New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1892-02-17
RELATING TO WATERWAYS.
A Report by Lind Recommending Improy-
ments to Assist Lake Traffic.
It Favorsa Deep Water Outlet from Duluth
to the Atlantic Ocean.
Whereby Great Benefits will Result t
Northwestern Trade.

Representative LIND, from the COM
mittee on Interstate Com nerce, on
Thursday made q report on the resolu-
tions to promote the improvement OF the
waterway from the head of Lake Sup
erior by way Of the Welland and the St.
Lawrence canals and the ST. Lawrence
river to the sea. His report said:
ssThe recent development OF the un-
told resources ofthe northwest has made
the production Of thatregion not only q
vital part of our international commerce
bnt the leading factor Of our foreign
trade. TO facilitate the international
commerce by affording better facilities
in the way of improved harbor lights
and deepening the canals, congress has
not hesitated to vote appropriations by
millions. It's action in this behalf has
met the approval of the country. Y our
committee believes that it is now equal
ly important to facilitate and take the
proper steps to secure deep water out
let for the foreign commerce originating
in the states bordering on and tributary
to these waters. The impractlcability
of deepening or improving the Erie
canal so as to admit the passage of ocean
crafts seems to be admitted on all sides,
but it is claimed, however, by persons
who are competent to express opinions
on the subject, that it is feasible to con-
struct canal from Oswego to the Hud-
son of sufficient size and depth to furn-
ish water passage from the lakes to the
sea. 1t stands admitted, however, that
this project, in connection with the pro-
posed Niagara canal, would require de-
cades for it's execution and an amount
of money variously estimated from $40,
900, 900 to 300, 100000. Pending the
consideration of this plan and its execu
ton if adopted, it seems to your CON-
mittee that the great interests under
consideration should be served by other
available means if such are at hand or
within our reach. Nature has provided
an outlet by means of the St. Lawrence
river which needs but comparatively
little improvement to make the great
lakes as available to the commerce of
the world as they are now to the inter
national commerce of the United States
and of Canada. Our neighbors on the
North haYe already improved the nat
ural outlet by the construction Of the
Welland canal between Lakes Erie and
Ontario anG the series of shorter canals
along the St. Lawrence. These canals
cover the entire distance where canals
are required between Lake Erie and the
sea. The aggregate length is only 70
miles, while the Erie canal is 1863 miles
long. In pursuancv of plans adopted
by the Canadian government for uni
formity of depth, the Welland has been
deepened to IA feet, and the work is in
progress on the other canals, with the
prospect OF completion within three
years if the necessary appropriations
are made. The magnitude and impor.
tance of the work already done is made
evideut by the fact that the steamer
Wetmore, carrying some $4,000 bu. of
wheat, went through from Duluth to
Liverpool last season by Tightening her
cargo in passing down that portion of
the St. Lawrence river at which the
canals have not yet been deepened. This
trip, though largely experimental,
proved remunerative to the owners of
the vessel. The rate paid from Duluth
to Liverpool was 81 cents per bushel,
exclusive of the charges for trans-shlp-
ment to tighten the vessel, which was
3 cents per bushel, This demonstrates
that with the the completion Of the i'm
provements now in progress steamers
of the size and capacity of the Wetmore
can be dispatched from points on the
lakes to any port in the world, provided
we can use the canals in common with
the Canadians. IF the canals were
further deepened so as to correspond
with the new ssSoo'' canal, Duluth,
Milwaukee, Chicago and Buffalo would
enjoy all the advantages Of seaboard
cities with reference to foreign trade.
Your committee therefore recommend
the passage of the joint resolutions
If there is anything that commands
my admiration it is man who has the
nerve to say just twhaihe thinks, wheth-
er it pleases or not. -Ishmael in Anoka
Union.
Yes; and not one who gives it to the
public over some fictitious name. The
original Ishmael raised his hand against
every man, but we have yet to learn
that he sneaked around in Disguise
Midway News.