The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-19
DEEP WATER WAYS COMMISSION
Report Transmitted to Congress by tn
President. With q Letter.

Washington, Jan. 1s.-The president
today sent to the house the report Of the
deep water ways commission. consisting
Of President Angel, of the University Of
Michigan; John F. Russell and Lyman
f. Cooley, which was appointed in 1885.
under the resolution introduced by Sem
ator Villas of Wisconsin, for prelimin-
airy inquiry as to the practicability OF
water ways between the ocean and the
great lakes. The report states that the
plan is entirely feasible.
Starting from the heads Of Lakes
Michigan and Superior, the most eligible
route. the commission believes, IS
through the several great lakes and their
intermediate channels and the proposed
Niagara ship canal (Tonawanda TolcotD
to Lake Ontario, and that the Canadian
seaboard may be reached from Lake On
tario by the way OF the 81. Lawrence
river, and the American seaboard maS
be reached from Lake Ontario by way or
the st. Lawrence and Lake Champlain
and the Hudson river, or by way OF the
Oswego-Oneida-M Mohawk Valley and the
Hudson river.
The commission also finds that IL is
practicable 20 develop the work in sep
arate sections, and the several sections
in part by degrees. each step having its
economic justification, that the benefits
should follow closely on expenditure
without waiting the completion of the
system as a whole.
Ii is stated, however. that the compile
ton of the entire system as quickly as
proper projects can be matured and &C.
oncmically executed fully. is justified.
The report recommends nat the Maya
ra ship canal should be first undertaken
and. incidentally, the broadening and
further deepening of the intermediate
channels of the lakes. the same being in
the logical order of development and also
requiring the least time for considera-
ton. The commission adds:
IN view of the international character
and relation Of part. at least. OF the
works that Will be required and OF re-
parian interests involved, 1t seems expe-
dien. to make the examinations and
projects and carry on the works through
a commission that may be possessed
with limited International functions
II is urged that early action DE taken.
to the end that complete surveys and
cxamirs tons be made and all needfnl
data to mature the projects be provid-
ed
The complete surveys and investiga-
lions. with measurements OF the outflow
OF the several lakes and full investlga-
ton OF collateral questions viii cost not
less than 5000, 900 and require some years
OF time.
The reports gives may statistics reat-
ing 10 the traffic on the great lakes IL
says :ne agricultural competition t5is
country has recently had TO NEE; with
India, and which IS likely TO be intensi-
fed. impels the government 70 take steps
TO cheaper freights: that the limit OF re-
ductIOn in railroad rates has been reach |
ed and attention must be directed 10
waterways.
In referring 10 wheat, the commission |
expresses fear of the consequences OF the
increasing competition from the ArSen- /
tine Republic and Uruguay.
The president. with the report OF ire
transmitted the following I
message 70 congress-:
TO the senate and house % represent
atives: l transmit herewith the report OF |
Nessrs. James Z. Angel OF Michigan,
John +. Nellde-l CT Massachusetts ana
lyman Z. Cooley % Illinois. VINO were i
2 2pointed commissioners under the au- /
thority Of a Law passed March ?, les9, - |
make inquiry and report alier confer
ence with such similar comm s.oleTs az
might De appointed on behalf OF Great \
T2rftal, o. ne Dominion OF Canada. con- (
ce-ning the feasibility o, the colst-uc-
ton OF such canals as WI sable vessels
engaged in OCEAN commerce % paes BE-
,wren the Great Lakes and the AtlSai3c-
and the 1lOSt convenient loczfi1l sn1
orsoable cost Of s1ch csusss. together
wiz other fsc-s and Information II SAID
rs specified relating 70 the proper Goa
.ruction snt Use
The commissioners have p-oSscu;ec
M work assigned them with great yea.
and intelligence. resulting IN the coiiec-
ION % A mass % .nfoTnss ton n Their 70
port ard - accompanying exhibits
which = of great importance and Interest
Is Tslatet % ne s1co5@c.s sIo3ec:st 70
heir examination
The advantages OF dIrect ard unbyos-
n = zt@- transportation q the pro1nsss
I cur western states and territories from
convenient pOsnts q saipTns3. 70 our SEA
,os-d por-s are plainly pzipzose TIE re-
,ovt Of the co1r-ss ssso-e-= contains. - I
~ opinion. Demonstration % ne tsasl-
,-iity oS securing s2c5 rrAaEpo-tz ss17
nd giving ground Tor TIE Anticipation
IA; better ard mare uninterrupted com-
mere. through TO- pisn sSxr-stsd b.
rvesa fa- Rsez. rext znt f7-szxn para
WIN tia s1crsss- % national orsspe-ify
g.l.ct mrs foilox II Sc 1rxfa. VII not
~ escape Aznsf.csa ea.s-Ss-Iss and ze-
lvi:y
1T al b observed tazt f5= rep7-t .
~ commissioners. t1oE=h a. cosurrs- ,
sasive as - Il-re aad E4cssI1eS az 1ses- .
isDSss, permitted. s5ez III 6e1nlsesy
al WITH re COS Z ne s5sk .Aey xe-e