Evening journal., 1888-09-17
A TRANscoNTlNENTAL WATERWAY.
How to Co from Ocean to Ocean In a
Boat-No Detroit Tunnel.
[Speciel Correspondence

[speciel Correspondence
DETROIT, Sept. 1S.-Is it possible to
keep ones feet wet from the Atlantic to
the Pacific? OF course one can put them
in tub of water and travel overland by
rail, but there is really continuous line
Of water from New York to the outlet Of
the Columbia river on tile Pacific Here It
IS. Pass up the Erie canal to Buffalo.
thence along the shore Of Lake Eric to
the mouth of Chautauqua creek thence
to the source of the creek; here is a
peculiar spring. It's waters empty into
Lake Erie through the creek on one side
and into the Allegheny on tho other,
follow down the Allegheny to the Ohio,
thence TO the Mississippi, thence up the
Missouri. The source OF the Missouri is
the most marvellous water fountain on
the globe. Here is a vast overflow of
springs covering several square miles,
perhaps ten or fifteen square miles. The
land is mass of soft mud and water of
great depths which practically exclude
man. Ia this spring area rise the Yellow
stone, Missouri and Wind rivers, which
ultimately unite and make their way to
the Gulf of Mexico. Here rise
forty brenches Of the Snake river,
which form the head vaterz Of
the Columbia and make their way
TO the Pacific ocean Hero, also,
rises the Green river, which unites with
the Colorado, and that with the ella
river and empty into the gulf Of Lower
California. Hence it will be seen that
one can start from New York city and
follow water course either to Vancou-
ver's sound or to the CULTS of California
and Mexico Instead Of taking this route
all the way one can 90 to Chicago by
lake, thence by canal and the Illinois
river to the Mississippi.
Every scheme to bridge and tunnel the
Detroit river has signally failed south Of
Sarnia Detroit is the most important
point Of railway invasion Of Canada. Dur
ing the winter season transfers of trains
BY boat often require six hours to make a
passage OF one-half a mile. Owing to the
vast amount of traffic at this point q syn
dicate Of loan and trust companies men
Of New York recently determined to tun-
mel the river and reap a harvest Of gold.
was sent to investigate the subject and
report. My report put an end to the
jeet.
The Detroit river is 29 miles long. At
the michigan 1eUI1E1 railway, Ilo site OF
tho proposed tunnel, it is 9, 800 feet wide,
45 feet deep, 10 feet down through the
clay to bed rock, banks % feet high and
current % miles per hour; 27,0O0 vessels.
with masts from so to 160 feet high, an
nually pass this point, the owners OF
which successfully oppose all bridge
schemes. Tho Michigan Centrals fer.
riage at this point amounts to 100000
tons Of freight and $50, 900 passengers
4 annually. Besides this there is an an.
nual ferriage by small boats in ordinary
traffic of 1900, 600 passengers. The first
tunnel attempted here was begun by q
combination Of railways during 1872, but
after one years work was abandoned and
bridge scheme talked of for while
The reason for abandoning the tunnel
scheme was that after carrying it fol
1920 feet an immense body of quicksanc
was encountered which even moderr
science and its ammonia freezing process:
is afraid to penetrate Every bridge
scheme has been defeated or abandoned
except q possible winter structure.
truss or suspension structure at thil
point could not be built for less than tel
millions, but a portable winter bridgl
would not cost more than $500, 600.
w. II. B.