Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1895-08-21
DEEP WATERWAYS.
wealth to the Western Farmer is Assured
by It's Completion.

| "
deep channels between Lakes Superior,
Huron, Michigan and Erie has been
going on. At length the work is done,
or under contract to complete, so that
from all the lakes 20-foot channels may
practically be said to exist With the
completion of the inter-lake channels,
all the immense and rapidly increasing
navigation converges to the common
eastern terminus at Buffalo. The ex-
istence of the Great Lakes has made
possible the so-called Northwest, since
1t has permitted the products of the
Northwest to reach markets at much
lower figure than has been possible by
all rail. From Duluth to Buffalo,
eleven hundred miles, it costs about
one-third as much as it costs to trans
ship and transport across New York
state. Increasing competition from
those countries of the world possessing
cheap land and cheap labor. make it
imperative on the producers, the farm
ers of the Northwest, to search out, if
possible, some way of getting their
crops to the Eastern markets at lower
rate than they have been getting. To
every producer in the Northwest it will
be of interest to know that on Septem-
Der 1926 there will be convention
held in the city of Cleveland for the
purpose of developing in large way
the facts relating to this deep water
navigation from Buffalo eastward.
With view to decreasing the cost, it
is necessary to use the existing lakes
and river, with supplementary canals,
| and 10 reduce the cost from Buffalo east
| in some such ratio as has been secured
in the upper lakes. An eminent engi-
neer, G. N. Dutton, who has given the
matter great deal of study, has pre-
pared the following statements and fig
ures, which I beg to present, without
comment, simply asking that they be
read and thought on:
Sixteen great states, namely, Ohio Indiana,
Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin, Min
nesota Iowa. Missouri, North Dakota South
Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas. Montana, Wyo-
ming and Colorado must ship their surplus
agricultural products from the Great Lakes to
the seaboard Deep water navigation would af-
feet an immediate reduction in freight costs,
and consequent increase in crop values of an
average of cents bushel on grain and pota-
toes 81 ton on hay and IS and upwards a ton
on straw.
GIN the is states most benefited, the direct
money gain, computed on tie crop reports of
1894, will be Us follows:
YEARLY GAIN.
Crop. Yield, bu. Value. per bu. per blu.
Corn 72O 900 900 5000, 1868 600 $O41 sc, 900 900
Wheat 1886 100000 Isl, O93 121 Al 1880 900
Oats -. 500, 100000 15S,376,798 80 25,45o,o00
Rye ...... 100000 6,ea4,oOo "A 10000
Barley -. 4O0OOOOO 17,l43Oo0 40 100000
Potatoes. 100000 4o,es4,s76 .55 100000
Shay. 2e,4ooooo 2l5,e5o,seo 7-s4 117eooooo
tStraw 45, 100000 -. 225, 900 900
Annual gain on agricult'l products 1927, $50, 600
*Gain at 81 ton. +Gain at IS a ton.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS (MEAT).
Number. Value. Gain.
Mich cows. -. S455s $50 305,2S4 IL p ct. S22 S364
Meat cattle. II 6So04 304 70652 Is p ct. GS6S,3O7
Sheep. .l0265,47 H5SS,ll0 "a p. ct. l00O5,l46
Hogs. .26O0o275 lS907l,5l5 IA p. ct. 26,469.9ll
Gain in value of meat animals. .$ll4 ia, 1893
Yearly gain one-t third of above 3S05S,33
1.-The sixteen states above referred to have
total area in improved farm lands of 1875, 326,S76
acres. The increased value of the productions
OF these lands will be S465, 800 900 annually an
increased annual earning of s.. 1915 per acre If
the market value of land depends upon its earn
ing power, and the ratio of increase of value be
taken at four times the increase in yearly earn
ings, then the improved farm lands in these six
teen states will increase in value 50. 3315 per
acre, or ST S66 900 900 as the immediate result of
the opening of the Maritime Canal of North
America.
Vast as this sum appears 1t is partial
statement OF the gain to the West resulting
from deep draft navigation to the seaboard, be-
cause it is based on the short crops of 1894, and
does not take account of truck, fruits, small
grains, dairy products, poultry, eggs, horses and
mules, and wood, timber, bark, ETC.; neither
does it take account of mine products and man
ufactures. or the increase in values in city and
manufacturing property
Congressman Loren Fletcher says:
"It is essential to the continued growth and
prosperity of the Northwest as a producing
country. & In congress will heartily sup
port it to secure appropriations, ETC."
U. s. Senator Nelson says:
you can always count On me in congress or
outside"
Senator Hansbrough IN. d. says:
at have always been in favor of the great pro-
ject concerning which your organization is SO
deeply interested Ihave Invariably voted for
deep waterways"
Senator Allison Qowa) writes:
IT agree with you th;ft a canal OF this charac-
ter would be of inestimable value to the people |
of the West
Senator Redfield Proctor (Vt.) writes: |
1T shall do anything in my power to aid
this movement, and if possible attend your pro-
posed convention in September"
Senator Kyle Is. D. writes:
st am heartily in accord with the projected |
canal A measure like this means so much to |
the peoplesof the Northwest
Senator Pettigrew Is. d. writes.
st am in favor of this project, etc.
Last winter the legislature of Mime |
sofa memoralized congress in support |
of this measure. Senator McCleary, of |
Mankato, is gathering data from Can
ada and the United States with a view |
to urging it in the Northwest and in
congress.
= The East has no transportation ques-
ton. Her manufactured goods, worth
perhaps thousands of dollars ton, are
not perceptibly affected by a slight diff
ference in freight. The farming dis
tricts of the West are vitality affected
when all profit in their crops is eaten
up by the carrying charges. AS a ma
tional question it should be borne in
mind that the manufacturing East re-
ceives her raw products largely from
the West; also her cheap food supplies.
In turn she finds her best market in the
farming states of the West 1t should