The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-04
THE CHICAGO SHIP CANAL.
Judge Prendergast on the Need of Interior
Defenses.

/ CHICAGO, Jan. 3.-Judge Richard Prem
dergast. in his inaugural address today, as
president Of the Chicago Ship Canal trus-
! tees, made some notable utterances. After
outlining the present status Of the enter
prise, and suggesting the intended water
power that will be created at the western
end of the city on Desplains river, making
possible the construction there OF perhaps
the greatest mills on the continent, Judge
Prendergast said:
1T was stipulated by Great Britain and
the United States in the treaty of 1917 that
both nations should be restricted to allow
war vessels on the great lakes, and by the
terms of the treaty these were To be OF the
kind and armament as then known, the
armament being on each vessel one elgh-
teen FOUNDER brass cannon, such as was
known at that time When that treaty
WAS made, the great lakes and the vast
territories tributary to them were mighty
wilderness Now the lakes are bordered
with regions of dense population and
mighty cities are ell along their shores
The Canadian autf critics, at an eXpen-
diture of more than 500, 600, ,OO0, have con
structed series Of waterways between
the lakes aud the Atlantic sea coast Of
such dimensions that over l25 war vessels
on the British naval list can pass from the
British naval station at Halifax into the
great lakes, and, in addition, it has been
the policy of that government to foster the
construction of steel vessels for CONNER
cial purposes, TO navigate the Canadian
waters. susceptible of use as armed cruls-
ers in case of hostllities.
''On the northwestern corner Of our
country is Puget Sound, and there on
Vancouver island commanding that sound
as completely rs the Rock Of Gibraltar
commands the entrance TO the Mediterrean
is another British military and naval
station. So that, not to speak of British
military and naval stations that circle our
country in the West Indies and the islands
Of the Pacific, we have upon our northern
frontier, a rich, strong and vigorous
country and people, bound by many ties to
England, presenting all along our borders,
a magnificent system OF offensive and de-
fensive utilization. but until this hour the
government of the United States have
done substantially nothing to meet or cope
with a hostile demonstration from this
source.
Continuing, Judge Prendergast said
"The federal government has surveyed
the Lake Peoria, which Is but widening
of the Illinois river, opposite and near the
city of Peoria But of course such a
station would be an absurdlty. in so far as
il relates to the lakes, without channel
for the passage OF vessels from 1t 10 the
lakes, and there is no doubt that the con
struction of the main channel needed by
the logic of the situation and events will
compel the construction OF the remainder
of the waterway by the federal govern
ment with, among other things, the con
struction of some such naval station near
the city of Peoria"
After resume of what he considered
the tremendous probable commercial
effects Of the canal, Judge Prender
CAST in conclusion said: when Mar
quette and Joliet and La Sale and Henne-
pin made their weary marches to reach the
river of DE Soto they walked the way of
destiny. This valley region, formerly the
highway of waters, has become more and
more the highway of commerce"