Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-05
FINDS MANY FRIENDS.
The Big Ship Canal Project is Gaining
Ground Very Rapidly.
REPORT READY FOR TIE GOVERNOR
Two Members of the Commission Make
Some Final Statements.
POINTS ON COST OF CONSTRUCTION

Commission, Will leave for Harrisburg
to-day with a preliminary report from the
body which he will submit to Governor
Beaver in person. The document is quite
an extensive one, but the gentlemen who
made it guarded it SO carefully that no
one will be allowed to anticipate Its con-
tents.
Following this will be the complete re-
port, which will contain ali the facts, figures,
estimates, etc., which have been collected
with the utmost care by the members.
There is one thing that can now be stated
with a reasonable degree of certainty, and
that is that the canal, from Erie to
Beaver, and from the mouth of the Beaver
river, at Rochester, to DAVIS Island dam
can be constructed for a sum inside of S26,
0OO 0OG. Some time ago Secretary Brewer
made a guess that the cost would not exceed
SIS, 600, 900. He did not pretend to speak
from the figures, however, leaving that for
the engineers. Last night Colonel Roberts
said that the canal could be built inside of
the sum first named, and this can be
taken as good as final.
SOME OBJECTIONS KNOCKED OUT.
In order to bring as many objections as
possible before the Colonel, he was informed
that one manufacturer had raised doubt
about the canal proving success with the
hard winters of this climate. He said they
never expected that the canal could be oper-
ated the year around. 1t would no doubt
close and open with lake navigation,
though in the case of open win
ters there would doubtless be plenty
Of business to keep it going inst as long as
possible. In speaking of the branch from
Rochester to Davis Island, he said it was
absolutely essential, as the average channel
stage OF water below the dam Was of no ac-
count to lake vessels He still insisted,
however that the nine-foot stage above the
dam was ample for hundreds of lake vessels.
He added the somewhat significant STATE
ment that if the canal should be built, the
stage of water in this harbor would not re-
main at nine feet rs the highest limit. He
said that every one of the big manufactures
along the rivers now had natural landings
which could be very easily converted to the
uses of large vessels. To make long story
short, it would virtually make Pittsburg a
lake city.
WHO WILL PAY FOR IT.
With the increasing interest in the pro-
ject, the question of who is going to nav for
the canal is often asked. Secretary Brewer
said last night that the commission did not
deal with that part of the subject in any
way, shape or form. Their recommenda-
tons is to route, etc, went to the Legisla-
ture, and that body will attend 10 the rest
The members might make Ii a State work,
or might refer it to Congress, and request
the State representatives of that body to
urge an appropriation for the work. He
was not even in position to give an opiu-
ion OF what would be done.
Ex-Representative Robson, who was a
member of the Legislature when the $4,000
appropriation for the surveys was made was
seen yesterday by a DISPATCH reporter.
He said the general sentiment at that time
WAS thai the canal would be of immense ad-
vantage if it could be demonstrated that the
plan was practicable and within reasonable
bounds as to cost. He was periectl Y satisfied
that both grounds for doubt had been re-
moved. and felt convinced that the project
would have many stanch supporters in the
coming Legislature.
The railroads, and particularly the Penn
sylvania Railroad and the Pennsylvania
Company, will give it hard fight, +" he rom
tinued, 'and the few papers like THE DIS
PATCH that have given it such splendid
support should keep a sharp lookout at
Harrisburg when the matter comes up for
colored gentlemen in the wood pile. Ny
idea, however. OF the next Legislature, is
that a majority of the members will be
above any influence that may be exerted by
the great corporations.
THE DUTIES OF LEGISLATORS.
'The constituency of every Representa-
tive should hold HIM 10 4 strict account on
this subject, thou-n, for it is one that as
sumes national proportions. This canal
would greatly stimulate the business of the
grea: lakes, which in itself is full OF still
greater possibilities than have vet been
thought Of 1t would also boom the traffic
OF the rivers leading to the gulf, the grand
est natural waterways on earth. Already the
river facilities lay the railroads out, and
with this tremendous feeder they would he
more than doubled. The cost and work are
triles when viewed from this standpoint
But people are slow to comprehend an i'm
provemeut of this kind.
when the Davis Island dam project was
before Congress many of the leading coal
operators OF this city were fighting 1t tooth
and toe nail. They had delegations in
Washington using every effort to defeat the
measure. The day the first appropriation
was made one of these gentlemen said to me
that l would be gray haired before the dam
was completed. What was the result? 1t
was finished within FIVE years and before it
was half completed this same gentleman,
together with five or six leading operators
here, went into their own pockets and put
Up the money TO see the work done, and
waited on the Government to make an
appropriation to pay them their money
back. To-day nothing would induce bust
ness men to part with that dam unless it
would be 10 substitute a still better one
This is largely true OF all big improvements
The public is slow to start them, but once
under way nothing can turn the tide.
PLACING THE BURDEN OF THE COST,
As to the cost of this dam, the idea was
prevalent in Harrisburg that all the States
that would be benefited directly would
make appropriations to help build it. A
parallel case came up in the last Lecisla-
ture. Some necessary work was to be done
in the Delaware river. between Smiths
Island and Camden, \. j. Here two States
were represented. The result was that each
Legislature made an appropriation, and the
results of the votes were exchanged BY tele-
graph. In the case of the canal, Ohio, West
Virginia, Michigan and other States should
feel a direct interest"
Mr.. George a. Kelly said that in his
opinion The plan was perfectly practicable
The cost was mere bagatelle when the i'm
portance OF the improvement was corsid-
cred. He believed the canal should be
built, and had faith that il would be- He
considered the idea one of the greatest that
had been developed in the State for wears
and he hoped it would meet with glorious
success.
Al the Office of J. Painter & Sons, iron
manufacturers, one of the members said that
they were ali in favor of the canal They
believed 1t would reduce rates of transnorta