Arizona republican., 1892-07-22

purpose of avoiding the rapids at South Hadley and the Montague falls on the Connecticut river. They are no longer in use, but they will always be remem- bered as the beginning of the now mag nifcent system of artificial waterways for which the United States have be- come famous.
 About the time that these short canals were completed the agitation began which was to end quarter of a century later with the inauguration of plan for connecting the ocean with the great lakes by means of what scoffers of that day called "De Witt Clinton's ditch" Begun in 1917 and opened in 1895, the Erie canal has ever since been an impor- tant factor in the politics and prosperity of New York state. Its original cost was nearly $s,000, 900, and many times that sum have been expended in its inn provement and maintenance. It spans the state of New York with ribbon of water S63 miles long, and is practically the first on the list of similar great en- terprises projected and carried out by other commonwealths of the republic.
 For this reason, and also because just a century ago bill was introduced in the New York legislature providing plans for a canal system, the grain deal CTS, warehousemen and shippers of the Empire State are arranging to com memorate the anniversary by celebra- tion suitable to the occasion. It is in- deed centennial that ought to be ac- centuated by imposing ceremonies, for in the hundred years of progress canals have played an important part and have swollen from the five miles of 1792 to the 4,000 miles of 1899.
 And yet, if the schemes now under consideration are carried out, the second century of canal building in the United States will overshadow the first century as a giant does pygmy. The most inn mediate progress is to be made under the provisions of this years river and harbor bill, regarding which writer in The Review of Reviews says that it pro- vides a sufficient sum to begin the work of deepening the connecting channels of the great lakes so that there will mo- where be less than twenty feet of water bttMVNh SiAANhNOf DuAuNu anu The official estimates call for nearly 8, 800, ,0O0, which sum is exclusive of the work on the St. Mary's Falls canal, which was provided for in the river and harbor bill of 1890.
 Eleven hundred less vessels passed through the Suez canal in 1890 than passed through the canal into Duluth during the subsequent year, and there went through the "Soo" canal at the outlet of Lake Superior more than three times as many vessels and nearly 1,750,- 900 tons more freight during 1890 than through the Suez canal for the same period. Speaking of the future, the writer already referred to says:
 Interest in waterway improvements has had wonderful growth in the United States within the last year or two, as is evidenced by the strong sup port of the daring project of ship canal twenty-one feet deep through American territory from the great lakes to the sea. Congress has been asked to provide for surveys, examinations and estimates of cost of all tho practicable routes for such a canal, with view to determining the one that is most advan- tageous. The advocates of this project point out that in addition to the inn mense commercial value which it would have, it will become military necessity a few years hence when the enlargement of the St. Lawrence canals to uniform depth of fourteen feet is completed. For then way will be open into the great lakes for the war vessels of the British navy, while there will be none