Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-19
THE CANAL FAVORED
by the Deep Waterway Convention
Held Yesterday at Detroit.
COL. ROBERTS TALKED FOR 1T,
And Its Feasibility and Desirability We're
Fully Conceded.
L. ROBERTS TALKED FOR 1T,
IMPORTANT LAKE MARINE INTERESTS
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

DETROIT, Dec 1S-The Deep Waterway
Convention. which met here yesterday
morning. concluded its labors at IL o'clock
this morning and adjourned sine die. This
is the fourth Interstate convention which,
during the past 10 or II years, has been
called together to urge upon Congress the
importance of improving the means of COM
munication between the great lakes, and in
this subject matter Pittsburg is as vitality
concerned, almost, as any city on the lakes;
more so. in fact, than a number of cities
which sent large delegations 10 the conven-
Jion.
The prime object stated in the call for
this particular convention was to urge upon
Congress the existing necessity for improv-
ing the depth in the Detroit river and
through the ST. Clair flats, where it is now
16 feet, to a depth of 81 feet General O.
NJ Poe, the United States Engineer in
charge of this district of the lakes, pre-
Sented TO the convention his estimate of
$500, O00 for accomplishing this important
object.
The Demands of the Northwest.
II must be recollected that the Govern
ment has nearly completed its q feet con-
nection by means of a grand lock and short
canal connecting Lake Superior with Lake
Huron, but that such increased depth will
he of little avail, and particularly so for ore
laden vessels from Lake Superior, unless
the shoals mentioned have been proper
tionately improved in their navigable
depth. This, therefore, was the cry from
every district represented in the conven-
- oh
They said, in effect: 1--WE know what We
want. and it is easily stated. We want
SIMPLY p feet through the Detroit and St.
Clair rivers, and that is all we are going to
ask Congress 10 o,and our request is amod-
esl one.
Considering the vast Importance of the
lake marine interests such request was
agreed upon all sides to be very modest
and reasonable one, but it by no means gave
satisfaction TO the Buffalo and Lake Ontario
delegations, particularly that from Oswego,
who insisted that the deep water to the sea,
either from Buffalo on Lake Erie or from
osvego on Lake Ontario, should be includ-
eQ IN the recommendations
Tideuater Connections Indorsed.
There was no doubt about the friendliness
Of the entire body to the merit of such a
project, hut no one was present to explain
IN regard to its feasibility. However, by
very strenuous exertions, the IL members
from Oswego, backed as they were by the
majority of the large Buffalo delegation,
succeeded in having the proposed tidewater
connection indorsed by the general body,
and this, too. bv unanimous vote. The
only fear anyone manifested was in regard
to asking for things which Congress might
not give.
Owing to a misconnection of trains Pitts
hUr-'s delegate reached the city yesterday
evening, after the adjournment of the con-
veution, but at the meeting this morning,
which was ably presided over by ex-Sena-
tor Palmer, Permanent Chairman and also
Director General of the Columbian Exposi- |
ticn, NJ Roberts presented the claims of
NesJeri Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, |
embraced in the great Pittsburg iron manu- |
featuring district, to an interest in the lake
navigation, and stated that Pittsburg stood |
with reference to the lakes, exactly as Man. |
chester, England, did with reference to the |
sea, and that she with her millions of tons |
of lake products annually received, had de- |
termined upon being placed more on a par
with Chicago and other ports which now
promise. by reason of the proposed deepen |
ing Of the lake channels, to receive their |
ores more cheaply than ever before.
The Erie Canal Well Thought OF.
The gentleman detailed the action of the |
l.tElNldINit III llS APPROPRIATION OF S1U,UUU
Tor the determination OF the feasibility of |
making = ship canal connection between the |
uppcr Ohio river and Lake Erie, and also |
referred 10 the bill recently introduced in |
the United States Senate. asking for a fur i
ther appropriation of $4,000 to cover the |
expenses Of a second examination of the |
project by the General Government. But |
while several expressed themselves as favor |
able 10 opening the report of the Committee |
on Resolutions to admit of Mr.. Roberts pro- |
posed addition, further action was estopped !
when il was seen that the Chicago delegates |
proposed also to adopt resolutions in regard |
10 the United States legislation regarding |
ar2Uhridges While all these propositions |
we.a deemed of high Importance, and We're |
worthy Of consideration, the convention ad- |
7ourued without authorizing a single amend |
u."nt 30 the report of the committee
i l. remarked upon every hand that |
never before has so distinguished a body of |
laen net in behalf Of the Improvement of |
The lake waterways of the Northwest, and |
severe! members OF Congress who took part !
rs honorary members assured the conven-
zion hat what the people really demanded |
oi their representatives would be carried |
out by The necessary legislation, and that it |
Was the voice of the people represented, in !
this and similar conventions, that they were
most delighted to hear.
Alter adjournment the Legislative Com
mluee met to devise means to bring the
action OF the convention before Congress.
HUNTING I'm Africa, by Lord Randolph