The daily gazette., 1882-02-18
Mistakes I'm Reference 10 the ship
Canal.

Mistakes in Rererenco 10 Ghe ship
Canal.
When the New York Maritime
Register says OF the Delaware ship
canal that it COY the utmost stretch
of the imagination cannot be conSid-
cred of national Importance, and,
then in the next sentence, oonfesses
that sit would give Baltimore . much
shorter and less dangerous rOutedSo
the sea, and by consequence give her
greater advantages than she possesses
at present IN Western trade,' the
Register contradicts itself and admits
all that the Sun has from the begin
ning affirmed, Baltimore already
possesses advantages for the Western
shipper over New York, and the pros
posed canal would make these advan-
tages greater. The mistake of the
Register in overlooking the fact that
the whole Mississippi valley is inter-
ested in having the shortest possible
route to European markets, and such
route, whether 1t Is through Balti.
more, Philadelphia, or New York, ID
| of national Importance, and deserving
of unbiased consideration. The West
ern shipper is the man most con-
cerned, and he numbers millions, and
can see through sophistries by whi3h
it is hoped to persuade him that the
longest route to Liverpool will give
him the highest net profit on his agri~
cultural products. If the Baltimore
port did not exist would not the rates
the farmer pays from New York TO
Europe be even higher than they are
Does not Baltimore regulate rates in
the interest of the farmer already 7
How much more so when q distance
of 200 miles is taken out of the trans
atlantic voyage Tue contemplated
caual is to be free canal, and besides
being national in character as minis
tering to needs of the bulk of the ma
tional territory, is national also al
providing an inner line of movement fol
ships of war covering the nationa
, capital, and at least two other Of thG
most important of the nations oitlei
on the Atlantic coast.
The suggestion of the Evening Bull
letin of Philadelphia that the shil
, canal "will belong to and earn money
for private corporation" results, o
course, from want OF information
D The undertaking ls in no sense pri
: yate one, as it will belong 10 the Unite'
&. States government from end to end
Baltimore may seek 10 enlighten tn
country as to the expediency of thi
outlet for American products, bu
2 neither Baltimore or the State Q
Maryland will have exclusive interef
or control. The New York Times, t
It voice its opposition to the propose
s canal, contents itself with quotin
t the words of Senator German an
!, Representative McLane, of Maryland
u 1t may not be inappropriate in thi
;, connection to correct any erroncou
}. impression which may be produced b
q the Senator's recent utterance on th
subject that heretofore the generi
I government has not given the bottoI
IL dollar or undertaken to wholly COL
n struct works of this kind" The De
e Molnes Canal, to go no further, haV
ing but seven aud a-half miles {
y length, and in the interest it serves
= not one-thousandth of the importanC
: of the Delaware ship.canal, has ha
n S2, 523 900 expended on it by the gov
ernment. The Sault Ste. Marie Cam
J, also has been takeH in charge by tt
3, general government, and other exam
I'd piss will doubtless be found on inv e
h observation-disclosures Sun.