New-York tribune., 1897-07-18
REPORT on THE SHIP CANAL PROJECT.

THE ENGINEER WHO EXAMINED THE ROUTES
FAvoRs MAKING USE OF THE ERIE CANAL
Washington July 1.-THE Secretary OF War yester-
day transmitted Congress the report OF the Chief
OF Engineers the preliminary examination made
by Major T. W. Symons. Of the Corps Of Eng-
neers of the proposed routes for ship canal from
the great lakes to the Hudson River The work was
done in accordance with provision In the last
River and Harbor bill directing the examination
and estimates OF the cost Of construction and the
most practicable route of such canal wholly
within the United States. OF sufficient capacity to
transport the tonnage of the lakes to the sea Gen
eral Wilson. Chief Of Engineers. says in the report
that II is the opinion Of the local officer that the
best route for a ship canal Is that by way OF the
Niagara River. Lake Ontario Oswego, Oneida Lake
and the Mohawk and Hudson rivers. and that this
would cost at a rough estimate $2OO0Oo00. But the
local officer expresses the opinion that the construc
tion of such ship canal is not project worthy OF
being undertaken by the Government. Major Sy-
mons is also Of the opinion that the Erie Canal
when enlarged under the existing plans OF the State
Of NewYork. would. II the restrictions imposed
by the State upon its were removed. give the
commercial advantages OF ship canal II this
canal be further improved by enlargement to size
sufficient for l.5O0ton barges making the necessary
alterations In its alignment so as TO give con-
tinuously descending grade all the way from Lake
Erie to the Hudson, and canalizng the Mohawk
River. Major Symons says. such an improved canal
navigated by barges would enable freight to be
transported between the East and West at lower
rate than by ship canal navigated by large lake
or ocean vessels. He says that the enlargement OF
the Erie Canal as suggested. with everything
adapted TO transport the tonnage OF the lakes is
project worthy Of being undertaken by the general
Government as the benefits derived would be COM
mensurate with the cost which is estimated ap-
proxmately at one-fourth that Of a ship canal
General Wilson says that owing 10 the nsuffciency
rafo ordinary preliminary
examination was made. Major Symons. who made
the examination. found three possible routes for
ship canal wholly within the United States the
first extends from Lake Erie via the upper Niagara
to the vicinity OF Tonawanda; thence by canal with
locks to the lower Niagara at or near Lewiston or
some point on Lake Ontario: thence through
Lake Ontario to Oswego thence up the os
wego and Oneida rivers 10 and through onei
da Lake: thence across the divide TO the MO-
hawk ana h doTn sne as the Oswego route and
is the one Major symons thinks the most pr
The second route follows the line OF ne BE- Ere
Canal from Lake Erie and the Niagara hieee NV s' ~
from ine Lase Erie to lake running thence
through Ontario to the St Lawrence KiCer WIaS anu
STF 'e hence M Crossing the State OF NewYork to
Lake Champan and up that lake to its ne hea@ anu
iHenSe pIen cana to the @ HUDSON at Troy While Mao.
mons mentions this a as np2Ssca pSssclG pDe ne
Auson is also made in the report 10 SUI, OF
route-the St. Lawrence-Champiai ~. tinted
States The rough estimate OF s20o'oo"U covers
49, ~ the possible routes mentioned But thls
sstimate saws the report depends to great exteh,
on the action of the State Of New iork TX IN maintain
sUcb a canal operate the locks. keep II IN repair.
etc would cost at rough estimate o,,id t' ~ re
y,ort saws have no military value. Major symohs
l. OF the opinion that the construction OF Sqs
canal is not a project worthy OF being unorr am ,
bn he general Government the dement's 10 De ue
rived therefrom would not be properly commehs"-
rate with the cost. ,. ,o- . shin
The cost Of the necessary surveys Ior sdste9 s,.9
oaraI along the Niagara -Oswego route II
90 ssO mS: an entirely Independent survey ior tne
Enlargement OF the Erie Canal sl2SW roniSn mator
Srmo1s.s report the division engineer, Colonei ~,
+ Gillespie says: The subject OF ranspOa,,Jsf .
tatad in this report and the facts stated ana
he arguments thereon relative 70 the me'hvu h Con
~ nv iiorad are worthy OF the closest study Dy C9h-
ssi De No definite conclusions and recommehdaa "a.
lions can be given relative TO ,Se Su s9rested
NJ construction. he says uhtii ai'ei ''' 'e"
been made