New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-21
CHEAP PREIGHTS.
uNIsTERRUPTED WATER COMMUNICATION BE
TWEEN THE EAST AND WEST.

TWEEN THE EAST AND WEST.
The Iowa Legislature has prepared memo
rial 10 Congress to the question of uninterrupted water
communication between the Mississippi Valley and the
Atlantic seaboard the most important features OF whch
will be found In the following summary.
After noticing the various expressions OF public senti
ment IN Conventions and assemblies favorable to the
plan the memorial gives some details as 10 the "ork
proposed The work is divided into five distinct parts
Ist From the Mississippi River by the way OF the WIS
consin and Fox Rivers to Lake Michigan ID FROM inc
foot OF Lake Erie down into Lake Ontario. 3D. Thence
down the St. Lawrence to Montreal 9Th Thence up INTO
Lake Champaign 9Th the head OF that lake Tor OF
Lake GcOrge down INTO the Hudson RIVER thehco 10
New.York City In high water 1t Is stated that steamers
OF 800 often make trips between the Mississippi ana
Lake Michigan by the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers ana aI
the necessary to make the route available
for steamers of the heaviest draft used on the upper
Mississippi are estimated cost less than five million dol
lars The obstruction Lake Ere and Ontario Is
regarded the most serious in the proposed ROUTE Out
from careful surveys, 1T is stated that ship canal III
capacity equal Marys at the outlet OF Lake Supe
ror can be constructed far from the Weand Canal
for s6OOOOO. The rapids Of the 81. Lawrence can be
gotten around inside OF million, and adequate canal
between Montreal and Lake Champlaln, can be con
sructed for sOOOO with but two locks OF IL feet lt
each From head OF Lake George to the Hudson Is
six miles. canal Of this length and the requisite
Improvement OF tho Hudson by locks and dams, would
cost about sGOOOOOO As thus estimated the enre Work
would cost less than $20,0O0,0O0.
It's estimated that average charge OF 30 cents per
tnn for the entire distance from the Mississippi to the
seaboard will yield revenue OF si,JOOVO on business
already existing the lakes and 1t safe 10 say that
the Of business created by the opening up Oh
this route would increase this revenue by nearly s@p
per annurn IL these estimates are approximately cor
rect the above rates Of toll might be reduced one ha'
and yet give dividend Of 10 per cent on capt stock'
friends OF the route expect that the General Govern
will complete the work but II IL docs NOT Le Oily
thing necessary will be to convince capitalists that the
PROJECT will pay literally as an investment
The memorial states that New-1Ork must open the
route from Champain down the Hudson, or lose tne
Western trade Tor taG iop%nS a5d otbcr mer
candse be shipped from the upper lakes 10 Liver
pool from cents In the bushe cheaper tham by
ihe way of the Erie Canal aud New-York City. This
would inevitably carry the foreign cOmnercla tde III
head of Lake Cnampan all Of NewEngland can be sup
piled with Western produce from hye to ten cents ~ e
bushe cheaper than from NewYork 10y the way oil TIE
Erie Canal (or by the railroads. This Will also give to
New. England monopoly Of the commercial trade OF the
pont il is upon an average. miles nearly all
parts of New England than from Albany 20 miles further
main reason transportation 10 the head OF Lake
Champain can be made from the Upper Lakes 10 cents
uer cheaper than possibly De done by the Eric
Canal. Indeed New-HOrk Itself can DE supplied WIN
Western products ~ per cent cheaper than by the Erie
Canal or railroads. This Will be most cOncluslyey
proven by single example. From the foot OF Lake
Erie the propeller Qoadod with GOODO bushels of wheaD
can carry cargo the head of Lake ChamDain IN
from two and half days time, for five cents per
bushel. Thence to NewHOrk by rail-, seven cents per
buslel Twelve cents per bushel ia all. On the other
route there Will be elevator and other charges at Buffalo,
three cents per bushc Canal charges To Albany seven
teen cents per bush. Towage the Hudson two cents
per bnshel. twenty-five cents per bushe III all TINS
will give advantage to the Champlan route OF ten
per bushe The average capacity OF the Ere canal
does exceed 300 tuns. hence 10 VIII require ten
boats land days time for each to carry 10 Ncw-IOk
city the cargo Of single lake propeller, carrying 10000
bushels OF wheat IL would also require ten trains 10 DO
the same work at about the same cost per bushc IL j.
therefore clearly demonstrate that II New-lOIk
city intends expects Ia retain command OF the Western
trade this route from the head OF that
deep waters of the Hudson IL - equally true
OF the foreign trade of the West
rbe must canal from the st. Lawrence
up into Lake Champialn.
The memorial estimates that proprcrs with capacity
OF 10000 bushels, and costing 100000 TO Sl5OoO would
make clear profit in OF over $1,000 carrying
wheat at Is per bushel from the upper lakes TO
NewYOrk City II is advocated that the work be under
"A single enterprise, iudSmuch as II viii insure
the completion Of the whole work IN the shortest possible
time, and for the that the completion OF any ono
part will not materially benefit the country by the reduc
OF charges. The memorial shows thaJ the prospects
of railroad competition with this route even OF the great
freight projected between the East and west are
incOnsdcrable The memorial concludes with reSo-
lutiOns urging upon Congress the necessity OF speedy
legislation and appropriations for the carrying out Oh tue
project