Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-09

river and Lake Ere by an enlargement OF
the Miami Canal, extending from Clnc1nnati
TO Toledo. The report of the United STATES
Engineers, who examined into the prolect
in 1880, states that a canal the same size as
the Erie, of New York. viz, double locks ll0
KS feet. with feet depth, overcome IN $50
miles, Ss2 eet of lockage $50 feet up from
lake TO summit. 5l2 feet from summit down
to the Ohio riveT) 4 canal of this size, VIZ,
S0o-ton boats, is probaly as large as c9ulo %
supplied with water on this route. les estf
mated cost was SIS, $751; ,000
In 1889 the Stale of Pennsylvania ap-
pointed Slip Canal Commission to report
upon the feasibility OF ship canal 20 CON
meet the Upper Ohio river with the lakes.
The business OF Pittsburg and adjoining
districts along the route OF the proposeu
canal with the lakes now amounts to more
than 5000, 600 tons of iron ore ana apou.
On0 600 tons of coal annually, besides vast
There is no coal whatever along the lakes,
and it is conveyed to certain lake haroors IN
Pennsylvania and Ohio by rail, ana there
transferred to vessels for distribution; ana
the mines of " est Virginia and Kentucky,
as well as those of the States before nameus
are taxed to supply the demana, WhiDu -
burg ships about 4.000, 900 tons of coal annu-
ally to tie Southwest by river, and with tne
its trade with the Northwest Nearly one
third OF the pig metal production OF the
United States comes from lew counties
surrounding Pittsburg in Pennsylvania ana
Legislature in directing its atten Ion 70 the
possibilities OF a ship canal connecnon De-
tween the Ohio and Lake Erie is one worthy
ofattention, and Dill is now pending in Con-
gress for the further examination OF the
project. .EH
Feasible Route Found.
The engineers of the State Commission
reported a feasible route from near the
State line of Pennsylvania on the Ohio to
Lake Erie, via the Beaver river, etc. The
canal suggested is lJS feet wide at the sur
face, 100 feet at the bottom, with Is feet OF
water. Locks we're proposed having an
available length of 300 feet by 10
feet wide, with IA feet on their inter
siIls Distance from The mouth OF the
Beaver 10 summit level (which is ~ mlles
long through marshy country, I'll miles;
liTt. 1857 feet in Is lock. Distance Uncludlng
summit ieveD to Lake Erie at Conneaut
haroor, q miles; descent, 44S.l feet, also In 20
locks.
tary to the summit level, l5.0OO, 900 cubic feet
of water for daily supply ut that point can
be provided. The water supply may De
incl eased SO that its total will be 45.oOoOoO
cubic feet per diem, by drawing upon large
streams and reservoirs located east OF the
summit.
The estimated cost OF this project is ST..
0O0,OJO 900. Most OF the route is in natural
wafer courses, and no cuts more than ~ Ieet
deep above water level appear on the profile
Pittsburg and the great manufacturing dis
tricts along the Beaver river, through whlcn
the canal is projected, with more than 1OO0.-
900 of population directly Interested In
cheapening the commodities which give
them employment, look at the lakes with
the same longing eye that Manchester
looked at the ocean. Bringing as il does the
great bulk of the commerce. of Lake SUI
perior to its doors. and making up 1or sew
eral lake ports The remarkable figures OF
ARRIVALS" and departures" and their glow
ing figures of imports and exports, ft has
thus come that an interior community is
not only urging a connection with the lakes,
but Improvement OF the lake navigation,
and extension of it by means of a new mod
eTn canal eastward to tide water.