Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-17
~U 6D111 OIN.
PORTS ON THE LAKES
They Are Being Considered by a Con-
vention at Detroit.
SENSATIONAL SUIT IN LONDON.
Deliberations of the Base Bali Men
at indianapolis.
LATE TELEGRAPHlC NEWS.


/
Assembling of the Deep Waters Convention
! mt Detroit This Morning.
| DETROIT, Mich. Dec 1.-THE deep waters
| convention, which convened in the Light
Infantry armory this morning, is an assemblage
of distinguished men which promises 20 take an
| important place in the history of the country
even ifiit only makes'one step in the direction
of the ultimate object of the convention, that
OF seaports Of the cities of the great lakes.
| ORGANIZING TnE CONVENTION.
The convention was called to order in the
| Light Infantry Armory by ex-Congressman
William c. Maybury, who said that deep
| channel was but n dream Of twenty-five years
| ago. but now is an absolute necessity. and that
| immediate steps should DO taken to begin the
work.
Vim. Livingstone, ir., followed by reading
Congressman Chipman's letter to the Detroit
BOARD OF trade, suggesting the idea Of deepen
ing the channel between Duluth and Buffalo.
The call for the meeting was then read, after
which Mayor Pinsree welcomed the delegates
to the city.
Ex-Minister Thomas W Palmer of the Chi
caSo worlds fair was chosen temporary chair
man.
In communication 20 the board of trade of
Detroit, July IA, 1891. Congressman j. Logan
Chapman was the first to propose this conven-
ton. and he outlined the subjects which. in
Els opinion, should have the attention of the
delegates TO the daring scheme Of linking
the lakes and the Atlantic ocepn together he
gave more space than to all the others COM
bined- Upon receipt of Congressman Chip
man : letter the board Of trade approached the
Merchants and Manufacturers Exchange and
the Vessel Owners Association
The result was circular letter 10 the COM
merclai bodies OF Lake cities inviting cooper
alton. This was heartily given. and shortly
after formal call was issued for the gathering
which assembled this morning. 1he call recites
that tine work of the convention will be to con-
slider questions relating to much needed i'm
pioVenents IN thc channels of water COMM
nicatlng through our great lakes, making
twenty and twenty-one feet the minimum
depth throughout their entire length; the
location OF light houses; the deepening of i'm
PortGnt harbors, and possibly the most feasible
route for connecting these lakes with tide
water by Il leep-wate. channel that will float
or largest vessels"
WHERE DREDGING Is NEEDED.
In regard to the main subject. Gen. O. NJ
Poe's report published some weeks ago. is to
the point From a depth of nine and a half
ieet, course OF sixteen feet has been obtained
by dredging and this deepening vas followed
by grt ut increase of traffic which now cries
Tor the twenty.one feet depth. Gen Poe says
that the dredging should be done at six places
III the following order: Sailors Eucampment
81. Clair Flats, Crosse POinte Flats mouth of
the Detroit river. foot of Lake Huron and the
shoals near Round Island.
Further, Gen. Poe says that all this can be
done a: cost of 80. 339. SO. As to the chan
mel 10 the tide, vesselmen are not united re-
garding the possibility and the result Of such a
great Undertaking. and in the meeting there
Will be without doubt much opposition to it,
Inc supporters OF this vast project are daily
growing in numbers and they will rest satisfied
for the time in the belief that the twenty-one-
foot channel from Duluth to the Atlantic must
be inevitably followed by the desire for an out
let to the sea later on.
TIP CONVENTION PROPOSED
All commercial associations or organizations
of cities and states situated upon or adjacent
and tributary to the lakes and incorporated
ciues similarly located having no commercial
organization to be represented were invited to
send each i've delegates Is members Of this
convention. The committees, by special com
munication, invited the governor of each state
bordering on the lakes to attend the conyen-
tion. ana also requested that he appoint five
citizens OF MS state to act with him as men,
beers. Commercial associations or delegates
desiring to submit to the convention for it,
consideration opinions relative to the interests
named were invited to come prepared with
sucn matter as they might wish to offer.
That the invitation has been very generally
accepted il evinced by the numerous delega-
lions present, the members of which are most
| enthusiastic over the contemplated projects
| and show great interest in the proceedings
Isappointed by The governor and are present
from the following states: Ohio Illinois Min
| nesota and Michigan. The following cities also
have representatives present: Oswego MY
| Ashtabuia, OHIO; Green Bay. Wis: Grand
Kap,ds, Marquette. HougntoT. and Sault Ste
| Marie. Mich. Eighteen commercial o:ganiza-
tions from The lake districts are represented.
| They are follows: Duluth board OF
| trade, Duluth chamber of commerce, Superior
Wisconsin: Chamber of Commerce, Toledo;
Produce Exchange, Cleveland; Board of Trade,
| Buffalo; Lake Carriers Association, Chicago:
Board OF rale. Duluth; Jobbers' Association.
Green Bay. Wis; Business Mems Association,
Bnhaio; Lumber Exchange, Minneapolis;
Chamber OF Commerce. Milwaukee: Chamber
of Commerce, Detroit; Board of Trade, De-
| troit: Merchants and Manufacturer Ex-
| change, Detroit; Vessel Owners Association
Saginaw; Board of Trade, Bay City: Business
Mems Association aud Muskegou Board of
Trade. 5. W. Thompson, secretary Duluth
Chamber of Commerce; Congressman J. Logan
Chapman, Geo. H Ely of Cleveland. Parker c
Roman of Albany. N Y, W. A. Livingston OF
Detroit and many others have been invited to
address the convention.