Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-11-28
AMERICAN POWER ON LAKES.
Z ,p.vi,i Defense Uo.rd MAKES som.
startling Statements In Their Report
to IN. iiriti.h Government.

New York. Nov. ga dispatch TO the
Press from Ottawa. Ont. says
In framing their rcpor, for the BRIT.
lsh government. the Imperial defence
hoard have been guided largely by the
existing treaties between Great Britain
and the United States. Unforeseen con-
ditlons have grown W since the treaties
were ratified. The military ana naval
situation Il In many respects changed.
New war factors have arisen. some
have disappeared. Facts are brought
out that will aper Incredible In Great
Britain relating 90 the growth Of the
American power on the lakes. The
treaties relate so New foundland. Lab
rador. the Gulf OF n. Lawrence. the
coasts OF the mari.lme provinces. the
nrhing grounds % British North Amer
lea ana the Great Lakes. Their con-
alteration raises the questions affecting
the security OF communication from
aalt water to the unsaitcd seas OF the
interior and the navigation Of the Great
Lakes. canals aud river systems form
Ing the boundary for more shan one
thousand miles.
The movement In the United States
for the modification or aborsatlon OF
she treaty relating 10 war ships on the
Great Lakes. brings that treaty more
particularly 20 the front From various
sources In the unEei States and Cana
da. official and unofficial, a striking ar
ray of facts and fguren has been drawn,
which fully bears out thu United states
contention that Ia case ~ war che value
OF lake propsrty-hustIEr mlliiOna-at
stake on the United states side. would
be lmmeasurably greater than that OF
the Canadian, and the position Of az
fairs II consequently one In which the
United States II fully justified In con-
alI0ElnaH AA.nIIlNH az
tion. even II such measures should be
contrary 90 the clauscs of the treaty.
In the event Of the United States and
Great Britain ever being a. war. even
should the former be successful In Oh
iAinlng control of the ~. Lawrence. no
American ship more that 100 feet IN
length could be sent NJ from the hca
through the locks 10 she Interior. II Il
not much " war ship that measures
lrnA that 200 feet In length. Great
Britain holds che mouth Of the -. Law
renee. ana the greater part Of the 70
miles or 20 u canals IL on the Ca
madam side.
while the entire lake marine Of Ca
NADIA. II apepata, comprises less than
aggregate tonnage under 100000, one
company alone. out Of the many ON the
United States side. owns ilect of close
on to 10000 tons. The lake marine Of
,.he United States comprises In round
numbers some $500 ships, with n ton-
mage " upward o. million and one
half; and OF this enormous Meet. fully
one half the tonnage IL that OF steam
erS. A striking fact Il that some 800
OF these steamers are OF a tonnage OF
200 to 1000 each. Several lake steam-
ship companies at the unrci states
ports are found 10 own magnificent
fioets. numbering from six 20 swenty
powerful vessels. and some % these
fleets comprise scarcely any steamers OF
less than 1900 tons.
The United States. too. Il shown to
have all 90 lose and Canada an 20 gain
IN the way of steel plants for shlpbulld.
ing .ni dry docks, The object Of con-
tending powers would be 10 secure pos
session OF points of such vital Import
ance IN naval struggle II seems
Canada has scarcely dock or steel
plant Of the larger class TO lose. where
modern steamers equal TO those of the
United States owners are constantly
putting ON the lakes, could be bulk or
put into condition Tor fighting. or where
damages could be- repaired. The United
states side. on the other hand, has
modern shlphulldlng yards In most OF
the chief ports on the Upper lakes. fif-
teen complete modern steel plants and
more than thirty dry docks, OF which
elfht are Of the largest class, capable OF
taking the heaviest steamers ahoat on
the lakes
stances. To learn shat The treaty con-
cernlng war ships on the lakes II one
OF The principal objects OF consideration
nv Inc Imperial defense board In pre-
parlng the material for their report 60
the British government