New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-13

MR.. vERPLANCK COLVIN DEFENDS III
WITH FACTS AND FIGURES.
NO CHANNEL FOR sEAGoING VESSELS WANT
EX-SENATOR sLoANs ESTIMATE OF

EX-SENATOR sLoAN's ESTIMATE OF
COST EXCESSIVE.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
sir. Tho letter of my friend Senator Sloan. pun
Ilshed in The Tribune OF the 4th inst Is 50 earnest
and eyinces 50 much alarm at my SUGGESTIONS IV''
tive 70 shin cana.s for NewYork that repy
o,,o,, % ox,,ain more fully the ideas | have
1,,rc.d and also 10 set aside the ovcrestlma'es
~ exnense which some has imposed upon Sena-
tor Sloan appears to be necessary. ce' '"'"'
nover for one moment contemplated any such enor-
nous expenditures as the Senator fears.
IN the first place by ship canals have not
meant such constructions as are propose' AZ ""'
ma or Nicaragua but canals Of size su'hcien' 10
afford an outlet for the small shipping OF the great
lales IN New-York There Is no need or making III
land navigati ton for seagolng steamships nor loi
the huge tramp steamers To do that would be
70 nav the expense of taking away terminal puS'-
ness from the port OF New-forK'
We will not have nor allow any such ship canals
IA a matter Of fact. think 1t VIII b. found that
rho nIan | advocate differs but little from that OF
senator sloan; the material difference be'hg 'hhe
| urge the enlargement of both the Erie ana NAM
plain canals to Dimensions adapted to Navigation ny
the average small shipping OF the great '"''' a.
well for bargcs.
mo pre,, lakes TO New York As an engineering
nrohen the size and tonnage OF the lake shipping
are tn, governing conditions limited or reSu'c''u
by the water power available and the fhahc'a'
aspects OF the question.
Nou the financial aspect Of this ship canal q"'S-
ton f., not only the "overshadowing ana c'h'fo'"hs
pari but IT IS all there is OF the question II Is
,,,,srcl,l ,dv,ncement a matter IL profit TO our
rrc,, STAT. and metropolis that W. sock. IN ORDER
:, rctln the dignity the comforts and power whicn
the Intellect and efforts of the workers Vi NV"
York bav. given to their STATE and city.
First, then to consider the exact nature OF the
engineering problem must know the size oil
the shipplng which the great lakes w"u'' SEM 10
rs We cannot think 81 building canal 10y VINO"
acogoinr steamers shall go to and from chicago
and EngianI Such a result would be bad manage
ment irrational AMI destructive To me business u
New York We have. however. - protect ourselves
from other dangers: the progress 81 'Aha'idh anu
Western canals warns MS not 10 D" TOO guar''' J"
our expenditures for the protection Of our water
ways
Senator Sloan may not be aware that in lN" the
city ~ Chicago will. AT an expense OF s-'V''o"'
omen A shin canal connecting thu Chicago ana D'S-
plalnes rivers which viii turn tn" water oi Inc
grcn. lakes into the Mississippi ana give 'hlcaSo
water navigation to the Atlantic In favorable sea
sons nearly thu entire year. This great WORK -
beinr prosecuted with unparalleled energy on
stuu.ndous scale A channel $50 feet vide IN Us
narrowed part having depth sufficient Tor Vesse'S
drawing i feet of water is being speedily cut
twelve miles Of IL channell"d through IN" so'iu
rock Every species ~ new and powerful ma
chincry useful for such work Is being employer
to hasten this construction. Railways have been
l,tl &, the bel ~ tn channel 20 remove me 'aFti
tie rock ~ drilled and blasted with marvellous
sn.eI while hue canilicvcr cranes. monstro"s
derrick. drc,lc.. AMI hoisis hurry away the ma
trrlai Such IN" cnergy shown by chicago.
Along the northern frontier the Canadian canals
from sauit Ste Marie TO Montreal are. under vgor-
AFT
real s.agolnE vessels Huge vhaicback vessels from
puuth - Chicago pass down the s.. Lawrence To
the sea and thus. IN two directions. the cream "i
Western commerce Is being diverted from New
York
Honor and intcres, alike require that We should
meet these efforts 81 Chicago aud canada With en-
ergy equal 70 their own. Yet our efforts mus, be
male with wisdom and discretion. ami thank
Senator sloan for his is Of caution ana advice
Caution however will not accomplish work We
mus, keep our transportation systems M To toe
highest limit OF efficiency consistent with the ad-
vantages t. b.. obtained. e1ualzing the burdens oil
TAXATION - that those who reap the advantages
,hoE nav f,r ,neir profits fairly. The st Lawrence
counties the farming Interests ~ the central ana
southern sections OF the state must be fairly AMI
hon0rahiy treated
what are the conditions ~ the prohicm7 Clearly
the average or mean maximum tonnage OF Inc
vessels Of the great lakes. trading with the East
will indicate III" dimensions Of the canal enlarge
m~nt necessary. From IN" United states census OF
80, We learn that the floating equipment OF the
grca; lakes ai that time was 2'si ves>"ls ninety
three OF which navigate the ST Iawr"nc" HlNer
AMI Lake Champaign. ~ these vessels 800 were
prop-liers carrying both passengers and freight.
AZ were propc.icr' carrying freight only. %s were
sailing vessels schooncrs. 1901 We're bargos AMI
". were ellcwheel and other vessels. This float
lng equipment was divided among the great lakes
follows.