per ton per mile by canal, and 1.73 cent per railway, but it is not
shown how this is composed. This would give a decided advant-
age to water coommunication in this .State, (I do not refer to the
other canals as the Erie Enlargement monopolises nearly the whole
of the water traffic, and all the other canals with only two excep-
tions shew a deficit.) It appears however that it was found ne-
cessary to protect this canal by a legislative act forbidding the
transport of merchandise by the railway during the season of navi-
gation, and thus placing the railway under immense disadvantage.
I am not aware whether this act is still in force, but it will easily
account for the excessive price on the rail, when this report was
made.
It is hardly necessary to say that I don't propose to apply either
the French or English or American tariff to the line between Fort
William and Fort Garry ; if I did, the transport from Fort Garry to
Lake Superior would cost only 4 dollars per ton, but I consider
double the American tariff, or 3.50 cents per ton per mile, ought to
be a large and sufficient price, and would bring the cost per ton
under 15 dollars; and by no other conveyance could it be done so
cheaply.
about 1 centime and 7-lOth per ton per kilometre. This figure does not include
the maintenance of the permanent way, or service or interest of material, &c.
Taking all these expenses into consideration, the average cost of merchandise
of all descriptions, amounted to about 43 centimes per ton per kilometre, and ir
composed as follows:
CENTIMES.
Maintenance of permanent way ................... 0.0060
Traction ..........................0.0173
Clerks, warehouse men and laborers..0.0116
Central service and sundry expenses.0.0023
Renewal of road and material ........ 0.00 76
Total.................. . 0.0448
(this is equal to 6 centimes per mile or 1.20 cents.)
It may here be observed that the Strasbourg line is a bad average as
regards the cost of transport, as the return of empties, or light trains is very
frequent."