The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-28
SHIP CANAL TO THE LAKES.
srlrB ENGINEER ADAMS DOES NOT
FAVOR THE OSTEGO ROUTE,

nat IL Decidedly Opposed 60 the Proposed ship
Canai-Mnior syrnons, u. 3. A., Reported to
the war Department some Time AEo That
the OsweGo Tteute Was Net n Feasible Ono.
Albany, Sept. 27.-Tho State canal nuthori.
tes we're much amused to-day at the serious.
ness with which the morning papers treated n
.tory furnished by q press association To the
.6ect that tho Deep Waterways Commission
,npointed by tho Federal Government has
practically selected the 'Oswego route" as the
best one for a ship canal through this State,
connecting the great lakes and the Hudson
River. and that this route was approved by
State Engineer Campbell w. Adams. MIR.
Adams has not approved tho 'oswego route
and 10 decidedly opposed to a ship canal. He
IA a stanch believer in the great commercial
advantages that will accrue TO this State
when the canal improvements, costing mil.
lions Of dollars, have been completed. These
improvements were decided upon at a confer.
ence OF the state canal authorities and the rep
resen,atlves Of the great commercial interests
Of the state as tho best attalnable solution Of
the cheaper water transportation question.
They think now, as they thought then, that q
ship canal is not only Unnecessary, but that,
even II 1t was desirable. the hundreds of mil.
lions Of dollars which its construction would
cost would not be forthcoming for years, at
least, not during THIS generation. state En-
eineer Adams has this to say about a ship canal:
Much has been said and written concern
ing a ship canal to take the place OF the Erie,
or Oswcso and krie canals, and to an EN-.
Rinvcr this scheme presents many attractions,
but | have yet to find any considerable body OF
business men, canal men, or tnancicrs that
seriously believe that such a canal Is an ur.
gent necessity, or that Its construction now
would be expedient. Owing 10 the great
ot.a ship canal, think it safe to assume that IL
such a work is ever started, it will be under the
charXe of the Federal Government, Just
how long 1t would take under such conditions
to complete the necessary surveys and loca-
tions, obtain the enormous appropriations re.
quired. increase the water supply to the ex.
tent that might DO necessary, and put the
be imagined than foretoli. Furthermore, /
now understand it to be the opinion OF practi.
cal men in the grain business that with the
improved devices and facilities for TRANSPORT.
ment ut Buffalo and New York their cargoes
arc benefited by rehandling to an extent equal
to the cost. l understand the sentiment Of the
peopleat large, as well as the commercial
made the most careful study Of the problem, to
be only for the greatest Improvement OF which
the present canals, especially the Erie, are
capable, without radically changing their
route, structure, and water supply"
Allthat the Deep Waterways. Commission will
do, II anything, regarding the 'Oswego route, {"
Is TO have preliminary surveys made and re,
neers have gone over the route and declared
that 1t would be impossible to feed it with
water. Major Symons of the United States
Army Engineer Corps reported to the War De
partnlent at Washington some months ago thai
the 'Oswego route" was not q feasible one.