The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-19
THE ADVERSE CANAL REPORT

The report to the chief of engineers
by Maj. j. T. Symons on the construc-
ton of a ship canal from the great
lakes to the Hudson river does not, it
seems to us, necessarily mean that the
advocates of that great internal i'm
provement should be discouraged. The
unfavorable opinion of the engineer Of
ficer in charge Of the investigation is
based upon considerations which, while
quite proper for him to take into ac-
count, are by no means fatal or even
seriously Objectionable to the project.
He, as is his duty, reports upon the
question submitted to him. He finds
that the estimated cost of canal such
as to furnish deep water navigation
from the lakes to the ocean is 5000 OOO
900. That is a large sum, it is true, but
1t is very much better to face the fact
OF maximum outlay at the beginning,
rather than to be coaxed into a gigan
tic undertaking on a specious promise
that 1t can be completed at low cost,
and then find the estimates doubling I'D
after the work has got under way.
There is no question of the practicable
1ty Of the route or of the feasibility If
construction, from an engineering point
Of view.
The suggestion Of the engineer that
the enlargement of the Erie canal and
improvements in its alignment and az
cessOries would meet the needs of tba
country commerce seems to US to be
rather unnecessary intrusion Of his
views and is obviously based upon an
inadequate conception of our internal
commerce and it's needs The purpose
OF constructing a deep waterway from
the head of the lakes to the ocean is
Just what it appears on it's face: to
provide for through water transporta-
ton from the head of the great lakes IN
the seaport without breaking cargo or
trans-shipment. Now it matters not
what improvements are made in q
property that belongs to the people of
New York state and lies exclusively
within its boundaries. even a1tbouab
the federal government should assume
the work, it would have no legitimate
connection with the larger project Tho
necessity of two trans-shipments one
at Buffalo and one at New York citv
would remain; and a free outle+ fo,
the mighty commerce of the lakes to
the ocean would not be provided This
is the grand and truly national idaa
that lies behind the deep waterway
project; and possible Improvement ne
the Erie canal, as a link in an entireIv
dlferent system OF transit, is another
matter which it is not worth while 70
consider
1t strikes Us as remarkable that. at q
time when the whole force of nubIio
opinion has to be exerted to prevent
congress from throwing away not less
than $200,G0O,000 upon a ditch across
Nicaragua, whose construction would
violate treaty obligations, involve us
In dlfhculties with foreign powers and
require an enormous expenditure TO
maintain and defend against possible
aggression,any American citizen should
be startled by proposal to spend that
amount upon the great interior water
way of our own country instead. If
the American people have not forgot
ter their patriotism, they will demand
with one voice that such resources as
we may have to use for canal building
be expended within our own country.
and for the betterment of our com
merce and the Improvement of our re-
sources. II our senators and represent
atives shall but consent to drop the hid
is designed to hide, and combine upon
a work worthy of our national grand
eur and of incalculabie value from the