New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-13
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL
THE CANALS OF The STATE.
IMPERATIVE REASONS WHY THEY SHOULD DE-
IMPROVED AND PROTECTED.

IMPERATIVE REASONS WHY THEY SHOULD DE-
IMPROVED AND PROTECTED.
TO the Editor Of Tho Tribune.
sir: On the editorial page Of The Tribune OF June
there appeared excellent article on ''o III
porance Of protecting and improving the canal IN.
teress Of the state. After referring to the aot '"a'
the Union for the Improvement OF the Canals OF
Network has decided to hold a State convention
this fall You call attention TO the necessity OF
iengthening the locks and deepening the chanheh OF
the canals and OF the great importance to Inc com
mercal welfare OF the State OF such acuoh' leg
TO suggest that such action so far rs the Eric Cana
Is concerned would also be OF great importance 10
the welfare OF the Nation, well as OF the state as
defensive measure The canal should be ds"pencd
and the locks heightened sufficiently to admit OF
small gunboats and torpedo boats passing through IL
IN Lake Erie II is we'll known that the iorthca-
lions en- the United Stats side OF the Great Lakes
are o, soete and worthless ;Aaso that we nave but
one olAJashioncd wooden gunbont on t"e h'Nes
This / believe, is according to an agreement WIFI
Great Britain that but one vessel shan be kept on tc
hikes by each nation. But In the event OF any
S,nicutv arising between the two countries IL Is
within the power OF England at once to send
rnboots and In fact, good-sized vessels OF war; lhto
the Great Lakes, via the 81. Lawrence RIVER ana
Weand Canal while the United states couiu 10
little or nothing, owing 10 the leneth Oh ume II U'@e
IN construct and arm even the smallest guhDoat ~
Il shonld be made possible, however, 10 run s"a
vc.scs M the Hudson and through the Erie CAM"
"a the lakes VIC would be On much more eve"
footing. and this might be the most ecohonhcai way
-, nrov;dn, for The defence OF our lake coasts.
In This Wow Of the case the great Importance 10
the state and country OF maintaining intact III ,ie
feeders TO this canal becomes apparent Inc rcsoiu
uon adopted by the Canal Convention III looo "
which you refer namely That the Eric t'hai Is ''n
,hs,nto necessity for the retention and cohtrol uS
Va nd
Tho vo.t domestic commerce Of the country. ana we
aomond that this canal shall be enlarged ana III
nroved 70 make fully available the last drop Vi
water that the skill OF modern cheI"cei"e
supply to enable the passage through ~ ="
louts OF the largest possible capacity, clearly
not only the Te,t Importance OF rc'i'","s
Nh. canals all present supplies OF water iIclu III, ~
fecderS but that the last drop Of water tnat te n
Of modern engineering can supply sn9nn ar G ii Of
fully available enable the passage through ha hoea
hnais ~ Inc largest possible capacity tnder ILL., III,
circumstances IL would seem that the recent u,o ~
OF The Leg a Hlnw II water supply from skancaele
Lake is fully r"prehenable and as great c, i Of
Governor Flower in vetong the :. Canal improve o,y
M sancateles L r cano ie whcn is onc Of
bo b,rbest Levels, The Joss Of this water would 10
Of great Injury the canal possibly lrep ,ha other
outrce eonaly conveAicnt rs 10 situation are aVail-
able and the water more ,uiinhle IN ,olc ntr 70
hnrd and not the best for manufacturing purposes;
II is tr1,e the bin referred TO- rs Interpreted ~ Lo
cou,cs permits only the surplus water TO pc V,n "
by thc el,y Admitting that there i q surplus no."
Wmch understand is doubtful. would lnt smfp,us
no sufficient Tor rapidly growing city IKE Syrn . $50
niore.d By deepening It's channels and engtneinng
lis locks would there then tc any surplus an .,
n IS 81 the greatcs' importance That al sprcs ".
vpier suoplv over which the canals now nave a.S
control should he saved for the canals ana tha' r.'
thr surplus which may not la surplus very ,omh,
sbop,d no, be diverted 10 the supply oi any HIT =,
AID rrowing cities when any other possible supply -.
60 w,ter Is available IL is 10 be hoped that tn
lining Canal Convention will take this matter up NV
ave Inc water otherwise ImpTovc ment ~ tlr aN"iS
nv w ,''"ns-,c,Ic,hle s. l.. ROOSEVELT.
n"S " 'P late Lieutenant. T. :. Navy.
W on pincs, New. York, June ,, lcJ2