Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-16
PROPOSED SHIP CANAL
Preliminary Examination Made by Major
Symons
Connecting the Great Lakes With the
Hudson Rfver-The best ROute-En-
lnrginE Present Facilities.

Inc secretary of War today transmit
ted to Congress the report of the chief of
engineers on the preliminary examination
made by Major T. w. Symons of the Corps
OF Engineers of ship canal from the
great lakes to the Hudson river The work
was done In accordance with a provision
in the last river and harbor bill directing
the examination and estimates of the cost
OF construction of the most practicable
route of such a canal wholly within the
United States. of sufficient CAPACITY to
transport the tonnage of the lakes to the
sea.
Gen. Wilson, chief of engineers, says in
the report that 1t Is the opinion of the
LEGAL officer that the best route for skip
canal is that by way of Niagara river.
Lake Ontario, Oswego. Oneida lake and
Mohawk and Hudson rivers, and that this
would cost at q rough estimate $2O0.WO.NO.
But the local officer expresses the opinion
that the construction of such a ship canal
Is not a project worthy of being undertaken
by the government.
But Major Symons Is also of opinion
that the Erie canal, when enlarged under
the existing plans of the state of New
York, would If the restrictions imposed ty
the state urcn its use be removed give
commercial advantage practically equal to
the commercial advantages of a ship canal
largement to size sufficient for l,Jssb-ton
barges. making the necessary alterations in
It's alignment. so as to give continuously
descending canal all the way from Lake
Erie to the Hudson, and canalizing the Mo-
hawk 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. and he states that the enlarge
ment of the Erie canal, suggested, with
everything adopted to transport the ton
mage of the lake is a project worthy of be-
ing undertaken by the general government
as the benefits derived would ne commen-
surate with the cost, which Is estimated APP
proXimately at one-fourth that of a ship
canal
General Wilson says that owing to the
Esufficiency of the appropriation only the
ordinary preliminary examination was
made. He says Major Symors, 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 Tonawan-
da or Lake Sale: 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 Oswego and Oneida rivers to
oneHa lake. through Oneida lake; thence
across the divide to the Mohawk and down
the Mohawk to the Hudson al Troy. This
Is designated as the Oswego route and the
one Major Symons thinks the most prac-
ticable.
Erie canal from Lake Erie and the Niagara
river to the Hudson. The third comedies
with the first from Lake Erie to Lake On
tario. running thence through Ontario to
the St Lawrence river, and down the St
Lawrence to some point near Ogdensburg;
thence crossing the state of New York to
Lake Champlan and up said lake to its
head, and thence following in general the
to of shovr lat,
son at Troy. While Major Symons men
items this a possible route he is of
opinion that it is not practicable one.
Ailusion Is also made In the report 10
still another route-tne st. Lawrence,
Champiain route-al of which except a
small portion is in the United States.
The rough S2D.ED.b0 estimate covers any
of the possible routes mentioned. But this
upon the action of the state of New York
IN regard to is canals. feeders, reservoirs,
etc. To maiitaip such canal opera; e the
locks keep it in repair. etc. would cost at
d rough estimate $2.NW,GW a year. Such
a canal If COZ slructcd would, the reoor.
says, have no military value.
MAJ Symons is of the opinion" says the
report. that the construction of such a
canal Is not project worthy of being I'M
dertaken by the general government as
the benefits to be derived therefrom would
not be properly commensurate with the
cost"
The cost of the necessary SURVEYS for
ship canal along the Niagara Oswcgo route
Is estimated at sl90.UoO an entirely indie
pendent survey for the enlargement of the
Erie canal. $12j.UOU; combined survey of
both, s2!DWU.
In transmitting Maj. Symons report,
the division engineer. Col. G. l.. Gillespie
says: The subject Of transporting the
tonnage of the lakes to the sea Is eXhars-
lively treated in this report. and the facts
stated and the arguments thereon relative
to the methods to be followed are worthy
OF the closest study by Congress"
No definite conclusions or recommended
tons can be given relative to the location
and methods of construction. he says, I'M
til after the suggested surveys have been