The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-23

-Route, via the Welland Canal and
the st. Lawrence River.
- Route. via Oswego River Oneida
Lake and the Mohawk River.
There is much truth In the statement
that the question Is an international one.
says a writer on the subject (via the
st. Lawrence river), both In commercial
and In military point OF view. In further
ance OF the idea OF internationally IL is
assumed that the interests OF the United
States and Canada are Identical on this
point, and must OF necessity always re-
main SO from geographical cons!dera-
tions.
TWO OPPOSING INTERESTS.
Now IL is a fact patent TO the most cas-
ual observer that the interests of Canada
and Great Britain on one side and the
Eastern and Middle States on the other.
are diametrically opposed on this very
question. Tie development OF the St.
Lawrence route, which Can ada and Eu.
rope both desire, leaves New York as far
from the markets OF tho Wes. as ever,
while the manufacturer OF Europe is
brought almost to their harbors as re-
CARDS expense OF transport.
A route by the way Of the Erie Canal or
some modification Of that route Is quite
another matter. This would still pre-
serve TO the manufacturing East at least
a portion OF its present advantages as re-
CARDS position, while the increased de-
mand due to cheapening OF transporta-
ton on heavy goods, would doubtless
make up the remainder, with the reason
able assurance OF adding to 1t.
THE TWO PRACTICAL ROUTES.
II the st. Lawrence canals are to be
improved Canada cannot do II alone. She
Is already saddled with an enormous
debt, and would certainly hesitate before
spending such great sum OF money TO
secure such advantages which, while very
important to her, would In much greater
measure benefit our own Western States.
She would demand assistance.
Are we prepared to furnish it2 Ger
tainly the Eastern States are not. 1t Is to
their interest to fight such an enterprise
tooth and nail. And with reason In our
arguments and determination In our
opposition all attempts Of the west to
force such plan upon us must fail.
II / have argued correctly. there then
seems to be but one satisfactory location
by the Erie Canal or contiguous to It.,
This leaves the entire route within our
borders. 1t tends to unite the East and
the West more closely. II reaches the
II follows the direction OF general trade
and reaches to its eastern centre-New
York. II does not tend to throw the trade
OF the interior into the hands OF foreign
manufacturers and commercial houses.
II does not tend to make Montreal In
stead OF New York the port OF departure
and arrival In the foreign trade. These
and many other things can be urged in
its favor.
AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN.
Next, we may adopt modified route,
via Lake Ontario. the Oswego River.
Oneida Lake and the Mohawk Valley,
utilizing the Mohawk River to as great an
extent as possible. aud striking the Hud-
son at a point from which the proper
depth can be maintained.
This Mohawk Valley route necessitates
a canal around Niagara either on one side
or the other. Whether II would be cheap
er to utilize the Welland Canal by improv-
Ing it, or whether. all things considered.
Il would be better to build an entirely
new canal on American soil would have
TO be decided by the relative costs and
advantages.
lit is found practicable to use a consid-
erable length OF the Mohawk and Oswego
rivers by canalizing them, and IL the gra-
dients and excavations prove more than
ordinarily easy, the cost OF this route may
fall we'll within reasonable sum.
RIVER NAVIGATION PREFERABLE TO CANAL.
But eeen where the cost OF river canali-
zation and maintenance equals or even
somewhat exceeds excavation 1t Is to be
preferred. When IL Is understood that
the permissible speed in an ordinary ship
canal does not exceed six knots. while in
the river nearly full speed may be main
tained, the great gain In river navigation
over that In an excavated and narrow
canal Is at once seen.
SHIP CANALS IN POPULAR FAVOR.
In general way people believe In shiS
canals; even those who look upon the
ordinary variety as relics OF the past. But
the same causes that have caused the de-
cline OF the latter will affect the former II
reasonable forethought Is not exercised In
selecting tho routes and devising the
plans. All public thoroughfarss must be
up TO the times to be successful.
With these facts staring us In the face,
tho probability OF a deep water route TO
tho sea Is reduced 10 q certainty In the
near future IL IL useless to deride the
scheme as impracticable, and folly TO
allow IL TO be matured without lifting a
hand TO turn IL In a satisfactory direction.
New York must -bestir herself, and with
her interested neighbors take an active
part In the enterprise; and while satisfy
ing the West, she must place tho project
In form that will result TO her own ad.