The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-04
AN INSIDE WATER ROUTE.
One Of the Things That Ought 90 BE
Accomplished.

From the Philadelphia Press.
The present situation of national af-
fairs will call vividly to mind some OF
the suggestions made in past years as
to the value to this country of an in
side water route in case of foreign
war; Most of these propositions have
been dismissed with hardly second
thought, as the danger of conflict
between the United States and Euro
pean nation has been considered too
remote for speculation. The feasibility
of some of these suggestions is. how
ever being demonstrated now by ac-
tual trial.
The entire scheme proposed is most
comprehensive one. 1t contemplates an
inside channel along the Atlantic
ocean coast from Florida to Chesa-
peake Bay, the digging of canals across
the states Of Maryland and New Jer-
sey to Delaware and New York bays,
the use of the Hudson river to Albany,
the enlargement of the Erie canal TO
Buffalo the lake route to Chicago, the
drainage canal now digging from that
city to the Desplaines river and the
Mississippi river and thence to New
Orleans by the latter river. From the
mouth of the Mississippi river a vessel
Mexico and with a canal cut across
the upper part of the Florida penin-
sula vessel would find itself where it
started from without having been eX-
posed except for a few short periods,
to attack from the enemy. 1t has also
been shown that while this route would
be Of extreme Importance in case Of
a foreign war much of it would be-
bipblV Nlluablp for
1'he cost would. of course, be large.
The most expensive part of the scheme
would be the deepening of the Erie
canal from Albany to Buffalo SO as
to permit the passage of large vessels
and the Improvement of the route by
the way of Lakes Erie. Huron and
Michigan to Chicago. This could hard
ly be done for less than Sl50,00 900.
The greatest difficulty to be overcome
would be the lack Of water to supply
an enlarged Erie canal to a depth ne
Cessary to float large vessels. Another
route by the way Of the Champlain
canal, Lake Chanplan, the st. Law
renee river and the Welland canal has
been suggested, but as this would ba
partly within the territory of a foreign
government its value IN case of war
would be prOblematiCal. From Chicago
to the Mississippi river 10 great diff
CultieS would be encountered, Chicago
is now building q canal 100 feet wide
AMI 16 feet deep from that city to tho
Desplaines river in Illinois, which will
be finished in a few years. The cost
will be about S95, 900 900. and for $4,000
600 more the remainder of the route to-
the Mississippi river could be made
ready.
The government is spending n good
deal of money on the Missouri river
and its mouths and it probably Will
not be called upon TO spend more if an
inside water route should ever be de-
cided upon, From Louisiana TO Florida
no improvements would be necessary.
The cost of a canal across Florida has
been estimated at S12,000,0G0, and prob
ably ST.. 900 0NO at the most, would i'm
proVe the channels of the almost COn-
tinuous sounds. bays, rivers and creeks
from the northern boundary Of Florida
| to Chesapeake Bay. From this body
| Of water the canal Baltimore haS been
talking of building Pcross the Delaware
peninsula would bring vessel to Della
ware bay. The cost of this canal has
| been estimated at s., ,000 900, Delaware
| bay and river and the suggested canal
across New Jersey to New York bay,
which could he built for $4,000 600,
| would bring n vessel back to its start
| ing point, Tho total cost would ha
about $3.50 900 600, or about double the
probable cost Of the Nicaragua canal,
In case of a prolonged foreign war
with a nation about equal in strength
| to the United States such an inside
| water route would be highly valuable
and it might save its cost twice over.
1t is doubtful, however ii it is ever
| built.