Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-11
MAKING THE REPORT.
Mr.. Goodwin Explains Maps of the
Canal Route to the Commission.
NEW BENEFITS FOR PITTSBURG.
How Waterway to the Lakes Would Open
Up Canadian Markets.
POSSIBILITIES OF THE COAL TRADE

The Canal Commission met yesterday in
its rooms in the Penn building. Engineer
Goodwin presented several maps, and e1-
planned them verbally to the members.
Later he will prepare a statement of his
ideas in detail. The proposed route through
the Shenango and Beaver valleys meets
with the most favor. Mr.. Goodwin's first
map was on the route from the mouth OF the
Beaver river to Davis Island dam. on the
one was detailed map Of Rochester, show
ing where the canal would run with refer
ence to this town. The projected route
will not interfere with the railroad
or any important buildings. The third map
was profile of the canal from Lake Erie to
the mouth of tie Beaver river, distance of
102 miles, out of which, when two miles are
taken for construction, it will leave the
canal about 100 miles long. The old Erie
and Beaver canal was 1876 miles in length.
WILL NOT CONFLICT.
The new canal will not strike the old one,
if this route is adopted, until it reaches New
Castle from Erie. Mr.. Goodwin was not
prepared to give an estimate of the total
cost of the work. The commission ordered
photo-engravings to be made of the maps
ior use in preparing their report tor the
Legislature. This is the main business
transacted at the meeting. Mr.. Goodwin's
drawings also showed the location OF 70
locks.
The survey of the Allegheny river route
has not vet been made, but it will be begun
shortly TO determine the feasibility of it. 1t
is probable that both routes will be adopted
as traffic sufficient for them could easily be
maintained, and in case of accident to any
one of them by land slide or otherwise would
occur, the other could be used.
The commission is now getting ready to
make up its report. The indications are
that the canal will be continued from
Beaver to the Davis Island pool. The dam
at this point cannot be raised and Colonel
to support the Davis Island dam. The canal
will then be raised along the line until it
reaches Pittsburg on a level with the water in
the pools here. ..-..
SOME NEW STATISTICS.
Colonel Roberts. in speaking of the canal
last evening advanced some new statistics that
may appear extravagant. but he challenges
contradiction. He said: ''The people of Pitts
burg do not yet appreciate what this ship canal
will do for them. Shippers imagine that be-
cause the railroads have bought up the canals
in the State that water transportation In this
way is thing of the past We haven't a ship
canal in the country, and the majority of peo-
pie don't know anything about them. We
have NO idea here of the enormity OF the lake
trade. 1 discovered this summer sail
ing vessel carrying 600 tons of Pitts
burg coal into Canada through
charges were very heavy still the old master OF
the vessel admitted that he made money in
carrying it, though the competition from the
steamboats, had reduced his profits. Pittsburg
coal is being loaded on the railroads at Cincin-
natl Louisville and Madison in a very clumsy
manner, but in spite of this heavy tax it is
able to sneak its way into new markets and IS
ping % cars n Of coal % per day to the lakes. This
is new field for him, but it only shows the
possibilities of the trade if we had water COM
direct.
A BIG EXPORT BUSINESS.
LAST year 1000 900 tons of Pittsburg coal
were exported into Canada and 50O,000 tons of
their coal were imported. 1t went principally
into Northern Maine and the backwoods
of the New England States, where it
would be almost impossibls TO: Pittsburg coal
to reach. The tariff is rs cents per ton. and 1
claim the above facts are good reason for its
If the canal was built to the
lakes, the cost of transportation by water
would be at least SO cents per ton cheaper than
by rail, and this item alone would about pay
the interest on the money invested in the ship
THE lake tonnage is increasing rather than
decreasing every year in spite Of the railroads.
Why 10000 vessels pass Detroit alone in year,
and L. 900 enter and clear the port of Chicago |
in the same time. The latter number is more |
than all the craft put together that enter and |
clear annually the ports of New York, Boston. |
Philadelphia and Baltimore, including both |
,oastwise trade and ocean traffic. This may |
strike some as an extraFagant statement, but I |
would ike to see it disproved,
WHY CHICAGO GETS IT.
OF course, do not say that the lake vessels |
Ind cargoes compare with the ocean ones in |
point of value. In Chicago at present the rail- |
'oads are carrying the COAL because they have |
me facilities for transferring the fuel into the |
mills: but suppose the cost of transportation
or Pittsburg coal to this place was reduced 20 |
,ents per ton by water, how long would it be |
before the water facilities for transfer would |
,e up to the railroads? Only a short time. 1 |
peak of coal as an example. The same thing
s true of other local products. and this is why
he canal should be built. 1t would open up to
,ur shippers the great lake traffic. Natural
.as was double gift. 1t furnished US with a
rood fuel, and drove out the Pittsburg coal
nto new markets where it soon earned for
tself q lasting reputation"