The Grange advance., 1873-12-24
Water transportation.

Water Transportation
At the convention of the Farmers Asso
citation at Decatur, on the 10th inst, after
disposing Of the preliminary business, the
question OF through transportation by
water, was taken up.
Mr.. Smith thought there were but two
routes that could best be followed Of
these routes. the connection OF Lake Erie
with Lake Ontario by the Niagara ship
canal, the Improvement Of the Mississippi
and the Illinois and Michigan canal, seem
the ones that offer the speediest result
though the central water line from the
mouth of the Ohio to the James, by the
completion Of the kanawha canal, is no less
needed. but is ID work that will require more
time and greater outlay Of money. The
building OF the former would secure the
quickest relief Of any plan now proposed
connecting. as it WILL the lakes by an un-
broken chain Of navigation with the sea-
Col. Blun,S survey, in 1867, showed the
route then to b. entirely practicable and feas-
ible, at Il cost Of about $l2 100000 Taking
the difference between the cost Of labor
then and now, $4,000, 900 would no doubt
complete the work. If to this improve
ment be added the enlargement and exten-
sion Of the. Champlain and Hudson canal,
to give deep water navigation from the St,
Lawrence through the lake and the Hudson
river to New York, and the enlargement of
the Erie canal. which is now in contempla-
tion, we should jhen have a competition
and choice Of routes for steamers and
vessels. cf from 600 to 1900 tons, from
the lakes by the Niagara canal, the St.
Lawrence river, Champlain canal and Hud-
sor river to New York, or from the lakes
by the Erie canal and Hudson river to the
same port.
The Mississippi Valley society propose,
as one Of the means for etfccting its object,
the enlargement of the Welland canal and
the improvement of the ST. Lawrence river,
80 that vessels Of 1000 tons carrying ca
pacity may load in Chicago and deliver
their cargoes in Liverpool, aud returning,
bring the products Of the old world to our
doors. He understood that the authority
for these improvements has already been
obtained from the Canadian government.
The details are being rapidly completed,
and the work will be commenced the coming
year, without doubt. The objections made
to this route are, that it is necessarily
closed by ice four or five months Of the year.
Though this is true, it was but slight
drawback, since its almost unlimited ca
pacity for seven or eight months OF the
year would so diminish the pressure upon
all lines of transportation. that shipments
could be withheld without serious incon-
venience and here would come in the
great advantage of the southern route to
the Gulf via the Illinois and Michigan ca
nal, and the Mississippi, and the central
water line from the Ohio to the James riv-
er, both Of which are from Ohio, which are
pressing necessity even now, and will be
absolutely indispensable in few years, to
furnish adequate transportation facilities,
not only for the produce of the eastern val
ley of the Mississippi, but for all that vast
region lying north and west of it as far as
the Rocky Mountains.
The route by the central water line. it is
estimated, will require four years for its
completion; but when completed will form
an open line almost perpetually free from
ice, uniting the Mississippi and all its
branches with the Atlantic by system of
river and canal navigation, Of sufficient ca
pacity to meet all demands upon it by the
commerce of the West or south-the short
est, fastest, and the best communication
with tide water.
One hundred and ninety seven miles of
the route consists of a canal, now in opera
ton, whose construction cost $50, 900, 600,
and which the State Of Virginia offer to do
nate to the general government on condition
of its completion. The necessary enlarge
ment of the canal and its completion, it is
estimated, will cost $40. .OOO, ,OO0 This is a
large sum, but with it a business Of ST.
600, 900 of through tonnage would yield
revenue of 81 600, 900 per annum, or &c.
10000 after leaving $1,O00,000 for re-
pairs.
This work will necessitate the improve
ment of the Ohio river, which is most
needed, whether the rest of the route is
opened or not, as it is now for nearly three
months of the year almost worthless by
reason of low water. That the difficulty
can be overcome and a permanent depth of
water maintained, sufficient for the passage
of large-sized boats at all seasons Of the
wear. is undoubted. To show the import
ance Of improving the channel Of this river,
q memorial to Congress on the subject was
quoted.
While this is in progress, there is still
another route which is q much shorter line,
and with small amount of money may be
made available and by being open all the
year will have to keep down the rates of
railroad transportation by competition
through~ the winter months: This is the
southern route to the Gulf, by way of the
Mississippi river. Of the many different
plans for overcoming the obstacles present.
ed by the bay at it's mouth to the free navi-
cation of this great natural channel, the
Fort St. Philip canal is the only permanent
one, and therefore the cheapest in the end.
With this canal, and the improvement Of
the Illinois river and canal so that barges
could traverse its entire length, and, load