St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-26
A THREATENED DANGER.
Matters Interesting to the Western
Farmer.

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, March q. 1S9s.-The
western farmer and his Eastern customer
nave special interest in contest now going
on. 1t is case of self-preservation for them
and demands prompt attention from both The
reciprocal interests of the agricultural West
ana the manufacturing East are well under
stood ana the demand of the time is for the
cheapest possible transport between the two
interested sections. The water route nv the
Great Lakes has been the making and the
salYat1on OF the Northwest. Competing lines
OF railroad are naturally not favorable to the
extension of lake transportation Allied to
the railroads are local interests at Detroit
ana BuHalo. At Detroit an attempt is being
made to have bridge built with Two piers in
the river, each located 800 feet from the shore
The tonnage passing this point is 80 600 900
tons in seven months. This will be Increased
about 10 per cent by vessels of the largest
class now building. 1t will keep on increasing
year after year as the great Northwest goes
on hlIng up and growing Compare this 80
O0O,O0O tons of today with the tonnage of Lon
don, which is less than q 900, 900 in twelve
months. That of New York is almost the same
as London. 1t is proposed to choke this con-
tfacted waterway, so vital to the Northwest
and to the East, in order to carry by railroad
on a bridge tonnage of a little more than
one-seventh OF that Of the river This might
be more favorably considered if it were indis-
pensable and at less cost. The facts are that
tunnel can be built for tnree-fourths of what
a bridge will cost, and will interfere with no.
body. A few miles up the stream from the
point where 1t Is proposed to locate this
bridge is the great tunnel of the Grand Trunk
railroad, standing as a practical demonstra-
tion of the real facts in the case
The congressman from the East and the
west can form their own conclusions after Sc
curing these facts. committee of the
United States senate has reported favorabIy
to the bridge plan. Can it be advocated on
the ground of public welfare?
Near Buffalo an effort Is being made TO
secure charter for railroad bridge over
the Niagara river between the American
shore and Grand island. 1t will be a low
bridge and will practically be stopper with
which to close the river and prevent vessels
passing Buffalo. Deep water agitation be-
tween the great lakes and salt water has
been going on more and more vigorously for
long time, and within few weeks the
first general report on the subject will be
made. What is wanted is better, not poorer
means Of transportation. All low bridges or
those with piers in the stream over the riv-
ers connecting the great lakes are a detri-
ment to present and future navigation 1t
is the same contest that for years the friends
of the Mississippi river have been waging to
protect their navigation. Are the people Of
the northern part of the United States will
ing to have the transportation so vital to
them destroyed or impaired? II not the
newspapers the commercial bodies and infiu-
entail citizens will need to at once vigorously
take up the matter with their representatives
in congress and convince them that they the
people. want no bridges built over these
waterways that shall in any way be detri-
ment to navigation. The charter for these
bridges will be slipped through unnoticed
unless such denunciation shall be heard
from an aroused and financially interested
people az shall effectually stop such pernicious
legislation. No one with influence can dele
gate his responsibility in this matter to an
other, and the time to act is now.
"A. l.. Crocker
Chairman Executive Committee International
Deep Waterways Association.