The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-24
ALGER ON THE CANAL.
What It's Completion Will Do for
the Coast.
How Western Lumber May Reach the Eastern
Markets at Substantial Reduction
on the Present Rates.

General r. A. Alger of Michigan. who is
at present domiciled at the Palace Hotel, is
enthusiastic on the Nicaragua Canal ques-
ton, and sees in its completion great and
lasting good, especially to the Pacific Coast.
In the course of an interview last evening
he said that its completion will double the
value of all kinds Of property in the State
of California.
AS to the effect it would have on the
railroads, he said that it would be or even
greater benefit TO them than any other class
of property, and that the railroad companies
themselves know it,
''The lumber supply of the three great
lumb er- producing States bordering on the
great lakes, Minnesota, Michigan and
Wisconsin," he said, us being very rapidly
exhausted. When it is entirely so. which
condition of affairs cannot be far distant,
we must look to California for this product.
Before the canal can possibly be completed
there will be no lumber in that region and
we shall be compelled to look TO the Pacific
Coast.
THE CANAL A NECESSITY.
"While tue railroad companies will haul
this class of freight as far East as Missouri
River points, people on the Atlantic sea-
board will want to get their lumber by
water. Now how is this lumber 10 De put
on the market without a canal? The price
of this product in the East is entirely too
low to allow shipment from this Coast at
the present rates. 1t is true that in a few
instances redwood has been shipped from
here to Chicago, but it's too far and can't be
made to pay.
II was told to-day that the water rates on
lumber from this point 10 New I 0rk were
SIG per thousand. Even this charge is more
than the market can stand. The opening
OF the canal will reduce this rate at least
one half, perhaps more, but certainly that.
Another great advantage to this Coast in
the Goa structlon of the canal is found III the
fact that ali or nearly all of the material
used in the work, provisions, ETC.. come from
California. The lumber interests on Puget
Sound are PROSTATE from a number of
causes. This country caters largely to the
foreign demand, in which There Is a very
perceptble falling off. The lumber region
on the Sound. however, Will be greatly bene-
fitted by the canal"
MADE OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH.
General Alger concluded the interview
with reference TO a story published some
months ago in the Chicago papers and tele-
graphed all over the country, which stated
that he, in company with Leigh Hunt OF
Seattle ana ex-AssistInt POstmaster-Gen-
eral ClarkSon, proposed to build up the
towns Oh Puget Sound into great terminal
points and take from San Francisco the
bulk of the trade with the Orient by estab-
fishing an independent line of steamers to
China. Concerning this matter he said:
'In the first place GIarkSon is in Europe
and he has been there for some time. This
fact spoils the story that we agreed 20 the
little scheme at a conference In Chicago.
Second, the project is not feasible. and as
| am not a steamship man | woult not be
able 10 assist in establishing such line if
it WERE Lastly, it is a fabrication from
first to last L never had n conference with
either of the gentlemen mentioned or any
| one else concerning this mater"