The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-29
LAKE TREATY.
The Old Agresnent Needs Much Modin-
cation.

The Ola Agreement Needs Much Modin.
cation.
New York. Nov. ga dispatch to
the Press from Ottawa says: In franz
ing their report for the British gov
eminent. the imperial defense board has
been guided largely by the existing
treaties between England and the Unit
ed States. Unforeseen conditions has-
ing grown up inc the treaties were
ratified. the military and naval situa-
ton Is in many respects changed. New
war factors have arisen: some have dis
appeared. Facts are brought out that
will appear incredible In Great Britain
relating to the growth of the American
power on the lakes. The treaties re-
late to Newfoundland. Labrador. the
Gulf OF ST. Lawrence. the coasts OF the
maritime provinces. the fishing grounds
of British North America and the great
lakes. Their consideration raises the
questions affecting the security OF COM
munications from salt water to the un-
sailed seas OF the interior and the navi-
cation of the great lakes. canals and
river systems forming the boundary for
more than 1000 miles.
The movement In the United States
for the mobilization or abrogation of
the treaty relating to warships on the
great lakes brings that treaty more
particularly to the front. From vari-
Gus sources I'm the United States and
Canada. Official and unofficial. a strik-
ing array OF facts and figures has been
drawn. which fully bears out the Uni
ted States contention that In case OF
war the value OF the lake property
hostage miliions-at stake on h Uni
ted States side would be immeasurably
greater than that on the Canadian, and
the position of affairs In consequently
one which the United States Is fully
justified in considering adequate meas
ures Of protection. even IL such meas
ures should be contrary to the clauses
of the treaty.
In the event of the United States and
Great Britain yer being at war, even
should the former be successful In o.
tanning control of the st. Lawrence. no
American warship more than 100 feet
in length could be sent up from the sea
through the lakes to the interior. 1t
Is not much of a war vessel that meas
ures less than 200 feet In length. Great
Britain holds the mouth OF the st. Law
renee and the greater part of the sew
enty miles or so of canals is on the
Canadian side. While the entire lake
marine Of Canada, 1t appears. COM
prises less than 900 steam vessels. most
ly small. with an aggregate tonnage
under 100. 000, one company alone out
OF the many on he United States side
owns a fleet of close to 100. 900 tons. The
lake marine OF the United States COM
prises I'm round numbers some $500
ships with a tonnage upward of a mil
lion and one-half. and OF this enormous
feet fully one-half h tonnage is that
OF steamers. A striking fact IL that
some 500 OF these are OF a
tonnage OF 1000 to 5000 each. Several
lake steamship companies at United
States ports are found to own magnif-
rent fleets. numbering from six to 20
powerful vessels. and some of these
fleets comprise scarcely any
of less han 1000 tons.
The United States. too. is shown to
have all to lose and Canada all to gain
i'm the way Of steel plants for ship
building and dry docks. The object of
powers would be 10 secure
possession of points of such vital i'm
portance In a naval struggle. II seems
Canad has scarcely a ock or steel
plant of the larger class to lose. where
modern steamers equal to those the
United States owners are constantly
putting on the lakes could be quilt or
put into condition for fighting or where
damages could be repaired. The Uni
ted States. on the other hand. has mod
ern shipbuilding yards in most of the
chief ports on the upper lakes. fifteen
complete modern steel plants and more
than 30 dry docks, OF which eight are Of
the largest Glass;. capable OF taking The
heaviest steamers afioat on the lakes.
II Is not surprising. under these cir
cumstances. to learn that the treaty
concerning warships on the lakes is
OF the principal objects of consid-
Grafton by the imperial defense board
in preparing the material for their re-
port to the British government.