St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-09
JERRY,s SHIP CANAL.

JERRY'S SHIP CANAL.
Jerry Simpson. of Kansas, is nothing
if not impracticable and visionary. He
gets an idea into his head that this or
that enterprise would be of public
benefit, and proceeds to execute it-at
least in his minds eye. He has been
bordering much of late over the trans
portation problem. He realizes that
one reason why the farmer of the West
receives SO little for his wheat is that /.
costs too much to transport it to the sea-
board, and he has set his brain at work
to discover remedy. And he thinks
he has found the true solution of the
problem, and asks congress to put his
idea into execution without delay.
Jerry's plan is to provide shorter
waterway from the head of Lake Su-
perior to the Atlantic ocean, whence the
wheat may be shipped across the ocean
TO whoever will buy, the whole cost of
transportation being little more than
half the amount now charged. To this
end he viii rectify some of the errors of
nature. He proposes that the govern.
ments of the United States and Canada
y
nails by means of which the distance can
be greatly shortened. He suggests that a
great ditch be dug from Georgian bay
OH the east shore OF Lake Huron through
to Lake Ontario. This cut could be
made by the way of Lake Simcoe ana
other small lakes, SO that the actual cut
would not be over 100 miles. 1t would
save 800 miles Of the present route
through the st. Clair aud Detroit rivers,
the entire length of Lake Erie and the
Welland canal. 1t would make almost
bee line from the upper lakes to the
st. Lawrence, and thence to the ocean.
1t is also contemplated that joint action
be taken Oh improving the upper ST.
Lawrence In order to open This lake and
ocean route to the largest and most
modern boats.
VI course, matter of hundred mill
ION dollars Or so is OF small consequence
to rich country like ours, and that is
the cost that Jerry thinks would cover
this great Improvement. But no one
seems to have discovered that amount
OF money lying around loose of late
years. In fact, we have been accumu-
lating very handsome deficiency.
thanks to the extravaganza of past Re,
publican administrations. The Kansan
does not seem to have considered in all
its bearings the magnitude of the work.
He might have discovered by study of
canal enterprises of the past that their
estimated cost is but small fraction OF
the real amount required to put them
into practical operation. The SueZ canal,
only twenty-eight miles in length, over
perfectly level country, the soil bein g
easily removed, cost the same amO uni
although much of the work was per-
formed by slaves aud other cheap labor
erS. Three times that amount has al
ready been spent Oh the Panama canal,
and as much more will be req uired to
complete it. 1t is probable that the pro-
posed canal from Lake Huron tn the ST.
Lawrence could not be built under
present conditions for four or five times
the estimate named.
Another thing is to he consider
Railroad rates are being constantly re-
duced. The improvement in the means
of handling anu transporting grain have
cut the cost of shipment from the Great
Lakes to the Atlantic more than one
halt III the last ten years. and there is q
good prOSpec. OF further reductions due
to competition and other causes. Aud
as time is great desideratum in the
matter of transportation, shippers al
ways prefer the fastest route, even if il
cost little more. The lake gran-carry-
ing trade has of late decreased to such
an extent as to drive vessels into other
lines. The railroads, even though they
charge double and treble the wafer
route rates, enjoy practical monopoly
Of the business. The Mississippi river
which might be great highway foi
grain vessels. is practically abandoned
br that traffic. A cargo goes to Europe
| occasionally by way of New Orleans
but the time consumed outweighs in i'm
portance the lessened freight cost. Til,
ailroadS are the national highways; the
| rivers and canals are practically useless
as avenues of trade.
The rather cratic gentleman whose
reputation chiefly proceeds from the
| fact that his feet are 5ockIess will have
W uoFioS oolO oeiiOt pi"h III ooifuhS
| the problem of cheap transportation.
| lie has overlooked too many matters
! in his consideration of his proposed
| caual-the tolls, for instance, which,
added to the cargo rates, will add largely
to the cost. And the interest on the in
| vestment, even though the cost might
not exceed his estimate, would amount
to at least $3,00J.000 ID year. to say moth
ing of the cost of repairs. the wages of
inspectors, superintendent and labor.
erS. If it cost no more than the csti
mates. it would prove very dear III
vestment, and one which the people il
not care to make at present. if indeed
they shall ever look with favor upol
such chimerical scheme.