Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-27
CHATS ON THE CANAL.
The Light in Which the Great Plan
is Viewed Locally.
JOHN A. WOOD WAKES GRAPHIC
]. b. HOrner and William McCreery Throw
Cold Water on the Canal.
CoMMESDATIOE OF IT PRnPONDRRArEs


The championcy of the Erie Ship Canal
by The DISPATCH and the graphic letters
from the scene of operations from a special
commissioner. have aroused vast amount
of interest locally in the great plan, which, i
anything ever can, will line Pittsburg'i
wharves as in the old days of river suprem.
acy, and the manufacturers and heavy ship
pers OF local merchandise are found to be in
gratifying touch with the efforts hitherto put
forth.
Among the chorus Of approval which
rises over the, as yet, inchoate plan, there
are found some dissentient voices. 1t may
only be expected that some of the expert
opinions advanced by engineers against the
plan, would set people to thinking as to the
feasibility of the canal, both from mer
camille and commercial standpoint There
being many men, there are many minds
and like conclusions upon great subjects ART
rare as May morning for Christmas. It'i
to be hoped that the objectors will not prove
to be like Sydney Smith's old Scotch woman,
who, when taunted with her mental obsti
macy and the fact that she was not open tc
conviction, replied with great asperitT
-"I'm open to conviction, but wha' can con-
Vict me?"
BOTH SIDES TO BE GIVEN.
There are two sides to most questions, and
in the persons of the representative citizens,
whose names and opinions appear below, a
very impartial reflex of sentiment on the
ship canal is obtainable. The careful ex-
PLANTATION of Commissioner John A. Wood
will be found especially interesting.
Captain C. w. Bachelor was encountered
on Fourth avenue opposite the Keystone
Bank building, the exterior of which he
was critically inspecting. When the subject
was broached to him by DISPATCH repre-
sentative he lost all interest in the new
structure and began to tell how a ship canal
between Lake Erie and the Ohio river
would be blessing, not only TO Pennsyl-
vania, but the entire Northwest.
1.-THE value of such waterway would be
almost incalculable," he remarked, 'if we
were to sit down and try to figure it out by
dollars and cents. 1t would benefit Pitts
burg, it would be the foundation for a con-
tinuous line of towns and villages through
Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence and
Beaver counties, and, with the Ohio slack
watered to Beaver, we could bring ore and
copper direct from the Lake Superior region
to the Pittsburg docks without unloading,
and in the same vessels ship back coal and
iron.
"Grain from Sthe Northwest could be
brought to Beaver in the same way and be
shipped east via Pittsburg or sent south on
the Ohio. The manufacturers of Pittsburg
have allowed the railroad to almost destroy
the river traffic, and although have not at
present dollar on the rivers 1 have repeat
edly called the attention of Pittsburg manu-
facturers to this fact, and tried to get them
to encourage the rivermen, but without any
scheme will be very strongly opposed by the
railroads.
NOT DOGS IN THE MAEGER.
They have more than they can possibly
attend to, and, in fact, more railroads are
needed to carry the immense amount OF
freight which the prosperous conditions OF
the country requires to be handled. 1t
would also benefit the railroads running
east from Pittsburg.
A continuous inland canal would then be
formed from New York to New Orleans, by
using the Hudson river to Albany, the
Erie Canal to Buffalo, Lake Erie to Erie,
the Lake Erie and Ohio river canal to
Beaver, and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers
to the Gulf The only doubtful point would
be the Lake Erie stretch, which would be
frequently too rough to tow canal boats
over. Yes, sir, you can record me as being
heart and soul in favor OF the ship canal. +"
THE COKE KING FAvoRs IT.
b. C. Frick, of Carnegie, Phipps & Co.,
Carnegie & Co., and the II. c. Frick Coke
Company, was the next person asked for an
opinion on the canal, and the benefits which
were likely to accrue from it. "Well, that
is a great question, but have not the least
DOUBT but that it would be great thing for
Pittsburg manufacturers, said Mr.. Frick,
"and whatever is for the interests of manu-
facturers is for the good of the people of
Pittsburg. OF course it is cheaper to trans
port coal and iron, or indeed anything
which is not perishable, by water than
by rail, and if such a canal were
in successful operation the greater part of
the ores, grain and the products of the
Northwest would be brought to Pittsburg
by water, and we could ship back our iron,
steel, nails, wire, glass and other COM
modities by the same route. 1t would not
only affect Pittsburg, but all the cities on
the river between here and New Orleans.
RAILROADS SHOULD HAIL RELIEF.
"The railroads ought not to complain, as
they have been claiming shortage of cars,
and have been unable to give prompt at
tention to their patrons for some time.
George A. Kelly was found at bis whole
sale drugstore, corner Of Second avenue and
Wood street. yesterday. He was not espec-
tally engaged, and easily spared few min
utes in which to tell The DISPATCH man,
who had ship canal on the brain. that he
had not given the matter very much consid-
Grafton; in fact, scarcely enough to talk
intelligibly on the subject.
'fSuch canal" said he, would cost a
great deal of money, but would doubtless
be most beneficial to the lake regions and
Western Pennsylvania"
WHY MR.. MILLER RESIGNED.
Reuben Miller, of the firm of Miller, Met
calie & Parkin, who was one of the original
members of the commission appointed by
Governor Beaver to consider the scheme,
have the route surveyed and report to the
Legislature, as to the feasibility Of the plan,
was the next prominent citizen visited. He
subsequently resigned his position on the
commission and Captain John A. Wood was
appointed by the Governor to fill the place
made vacant by Mr.. Miller's resignation.
II resigned from the commission" said Mr..
Miller, because did not have the time to
devote to the business of the commission,
and under those circumstances it would be
rather out of place for me to say anything
whatever about the canal, and therefore you
will have to excuse me if I refuse to talk on
that subject"
MR.. MILLER's SUCCESSOR.
Captain John A. Wood was corraled in
his Office, at the corner of Water and Mar
Eat sfreefe on1 o1fborr1, rarxy hnex @ool~