Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-21

| North Sea to Stockholm, IS ten feet deep,
iockage of 900 feet, divided among 7e locks.
| which is 25 more than has been suggested
| for the proposed Lake Erie and Ohio Canal,
annually. The Caledonian Canal, crossing
the Highlands of Scotland, distance OF 50
| miles, of which distance more than one-half
is through natural lakes, has summit level
steamers and sailing vessels pass through
it. Most OF the European ship
canals, completed and projected, were
designed chiefly to save distance lost in 60
ing around capes or peninsulas, among
which is the North Holland Canal and the
| Amsterdam, both extending from the
| Zuyder Zee to the North Sea. Also the
Baltic or Holstein canal, nearly finished by
the German Governments, and the Isthmus
Of Corinth canal, projected by Alexander
the Great, resolved upon by Caesar and com
abroad are the Languedoc. North Holland,
| Crinan, Gloucester Berkeley, Witham, st.
Louis, suez, st. Petersburg. Ghent ana Der p
mingham, Great western. Newcastle-on-
Tyne the Scotch, and the Irish. The latter
will be R7 miles long and 30 locks will De re-
CURED. Many others in various parts OF the
Old World are being seriously considered.
The only ship canal in the United states
is the St. Mary's one mile long, connecting
Lakes Superior and Michigan, which the
time. In Canada the Welland Canal con-
Meeting Lakes Erie and Ontario, 26 miles,
having 25 locks 45 feet wide and 15 feet deep,
and overcoming descent of $50 feet, Is
terprise. With her other grand ship canals
completed and projected, the Canadian
Government presents striking contrast to
our own.
We have q few canal projects in this coun-
try among them the Delaware and Chesa-
peake, the Niagara Falls, the Lake Michigan
New York, Cape Cod, the Hennepin and the
Lower Michigan, which Is proposed to con-
meet Saugatuck and Detroit, via Kalamazoo,
length 173 miles and proposed for l.oOO-ton
vessels.
Where the Water Will Come From.
The Lake Erie and Ohio river ship canal
project is one in which a water supply is OF
paramount importance, and upon the deter
mination of which rests its feasibility. The
summit level of the adopted route, which
lies partly in Pennsylvania and Ohio, is 20
miles long, while upon the map the position
of numerous reservoirs and lakes are 1nd1-
Gated. The country is SO fat that embank-
ments of II to IA feet in height, built across
creeks, would submere large areas One res
ervoir shown makes q pond OF more than S,0O0
acres. The total area Of reservoirs for the
summit supply is more than o,O0o acres;
gathering water from 49, 2S5 acres, or ia
square miles, The available storage capac-
ity of these reservoirs, including six feet to
be drawn from Lake Conneaut and certain
tributed in the days Of canal navigation,
would supply the summit level with 1908
903 cubic feet daily.
Mr. John NJ. Goodwin, who conducted
the survey for the Canal Commission, figured
upon ten vessels each way daily for2A DAYS.
which would permit the passing of ,2s0
vessels, upon which 100000 tons Of freight
could be carried. In this calculation allow
ance Is made for evaporation and percola-
tion from the canal The surplus of water
is fully equal, according to Mr.. Goodwin, to
passing 20 more vessels each way daily, or
altogether. enOnRh
lS,OO0,0 900 tons annually.
No Trouble About q Water Supply.
The water supply can easily be doubled at
small expense, and I have little patience
with those who persfstently assert without
the slightest authority for their statement
that this proposed canal is fmpracticable by
reason Of the insuficiency of its water
supply. The fact is it would be easier sup
piled than some of the old time canals.
The length Of the canal from Pittsburg to
Beaver is 27.4 miles, following the right
bank Of the river. Its first level, after pass
would be % miles long. Lock No. 2 would ad-
init the canal to Beaver river at New Bright
on. The Beaver would be slackwatered to
the head of navigation, 796 miles from Pitts
burg, requiring to that point II locks and l6
dams. Thence to the south end of the sum-
NIT locks and 1s miles of canal would be
needed. The summit level Is 20 miles long,
and from its north end to Conneaut harbor
25 locks would be required The route is 30
miles shorter than the old canal, and the
locks proposed large enough to admit
the new Government gunboats. With
the exception of few points no curves are
admitted Of less radius than 1900 feet and
the route is free from engineering difficult
ties and is only about ten miles longer than
an air line from Beaver to the lake. The es-
timated cost is $26, 375. 900.
The route abounds in mineral deposits of
value, and runs through numerous hives Of
industry, there being located on 1t 80 fur
naces, many rolling mills and other estab- |
lished manufactures.
1t would benefit the lake country as much
as Pittsburg for there is now an interchange
Of from Z. 200, 900 to 100000 tons per annum.
If this is not showing enough to warrant
ship canal none will ever be built in the
TIn3fad Cfatac