St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-13
FROM LAKES TO SEA,
Convention in the Interest
Of a Deep Waterway
Assemblies.
Maj. Baldwin, Of Duluth, Is
Chosen as Temporary
Chairman.
Col. Graves Makes an Adj
dress in Favor of the
Project.
George N. Ely, Of Cleveland,
O., Elected as Permanent
Chairman.

WA sHINGTON, Jan. 12.-The conven-
ton OF representatives of commercial
bodies of the lake interests of the coun-
try, called by the Duluth chamber OF
commerce to organize movement in
support of a scheme to unite the great
lakes and the ocean by a ship canal
through the territory of the United
States, assembled in the banquet hall
of the Arlington hotel.
1t was called to order by S. A. Thorn
son, secretary of the Duluth chamber of
commerce, who read the call under
which delegates were appointed. At
the time there were between 90 and 100
men present, representing states and
commercial bodies from those portions
of the country most deeply interested.
On motion of Mr. Wheeler, of Albany,
Maj. r. Baldwin, president Of the Du-
luth chamber of commerce and con-
gressman-elect, was made temporary
chairman, as a recognition of the serv-
ices of the chamber in the preliminary
work of the convention. Maj. Wheeler
said he would leave full exposition OF
the scheme of the convention TO the
permanent chairman and great apostle
of deep waterways. A. Thomson,
of Duluth. Mai. Baldwin spoke briefly
of the
Demands of the People
of the country tributary to Duluth for
a waterway from the lakes to the sea,
the construction of which it was esti-
mated will result in an increase of 10
cents bushel value for the producer of
the products of that great region. Dan
lei Webster once said that the national
debt must be paid even if he had TO pay
it himself. The people OF Duluth and
Superior, said the major, are of SINH
lar mind regarding this deep waterway.
They feel that it must be built. and that
it shall be built even if they have to
provide the necessary S100.000000
themselves, but they also feel that con-
greSs might appropriate enough money
to pay for the preliminary survey. Mr..
Thomson was named as temporary sec
rotary, and the appointment OF commit
tees on credentials for permanent or
ganiZatiOn was authorized. after which
The convention took recess till 2 p. N.
1t was nearly 2: 80 o'clock when lem
porary Chairman Baldwin called the
convention TO order and named the COM
mittee on permanent organization, con-
siSting OF nineteen members. one from
each state and territory. Nj. Daven-
port. of Pennsylvania, chairman OF the
committee on credentials, reported 125
gentlemen present as properly accred-
tied delegates to the convention. The
states. municipalities and commercial
bodies thereof represented are as fol-
lows:
California;: Illinois: La Sale, Ill.,; In
dianapolis, Board of Trade; Iowa: Man.
chester and Dubuque; Boston Mer-
chants Exchange; Board of Trade OF
Detroit; st. Louis Merchants Elk
change; New Mexico; LOckpOrt, n. ";
New York City Board of Underwriters;
OsWegO. n. Y, Business Mems Assocl-
North Tonawanda. n. Y; Business
Mems association; Albany, n. Y,
chamber of commerce; Troy. n. Y,
Citizens association; Syracuse, n. Y,
Business Mems ASSOCIATION: GaZenOYla,
Y. Y: 0SWegO, y. Y. board of trade;
New York State Farmers Alliance;
North Carolina; Fargo. n. D., board OF
trade: Ohio; Cleveland. o.; Cleveland
board OF trade; Washington, ID. O.,
board of trade: Duluth chamber of COM
merce; St. Paul, Mimi, Commercial
club: Mankato, Mimi, board of trade;
Duluth board Of trade; Minnesota; Yer
mont; Pennsylvania; PittSburg cham
Der of commerce; Wilkesbarre, Pa,
board of trade; Oklahoma; West Nir-
ginia: West Superior, Sheboygan and
Bayfield, Wis; New York City Build
ing Exchange; LockpOrt, n. y, In
lrdn Inn
n. Y.
Pending the report Of the committee
on permanent organization, Col. Graves,
of Duluth, spoke encOuragIngly OF the
movement in hand; comparing this be-
ginning in
a Small Convention
to the handful of snow with which one
would begin to gather bulk that
should fill the street. Work persisted
in would finally result in success. Col.
Graves said he was not committed to
any particular plan or route for the
proposed canal: any one would suit the
people of the western end of the lakes
that competent engineers should tell
them was feasible. Money and water,
the two great essentials. could
be mad. If a waterway that will accom-
modate the largest size SeagOIng vessel
cannot be built then the people would
accept smaller one that would float
vessels of four or five times the capacity
of the present canal boats. II the gov
eminent takes hold of this enterprise,
the people of the West have no objec-
ton to the charge of tolls sufficient to
pay interest on the cost Of construction
and its maintenance. In this great work,
said Col Graves, who should take lead
oY,+ II nj AW
that state of Gov. Clinton, whose project
of a canal at the beginning of the CEN
tury was sneered at and was accent
plished, has proved one Of the greatest
factors IN the
Growth and Prosperity
| of the country? George II. Ely, of
| Cleveland. followed Col. Graves, giving
a history of the movement in favor of
the proposed canal and showing the ne
| cessity for it. For the present, MI. Fly
advised that the convention cOnfne
| itself to declaration in favor of an ap-
| propriatiOn by congress to make sur
| vey of the route for the canal. Speak
| ing of the extent of internal improve
! ments in this country, Mr.. Ely said an
| impression prevailed that the United
! States had expended more than any
other nation. AS matter Of fact, he
| said there had been expended. all told.
| by the nation and state governments
| from 1887 to 1890 for the improvement
| Of rivers, harbOrs and building Of
| canals less than $3.50. 5000 France
had expended over S30O.000,000 with
nothing like the expectation OF perma-
neat benefit that promises to the
| United States. No money expended in
| peace and war has ever brought to the
| people of this country half the benefits
! that had come from this expenditure.
Permanent Organization.
At this point Hou. Harrison Allen,
chairman of the committee on perma-
| nent organization, reported, recon-
| mending the following officers Presi-
dent. George h. Ely, of Ohio; vice
presidents, G. w. Osgood. OF Vermont,
and William A. Sweet. OF New York,
with one honorary vice president from
! coon state. secretary s. g. THOMPSON