Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-04
ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
Work of the Lake Erie Canal Com
mission to be Completed With
in the Next Two Weeks.
1T MEETS WITH WARM APPROVAL.
Engineers Sure That the Project is
Feasible and That There VIII
be Oceans Of Water.
1T MEETS WITH WARM APPROVAL.
HOW 1T WILL HELP ALI SECTIONS.
General GscrEe wsshingtc-s Opinion of tie Value Of
Waterways.

attention OF the members for year or more.
These reports will include the result of the
varions surveys, facts and figures relative to
the volume OF trade thai can be established,
figures on shipping rates, data as to COM
mercial advantages that will be created, and
manv more featuaes that promise to be of
the uttermost interest to the business
world in general. -Four members
of the commission, Captain John \. Wood,
J. N Goodwin, of Mercer county, Eben
Brewer, OF Erie and Colonel +. z. Roberts,
were in session for several hours yesterday
svstsmatizing the work that is before them,
and they fnd that they have 4 large con-
tract on hand. Every spare moment be-
tween now anG the time when the report
should be ready for Governor Beaver will
be required 10 do the work. Secretary
Brewer will remain here for some time, and
the commission will hold another meeting
tlis afternoon. All the members entertain
the most sanguine hopes that they will be
able to meet all the arguments of the opposi-
1ion with facts and figures that VIII knock
them out.
In obtaining several interviews yes
terday number of gentlemen were found
who thought the canal would be of immense
benefit to the country, provided it could be
made practicable and Il sufficient water
supply be obtained.
An Easy Engineering Feat.
IN reply to these misgivings the commits
sionerS declare that they do moi stand in the
way of the undertaking at all. They de-
clare that they will have oceans of water the
wear around. As to the practical features,
the engineering is simply straight sailing,
while as far as the transportation of vessels
is concerned they claim they will be able to
demonstrate beyond any question that no
barriers will be found in the way.
The interviews given below will show how
the project is regarded by many business
men and engineers:
James =. Henderson, ofthe Pittsburg and
Cincinnati Packet llne-The LEGAL and gen.
er4l benefits that would result from the
building o. that canal cannot be estimated
at the present time, but they would be i'm
mense. The commerce of the rivers leading
10 the gulf would be wonderfully stimulated,
and q great number of new vessels would be
put into service. As il is, the present lines
OF steamers have all they can possibly do
Look ont along that wharf. There are %
wagons waiting in the rain with merchan-
die TO ship down the river on the boat that
leaves tonight. 1t will all be delivered in
Cincinnati by Saturday afternoon, bar un-
Eoreseen accidents which are very rare. Ship
pers know this, and in consequence we do
no: have TO solicit trade. In fact, 1--WE re-
Ceive scores and scores of time ordAs, the
same as express companies, and we beat the
railroads in delivery. Now, if that c tnal is
opened and a system of dams consG hcted
down the Ohio river, as has been recon-
mended BIZ commission of Government
engineers, so that the river would be nav
igable the entire year, except in cases of
large quantities OF floating ice, where would
the increase in business end?
An Aid 20 Commerce.
Colonel Merrill. United States Engineer
I know nothing about the routes proposed,
or practic lbili,y of the proposed snip canal,
but generally speaking am in favor of any
great improvement OF this kind. 1t would,
10 doubt, add gIeatly to the commercial dcvel-
opment Of the country. If the water supply is
sufficient to feed 4 great canal both ways. pro-
vide for leakages, evaporation. dry periods,
etc. then of course the chef difficulty has been
met. As TO bringing lake vessels through a ca
mai am not quite prepared to say it could be
done successiully. OF course, l am talking
without definite knowledge of the dimensions
and capacity Of the proposed canal. How
about the system OF dams down the Chic river?
ELL as member oil the engineers who re-
ported on this question, of course favor il, but
that is a matter for Congress to decide.
Colonel I. ]. RObertS-The question of bring
1-L-a 0-nf~h N has
thoroughly considered iy the commission. Some
vessels might not see fit 10 come through the
canal. bar there are hundreds of them that
would. They coUlG AFFORD TO DO 1t rather than
experience the delays that almost constantly
beset them. They would be able TO draw Il
feet OF water in the canal. We have only 4
ninC-foGJ stage in this haTbor, as given us by
Davis Island Dam. but admitting all this how
long would it be before home and foreign en-
terprise would provide whale-back Darges that
would meet every req qUiremenl? There are
many lake vessels that will find nine feet OF
water ample for their wants. This objection is
not Of very great force. as we will show. As to
the water supply. we viii have enough TO Iced
Captain W W. O'NeH. coal shipper-Thc
benefits of Snch a canal cannot be overesti
mated. Ii would stimulate business over great
sections of the country beyond the fondest eN
pcctatons. regard 1t as wonderful enter
prise.
4 Mighty Step Forward.
Colonel William Il. Reed-This canal is one
OF she grandeSt things that has been projected
In years. 1t woUd connect the great outlet tC
the Gulf of Mexico, and the oceans with the
upper lakes with their ) 600 miles of coast terri
tory and IL eco miles OF navigabe waters
Millions of acres Of territory. rich IN timber
iron ores. copper and other great product:
would mud direCt markets, ana the day has al
rived when these natural gifts TO mankind
must be utilized IN the best and most practical
manner. The canal would be mighty sUeT
Iu this direction. It's cost would be nothing
when viewed from this standpoint, and the en-
cheering science Of the nineteenth century
can easily overcome all the objections that maN
arse.
Cougres ssmau-elect Colonel William A Stont
Ii tie engineers are correct IN their estimate:
I'd iiguTes think the canal Is practicable
nd believe 1t would be of immense advantage
0 very extensive sections of the United States
J. D. ScullT cashier of the First National
l3suE-if the plan car be shown 10 be prac
1lCabie and the cost reasonable, there Is not
particle OF doubt about is being great ant
highly beneficial undertaking. /. would no
only be of great cUInmerclal value to this city
but would benefit whole States.
Captain Lewis ClarE-Ehc canal would be o
wonderful Importance, particularly 80 the trad
OF the great lakes and rivers. As 1t Is a: prescn
DaHy railroads cannot Tun Lleir paSsenge
trains on time owing to freight blucGJdes Til
railroads are Inadequate 70 the undertaking
and greater facilities are badly needed.
Arthur Kirk. en~:nCcr-I consider the cana
project as entirely practicable and am satisfies
fuaI II would be OF immense benefit to not onl
Pennsylvania. but the country East and Wesl
Ny ideas ON this subject are rather broad.
believe that
Two Canals Should be Built,
one by the way of New Castle, and one b,
the way of FrauLlin. There are furnaces AM
other industries along both routes to kee
them busy and to develop a big trade for man
States. The enterprise is not local but nationa
in ITS scope. and the Uaited States Govern
mpnr should take N interest II.