New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-19
4 DEEP WATERWAY IA FOKED
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND SENDS A MES
SAGE TO CONGRESS.


THAT THE PROJECT FOR A SHIP CANAL
FROM rrpEwArER TO THE GREAT
LAKE IS FEAsIBLE-THE
PROPOSED ROUTE
vosb,np,on Ian H-Thc President to-day sent
~ Congress, the report Of the Deep Waterways
| Commission made IN pursuance OF an act OF 'o"-
gress of 1895. its work being to make preliminary
| examina ton regarding a deep waterway rom 'he
| ocean 10 the Great Lakes He accompanied IL by
the following message:
| To the Senate and House of Representaiiyes
/ transmit herewith the report OF Messrs. :, James
b. Angel of Michigan; John F. Russell, , OF ma bo
| we're appointed Commissioners under authorl,y Oh
law passed March 1852 to MAKE m1n'rs commis
soners might be appointed on ocllaIt -, 1' ,h
Britain or the Dominion OF Gaaaa s"ch ranas
will enable vessels engaged IN ocean p
Ocean and The most convenient location ana plon-
able cost Of such canals together WIN o,her laCeS
and informa ion In SAID act re'a'hs u ''V" ~
The commissioners have prosecuted thr WORK @ as
sultng IN the collection Of mass Oh M ., ~ ~,
emb9cd in ihsr rp9r' m ana T ad
as related TO the project subjected to their eXa"-
The advantages of direct and unbroken water
transportation Of the products OF our ~ y
SHIPMENT 10 our seahoard ports are plainly palpa-
be The report of the Commissioners contains N
r mg s'ch trnnsportaton and gives ground for
the anticipation that better and more unnte r
rt,nted commerce through the plans suggested be-
tween the great West and foreign ports WIN tnr
increase Of National prosperity when usr nnor
II viii be observed that the report OF the Com
| u,issioners though as comprehensive the time
and facilities AT their disposal permitted, does not
! caleb iipon to consider and omits some Of the
other details related to 1t. Thus far they have
labored without compensation and part OF ne
| small sum appropriated for the payment OF their
expenses still remains unexpended -, ..,o,
/ suggest to the Congress the proprl"ty OF max
ing economical provision for such further prosccu-
ton of their work will more fully develop me
information necessary to an exact ana Gompe.e
understanding OF TINS in,cress arlu VI
subject GhoN FIX 'LEN fi'h>D'
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.
The report OF the Deep Waterways Commission
gives A detailed account OF the work OF the com
! mission and after considering the question in its
various aspects. presents these conclusions:
| FIrst-That it IL entirely feasible construct
such canals and develop such channels as VIII pc
! desired between the several great lakes and TO the
ssaboard. and to conduct through me same 90
opinion il will be wise 10 provide for securing Il
channel CT navigabe depth of not less than twenty
second-That. starting from the heads of Lakes
Michigan and Superior. the most eligible route Is
mediate channels. ana the proposed Niagara ship
! Canal lTonawanda to Ocotp TO Lake ontario; and
that the Canadian seaboard may be reached from
k Lake Ontario by the way of the ST. Lawrence
. American
from Lake Ontario by the way OF tne 81 La"rence
and Lake Champlain aud the Hudson River or by by
way OF the Oswego, Oneida. Mohawk Valley ana
Thrd~That the alternative routes from Lake
veys fui; development Of economic Gonsidera-
tons to determine their relative avai!abiiity. ,oo,
Of Lake Erie and OF the Niagara Riyer ,,i a69 '
Niagara Ship Canal. the determination In this mat
ter to rest on II full examination OF the physical
FIfth~That the policy should contemplate the
ultimate development OF ne largest useful capacl s
and that the actual execution should conform
thereto. except in 80 far as the works may, with
s S pFrd@asd be Of 'S'o' VII"
sxhat il is 3 TO asyeop tms T 0 par n
by degrees, each step having its economic jnsth
expenditure. without awaiting the completion Of
the system whole. .,..
tenn as quickly as proper can be matured and
Economically executed is fully justified
be undertaken. and incidentally the broadening
and further dccpening Of the nermedia a , cnan
order of development. and also requiring the least
time FOR consideration.
| As TO the main questions ard In view OF the mag
n,udc Of the interests involved. the report con-
TIMES the exhaustive consideration OF all physical
conditions that may determine the effects of pro-
| posed works influence the character or
features OF design should be concluded. bur this
| need not delay the inception of plans or tho be-
manner of their completion. II is usually prac-
ticable 10 supply sufficient elasticity in design to
meet any margin OF uncertainty involved In these
| considerations.
II. view OF the irrational character and reid
| tions Of 4 part a, leas, OF the works that will he
| required and OF riparian interests involved, II
seems expedient to make the examinations ana
! nroiects and carry on the works through a com
miss,or that may be possessed of certain limited
| intcrna iona functions
! Specifically the matters which call for carl,
action may be eoitomized M follows:
rirst-That complete surveys and examinations he
made and all needful data TO mature projects be
procured for: Controlling the level OF lake ERE
the Oswcgo- Oncida-Mohawk route developing m,
ST. Lawrence-Champlain route: improving the tldai
Hudson River ard improving intermediate cham
S,eond"That the collecting and reducing of OK
! istinr informat ton. supplemented by reconnos
sanccs and special investigations be continued IN
III the general questions have been fully covered
Third-That a systematic measurement OF tho
overflow Of the several lakes and hnal determine
Fourth-The complete surveys ana Investigations;
with measurements Of The Overflow OF IN" several
will cost less than SG0."M. and require some
years Of time.
It Is probable that the measurement Of the out
flow OF the lakes and the final levels can well
done through some other agency and this item
NAV be taken at s25o.0D to be expended through
series OF years and this should be at once under,
taken on cunt OF the prevailing low water or
the lake system which cannot he expected to con-
tinue.
The specific surveys and Investigations are. In
themselves estimated at $4,000 and will take TWO
or three years. and OF this not less than $4,000
should be appropriated the first year. along with
such additional sum may be required for meas
uring the outflow Of the lakes. OF which 100000
should be made available during the first year.
The report expresses the great appreciation by
the American Commissioners Of the service rem
dered by the Canadian Commission. All the mat
ter, much of 1t of great Importance. contained In
the pubic Offices Of the Dominion was furnished TO
the Americans. The Canadians cordially responded
TO al inquiries and made special surveys along the
route from Lake St. Francis to Lake Champain
by the Echeieu River
DISTRICT DAY ~ THE House,