Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-15
NO 2O-F00T CANALS
At an Outlay Of S77, 100000 for Can
ada Just Yet Awhile.
THE ST. LAWRENCE AN OBSTACLE
Which the Supporters Of the Government
Consider Insurmountable.
TRANSPARENT OF GRAIN NOT AN EVIL

| ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,
OTTAWA, ONT, March 14-The question
of deepening the Welland and St. Lawrence
to enable ocean steamships to pass through
to loading points at Duluth and Port Ar
thur was discussed at considerable length
in Parliament to-day. The matter came ur
on q resolution moved by Dennis on, Of
Toronto, to the effect that as the United
States had decided ON a 2O-foot draft fol
the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, the Canadian
canal system should be carried to uniform
depth Of 20 feet. He thought there were
no engineering difficulties in the way, and
It was only a question of expenditure,
which would be justified if Canada could
| divert the enormous traffic which now
passes from the West over United States
| railroads to the Canadian route.
It had been stated that the work of carry
ing out the deepening of the Welland and
St. Lawrence canals would not be under
taken at less cost than SIS, 900, 900 and
possibly 500, 900, 600. The Canadian Pacific
Railway had cost nearly double that
amount, and he thought
A Perfect Canal system,
which would permit ocean-going vessels to
run to the head of lake navigation, was of
equal Importance to the trade and commerce
of the Dominion. He did not suggest that
the work be undertaken at once, but thought
the locks now in course of construction
should be built Of 2O-foot draft and the
same depth be carried out as circumstances
would permit He contended that saving
of At least 8 cents per bushel could be
effectd by loading sea-going vessels at Port
Arthur in transit to the European markets.
This on the grain shipments from the Cana
dian Northwest this year would effect
saving of at least $500, 0,000
Reid, of Greenville, thought the idea i'm
practicable, as the Instructions in the river
St Lawrence were insurmountable to OBJ
tanning 20-foot draft. In fact he believed
that if that depth of water was secured that
it would be found that the transhipment of
grain cargoes was of great advantage, es-
pecially of wheat, as 1t gave it an opportu-
tanned in transit from Port Arthur or
Duluth to Montreal would tend to its in
jury if continued in the same vessel to the
port of destination acroys the ocean.
The Government Oppos ses Deeper Canals.
while admitting the great importance of
Canada's waterways to the carrying facili-
ties of the country, Minister of Railways
and Canals Haggart said that the proposed
deepening of the canal to 20-foot depth |
was impracticable. Even could that be car |
ried out he doubted whether large ocean,
going vessels would enter the lakes. The |
had considered the question of |
large vessels and it was decided far cheaper
to bring down cargoes from the head of
navigation in small vessels and tran
ship into the ocean carriers than for
the large vessels to load at the
head of lake navigation. The Government
mad considered that 14-foot draft would
'or many years meet all the requirements of
he carrying trade The question of deep
,ning the canals to a 2O-toot draft had been
'ully gone into by the Government, and the
owest estimate placed the figure at ST.
)00, 900 to cover the cost of deepening the
,arbors along the route of navigation to
hat draft In view of the enormous outlay
hat would be necessary to the completion
# the work he asked Dennison to withdraw
lis motion, which was agreed to.