The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-04-07
9hlPoANAL.z

Isl SoIS OAVA6.E
r At = recent meeting of tho st. Paul
Chamber Of Commerce a report was re.
oe1ved from the committee on Missis.
sippi river relative to the proposed ca
nal between Lake superior and the
Mississippi at the Twin Cities. The
committee consists Of C: c. Andrews,
II. ). Fairchild, w. A., Somers,s David
Day and E. j. fodgson.' The report
read as follows:
On the I'd day Of Decem Der last, this
chamber adopted resolutions request
ing the Minnesota senator's and our
representative in congress to use their
efforts for an apportionmentf for thor
ough survey to determine what, if any,
practicable line for canal, with capa-
city for barges and vessels that could
navigate the lakes, exists to unite Lake
Superior with the Mississippi river at
the Twin Cities. AS reasons for such 4
survey the following facts may be
stated:
In 1875 the legislature of Minnesota
appropriated 5000 for q survey for a
canal to connect Lake Superior with
the st. Croix river, and Messrs. L. X.
Stannard of Taylor's Falls and R. r.
Davis of Saltwater, as commissioners,
the same year, with their assistants,
made partial survey of several routes
their report was transmitted to the leg.
lslature by Gov. C. K. Davis and was
printed. Their report did not deter
mine which route was the most practi-
cable, but gives the impression that
several routes are practicable. If a
canal between Lake Superior and the
st. Croix should prove practicable it is
supposed that the latter river to it's
mouth and the Mississippi thence to the
Twin Cities would be improved to the
same capacity as the canal. A canal
thus uniting our greatest lake system
with our greatest river system would
be emphatically national improve
p1ent, and ought to be undertaken by
congress rather than by any separate
state.
During the season OF 1891 the rate of
transportation of hard coal by railroad
from Buffalo to Chicago was Sits per
ton, and from Chicago 10 St. Paul and
Minneapolis, $3.50 per ton; total, 1925.
By water the rate from Buffalo to Du-
luth was 40 cents per ton; dockage at
Duluth, 80 cents per ton, and from Du-
luth to St. Paul and Minneapolis by
railway (150 miles), $3.50; total, 50. 40.
Were there
THROUGH WATER ROUTE
to the two cities mentioned, they woald
save million dollars year in freight
charges on the single item of coal.
The Miami canal from Toledo to Gin
cinnati is, with it's feeders, 2S2 miles
long, and, like many other canals in
our country, has proved of immense
benefit in regulating and cheapening
transportation. One of its incid entail
benefits is that the water power fur
nished by it's locks has developed manu-
featuring industry in employing a CAPT
tai of over $50, 900, 900. Ohio has eighty.
eight counties, yet the twenty seven
counties crossed by the canal comprise
more than half the wealth of the state.
1t IS sometimes suggested that Iailroad
companies would be likely to oppose
this canal project, but such a ,iew is
very shortrsighted because the increased
manufacturing and industrial develop
ment which the canal would produce
would vastly increase railroad earnings.
So, also, it is sometimes said that the
lake cites, Duluth and Superior, would
be jealous of such canal. That also
is absurd. The great city of Liverpool
does not object to the canals which ex.
tend from her harbor to the interior
cities. On the contrary these canals
have greatly increased her trade and
wealth. Witness, for example, the eel.
ebrated LiverpoolLeeds canal which
has made the latter interior city a
phenomenon of manufactures, and
which, by the way, has an elevation
above the harbor of Liverpool of 43s
feet or above as much as can be expect.
ed on the canal proposed. These and
many other facts and reasons Justify
this community in demanding the above
mentioned survey; and it is desirable
that our senators and representatives in
congress be impressed with the deep
interest felt here in the subject.
Resolved, That the president COM
municate copy of the foregoing to
Senators Davis and Washburn and Re-
preventative Castle as expressive of the
views of this chamber