The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-03-30
LOOK FOR DANGER.
MATTERS INTERESTING TO TIE
WESTERN FARMER.
Competing Lines of Railways Are
Naturally Not Favorable to the
Extension of Lake Transporta-
titn and Deep Waterways-Some
Interesting Information for the
Western Farmer.

Minneapolis, Mimi, March 24.-Ihe
Western farmer and his Eastern GUS
toner have q special interest in con-
test now going on. 1t is case OF sell
preservation for them, and demands
prompt attention from both. The re-
ciprocal interests Of the agricultural
West and the manufacturing East are
we'll understood, and the demand or
the time is for the cheapest possible
transport between the two Interested
sections. The water route by the Great
Lakes has been the making and the
salvation of the Northwest Compel
ing lines Of railroad are naturally not
favorable to the extension OF lake
TRANSFORMATION. Allied to the railroads
are local interests at Detroit and But
falo. At Detroit an attempt is being
made to have a bridge built with TWO
piers in the river, each located GU feet
from the shore The tonnage passing
this point is 100000 tons in seven
months This will be increased about
10 per cent by vessels of the largest
class now building. 1t will keep on in
creasing, year after year, as the great
Northwest goes on filling up and
growing. Compare this 30,0OO,OO0 tons
of to-day with the tonnage of London,
which is less than 100000 in twelve
months. That of New York is almost
the same as London. 1t is proposed to
choke this contracted waterway, so
vital to the Northwest and to the
East, in order to carry by railroad on
q bridge a tonnage of little more
than one-seventh of that of the river.
This might be more favorably consid-
cred if it were Indispensable and at
less cost. The facts are that tunnel
can be built for three-fOurths of what
q bridge will cost and will Interfere
with nobody. A few miles UP the
stream from the point where it is pro-
posed TO locate this bridge is the great
tunnel of the Grand Trunk railway,
standing as a practical demonstration
Of the real facts in the case.
The congressman from the East and
West can form their own conclusions
after securing these facts. A commit
tee of the United States senate has re-
ported favOrably on the bridge plan
Can it be advocated on the ground of
public welfare?
Near Buffalo an effort is being made
to secure a charter for a railroad
bridge over the Niagara river between
the American shore and Grand Island.
It will be a low bridge, and will prac-
tically be stopper with which to close
the river and prevent vessels passing
to 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
a 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 having piers in the stream, over
the rivers connecting the Great Lakes,
are a detriment to present and future
navigation. Are the people OF the
1orthern 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 influential citizens will need
to at once vigorously take up the mat
ter with their representatives III con-
gress and convince them that they, the
people, want no bridges built over the
waterways that shall in any way be
detriment to navigation. The charter
of these bridges will be slipped
through unnoticed, and at this session
of congress, if possible, unless such
denunciation shall be heard from an
aroused and financially-interested peo-
pie as shall effectually stop such per-
nicious legislation. No one with 1nflu-
ence can delegate his responsibility IN
this matter to another, and the time
to act is now. A. j. CfOcKef,
Chairman Executive Committee Inter