New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-20
ED. SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
SHIP CANALS NOT NEEDED.
SHIP CANALS NOT NEEDfh
A CORRESPONDENT FAvORs WATERWAYS f'''"
LAKE MICHIGAN TO THE GULF AND LANT
ERIE TO NETWORK FOR CANAL
BOATS AND BARGEs.


BOATS AND BARcEs.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. An tier, In a recent issue Of The Tribune re-
f.rs to the Chicago ditch to convey h'r Se""b'
elsewhere to poison the waters OF the Illinois RIVER
and 70 make even the Mississippi foul why nor
dlspose Of the sewage decently and properly
Chicago Is spending millions chasing ""'-o '"'
wisp A ship canal used for sewage disposai rom
the Great Lakes to the Gulf Is homogeneous Inv
pollution Of rivers and harbors must cease.
waterway to the Atlantic and Gulf Of Mexico. win
q, douth of channel and locks OF suitable dim"n-
sions for boats ard lake barges OF the zane carry
inc capacitv as those now drawing seven to eight
feet on the Mississippi. will carry freieht cheaper
Than can a lake or ocean vessel making use % "
ship canal.
Transportation through q waterway rom i'"h'
Michigan 10 tho Gulf ard Lake Eric to Nc"-r DIX
for canal-boats or harges would be OF less COZ
than bv a shin canal for ocean or great lake YES
s,ls The time lost by the latter Gound trip wonlo
compensate for a change Of cargo NUMBER o'
times. From Lake Michigan to the Gulf change
of cargo from one carrier to another could be IN
creased over those by the route from Fri" 10
Nev-york. The Baltic Canal traffic does not meet
the expectations Of the Germans. The Manchester
and Liverpool canal is merely short spur into the
country and even here che time lost makes II
necessary to offer extra Inducements for ships TO
unload at Manchester Neither Of these canals
furnishes parallel to the Suez Sault Ste. Marie
connecting links nor would they to one via Mica
ragua from the Gulf TO the Pacific Ocean.
A vessel could afford to pay toll rather
than go around cape Horn
The following furnishes little history OF the
business Of the Baltic Canal 1t is from THE Rail
way Review Chicago) of July II:
.The results Of the opening Of the Baltic Canal TO
general traffic have not fulfilled the expectations
Of it, promoters. During the eight months which
have passed since its official opening until the end
Of February, sS1 vessels. of 916.iS tons. nave
passed through from sea "a the other the
receipts not exceeding s0jG0 marks. The calc uIa-
tions Of the managers have there fore proved FAR
too sanguine. for they relied upon an annual tra1c
Of 1.5G0.0oc tons. producing about 10000 marks IN
addition, the canal is only frcquentcd by vessels
of small tonnage. the average not exceeding ITO
I tons. These Disappointing results are not AT all
surprising. The canal is. Of course. a waterway or
strategcal importance for the imperial ieets
II permits the German naval forces TO concentrate
themselves either in one sea or the other In very
few hours; but although IN theory ms canai really
shOrons the distance for vessels, stu mat Is not
the only thing TO be taken into consideration The
shortening Of the distance should also hold out
pecuuary advantages. and when only few hours
OF a day at the most is saved. the larger number
Of merchant ships prefer he high to "A canal
requiring toll. 1t docs not matter TO them
sooner later. for they rarely unloadcd i'm
mediatov arriving. slight delay Is not Of much
importance Again taking into account the tariffs
on the canal fixed by the imperial adminisrat ors
the larger number Of vessels find II cheaper 10 20
round by tn" Belts ather than through the Baltic
Canal At the present moment. the expenses of the
will not amount TO more than 10000 marks this
year The imperial budget will have TO make good
No doubt. the Great Lakes need outlets for
bargcs with locks Of sufficient size to pass boats
the Erie Canal Of today. GORDON II. MOTT.
Chicago. July %. 1896