The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-19
TO LINK THE OCEAN, 10 N LAKES.
The President Tran mits tho Report OF the
Deep Waterways Commission to Congress.

The President Transmits the Report OF the
Deep Waterways Commission to Congress.
wAsmSuroS. Jan. 1s.-Tho President to-day
sent to Congress tho report OF the Deep Water
ways Commission. MADE In pursuance Of an act
Of Conoress OF 1898. its work being to make n
preliminary examination regarding a deep
waterway from the ocean to the great lakes.
Hc accompanied 1t by the following message:
II transmit herewith the report of Messrs.
James Il. Angel OF Michigan. John 4. Russell
of Massachusetts,, and Lyman L. Cooley OF lili-
nois. who were appointed Commissioners under
authority OF law passed March =, 1896, to make
inquiry and report. after conference with such
similar Commissioners as might be appointed
on behalf Of Great Britain or the Dominion of
Canada. concerning the feasibility OF the con-
s~truction OF such canal rs will enable vessels
engaged In ocean nmo to pass between the
great lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, and the
most convenient location and probhble cost or
such canals. together with other facts and In
formation In said act relating to their construc-
ton and use.
work assigned them with great zeal and ~intelli-
gence, resulting In the collection OF a mass OF
information embed led In their report and its
accom- panying exhibits. which Is OF great I'M
portance and interest rs related to the project
subjected to their examination.
The advantages OF direct and unbroken
water transportation OF the products OF our
western states and Territories from convenient
points OF shipment to our seabOard ports nre
plainly palpabie. The report of the Commis-
sioner contains, In my opinion. demonstrations
OF the feasibility OF securing such transporta-
ton. and gives ground for the anticipation that
better and more uninterrupted
through the plans suggested, between the great
West and foreign ports. with the increase OF
national prosperity which must follow In it's
train. will not long escape American enterprise
sit will be- observed that tho report Of the
Commissioners, though a. comprehensive AS
the time and facilities at their disposal permit
ted. does not definitely deal with the cost OF tho
work they were called upon, In, consider. and
Omits some of the other details belonging to IL.
Thus far they have been laboring without com
quired for the pay ment OF their expenses still
remains unexpcnded. | suggest to Congress
the propriety OF making economical provision
for snch further prosecution or their work as
will moro fully develop the Information neces-
sary TO an exact and complete understanding Of
this interesting and important subject"
The report OF tho commission gives n detailed
account OF the work OF the commission. and.
after considering. the question In its various
aspects. presents these conclusions:
/. That IL is entirely feasible TO construct such
adequate to any scale Of navigation that may
be desired between the several great lakes and
To the, seaboard and to conduct through the
same domestic and foreign commerce. and that
In our opinion. II will be wise to provide for
securing a channel of u navigable depth OF not
2. That. starting from tho heads OF Lakes
Michigan and Superior. the most eligible route
n s,e enrUafs eeSsh seisr and S ,se pr rase az %IsrsHs
ship canal (~Tonawanda to OlcOtu. to Lake
Ontario: and that the Canadian seaboard may
be reached from Lake Ontario by the way OF tho
st. Lawrence River. and the American seaboard
may be reached from Lake Ontario By the way
OF the st. Lawrence and Lake Champlain and
the Hudson River. or By way of the Oswego,
Oneida Mohawk Valley and the Hudson River.
3. That the alternative routes from Lake On
tario TO the Hudson River require complete
surveys and a full development OF economic
considerations to determine their relative avail
ability.
1. That q moderate control OF tho level OF
Lake Erie and OF the Niagara River above
Tonawanda may be justified in connection with
the Niagara ship canal. tho determination in
this matter TO rest on u full examination OF tho
physical conditions.
.. That the policy should contemplate tho
ultimate development OF tho largest useful ca
pacity, aud that all works should be planned on
this basis and that the actual execution should
conform thereto. except In SO far as the works
may without prejudice be progressively devel-
oped with the actual demands OF commerce.
q. That IL is practicable to develop the work
In separate sections. and the several sections In
part by degrees. each step having its economic
Justification. so that benefits shall follow closely
on OK expenditure without awaiting the compile
lion OF the System as "A whole.
Z. That the completion OF the entire system
rs quickly rs proper can be matured and eco
nomicaiiy executed is fully justified.
\. That the Niagara ship canal should first
be undertaken, and incidentally the broadening
and further deepening OF the intermediate
logical order OF development, and also requiring
thu laaaf lima for nnailaraftn