Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-24
TERMS OF THE DISPATCH.
P1TTsBURG, SATURDAY, JAN. "a, 1891.
OF NATIONAL SCOPE.

The ninth of the special articles on the
Improvement of our internal wafer ways,
published elsewhere, gives a comprehensive
view of the plan for furnishing this country
with adequate internal water wavs. 1t is
Important that this scientifically planned
scheme comedies almost precisely with what
THE DISPATCH has pointed as proper ex-
penditure for the funds of the United States
Government before it undertakes the mis-
sionary labor of building ship canals in
foreign lands. This comprehensive plan
includes:
First-The enlargement OF the Hudson
river and Erie canal route to the dimensions
of ship canal
Second-The connection of Lake Erie
with the Ohio river by ship canal, such as
is under consideration by the canal CON-
mission of this State.
Third-The connection of Lake Michigan
with the Mississippi system, bv the Henne-
pin canal or similar system at Chicago.
Fourth-The improvement of the Missis-
sippi and its tributaries giving II, 800 miles
of navigations for vessels of 20 feet draft;
81, 600 miles OF 10 to Is feet navigation; and
90, 900 miles of waterways open to light
draft steamers and barges. Tine plan for
the improvement OF these streams, which has
been developed in the preceding articles,
would, in addition to the wonderful ex-
tension OF transportation, reclaim waste
lands, prevent disastrous floods, and improve
the sanitary condition of the Mississippi
full
pensate for the expense.
This plan viewed in its entirety redupli-
Gates what THE DISPATCH has pointed out
as practicable In the work of internal i'm
provement, with one exception. 1t is
possible to add to this plan a connection
from the headwaters of the Ohio to the
ocean, either by the Chesapeake and Ohio
route or by more southern line, or both.
The presence or omission of this feature is,
o. course, not vital TO the importance of the
whole project, and can be lett to depend on
the development of its engineering posi-
biIities On the other hand the plan con-
tains further suggestion in the direction of
link between the Missouri and Columbia
rivers. which would make the proposed
system OF transportation an international as
we'll as an internal benefit.
The magnitude and Importance of such a
project will be evident to every one who
takes time to gain full comprehension of
it. 1t would practically bring the ad-
vantages Of cheap water transportation close
TO every farm, mine, workshop and mer-
camille center in the land. 1t would COM
pletely terminate the dangerous control of
commerce which is now illegitimately lodg
in the hands of the railway magnates, and
base the cost of industry and the price of the
necessaries of life on the foundation of cheap
water transportation. Our contributor is
fully justified in saying that the importance
and desira5ilIty of this great work is be-
yond dispute, and that the only debatable
questions are which portions of the work
should be first begun; how much can be
spent yearly, and what measures will secure
the greatest and most immediate results.
When the possibilities of this plan of in
ternal improvement are fully comprehended
by the people there will be no doubt that the
demand will be universal for devoting the
Government funds TO such work before
500, 600, 900 of Government credit is sunk in
the sWamps of NicaraFua