England, by which the naval force of each government on the lakes was restricted to one vessel of not over 100 tons, carrying a single gun, for Lake Ontario, and not to excee 2 vessels of like size and armament for all the upper lakes. It is, however, well known that the British Government has been pursuing steadily and effectually a policy looking to the command of the lakes by a strong naval force, if she might see fit toassert it. In 1861, after the seizure of the 2 rebel leaders, Mason and Slidcll, on the British steamerTrent, when matters between the 2 nations had a warlike aspect, it was asserted extensively in the British press that a large force of gunboats was in readiness at Montreal to pounce upon our unprotected frontier and its commercial marine at the very commencement of hostili ties. This intimation from the leading jour nals of that nation ought to be sufficient warning for us not to withhold our assent to any measure that will tend to protection of that exposed section of our country, and the citizens thus exposed have a right to demand it. This project has as strong a claim iipon'our Government as that of the Pacific railroad, and no one can doubt the necessity of the latter, both in a military and commercial aspect. Then as to commerce. This proposed canal, if constructed, will most certain] he of immense importance in that point ofy view. Having more than 3,000 miles of a shore line, forming a navigable boundary for 8 of the most important States of the Union, with an aggregate population in 1860 of over 9 millions; upon this coast are congregated cities, towns, an vii es of a population of over a million of our citizens, surrounded by wealth incident to a high state of agricultural and commercial prosperity; From these cities, and v through these lake] and rivers, more than 100million bushels of grain, including wheat manufactured into flour, and other agricultural products in proportion, are already distributed annually to NewYork, NewEng land, and the Atlantic cities north of and ii: cluding Baltimore, for the consumption of these States and for exportation to foreign countries. Yet the vast agricultural production is but in its infanc. It is said that, in 1862 at least 30 million bushels of grain, including wheat manufactured into flour, to say nothing of the other agricultural products of the western States, passed from toup or lakes to Lake Ontario, through the Wellandp canal; and even this canal, under the British Government, could not do all the business of transporting the increased products of the West, and some few cars since the Legislatures of the States of I] ine is and Wisconsin appointed a deutation of influential citizens to visit the Can an authorities and or 0 upon them the enlargement of the Wellan canal, &c. This seems to me to be enough to inspire the American people to have a canal around the falls of Niagara constructed speedily, so as not to have to court a foreign Power to construct improvements in order to get an outlet for our productions. It has been said that the country composing properly the valley of the lakes contains an area of 170,000 square miles. Byacoin amtive view it is found to contain 50,000 square iniles, more than allthe British possessions in Europe. It issaid, however, that some of the citizens of the State of NewYork are 0 posed to the construction of this canal upon the ground that it will be cal culated to injure the public works of that State. On examination it will be found that about the year 1863 a committee of the Legislature of that State made a report stating “that during a considerable portion of the last 3 years the enlarged canals have been taxed to their utmost capacity, not from deficiency in the main trunk), but from the impossibility of assing more boats through the locks.” An it is well known that the railroads, except it might be a brief period in the summer, were unable to carry forward the freights offering for transportation to the sea board. Then, if the improvements now constructed are unable to transport the products from the West, how will it be in a few years, when the productions will be increased at least one half? But suppose the construction of this great enterprise should withhold from the NewYork canals some of the revenue in the way of tolls, is that an reason why Congress should with hold the government support to such a great national enterprise, when we have the citisons of various States, through their legislatures, and Boards of Trade of numerous arge commercial cities urging this contem lated improvement upon the consideration 0 congress and askin speedy action thereon? And Trmaysay here, Mr. Speaker, that this is no new measure.7 it has been before the American people for many years, and attracted the serious consideration of our ablest statesmen. And again, Mr. Speaker, these western States, which are so distant from the sea board, have been asking again and again for additional outlets to market for their v‘st products, so that nearly 1/2 of what they realize for their productions may not be absorbed in the way of tolls, dte.; and it must be borne in mind that these western States contributed very largeb' in means and men of extraordinary bravery to put down the late rebellion, and it is due to them that this work should be accomplished. Then vessels might lead at Chicago, that great city of the West, which bids fair to soon become one of the 1st cities of the Union, for the Atlantic, through this American canal around that great cataract. It is'said that $6,000,000 is a large amount of money for the Government to lend its credit for.Mr. Speaker, what is that sum in comparison with the importance and magnitude of this great work, both in a military and commercial point of view? But the Government is not asked by this bill to make a donation to the company of $6,000,000, or any part of it. It is expressly provided that the Government shall e re unded, with interest, eve cent that may be advanced, and as to the ability of the company to repay, there can be no doubt, as the revenue derived by the company in the way of tolls will certainly be very large; and besides, the U.S. is to have without charge the use of said canal for transportation of everything pertaining to the Government. The portion of the State, Mr. Speaker, that I represent has, in a pecuniary point of view, but little interest in this menu; but I look uplonitas a great national measure, and one in which our western States especially have a deep interest, and therefore a strong claim upon government; consequently a sense of duty in: els me to vote for the bill. There is no telling how soon we may have difficulty with England; and a war with that nation, owning a powerful fleet and a well disciplined army, must render this ship canal indispensable for the transportation of our gunboats and munitions of war to aid in our defense, and therefore we should not forget that in peace is the time to prepare for war.