The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-02-01
A GREAT Inland Ship Channel.

That the great lakes will some day be
connected by American ship channels
with the Atlantic on the east and with the
gulf on the south and west by way of the
Mississippi River is as certain as the con-
tinued growth of this country in CONNER
cial importance. A pressing reason exists
why the subject must be taken up at once.
Canada has completed a 14-foot channel
from the sea to the head of Lake Superior
and ships Of 3, 900 tons can pass from the
lakes to the ocean over this Canadian
route. New York is the first State to
take preliminary action. Its canal COM
mission presents plan to secure ship
channel from the lakes to the Hudson
River. 1t is to widen and deepen the
present canals, enlarge and improve the
locks, dig eighty one miles of new canal
between Syracuse and West Troy and
carry the waterway around Syracuse and
Rochester. The commission estimates
the cost at $50, 600, GOO and recommends
the expenditure. Gov. Roosevelt favors
the project. Something must be done to
meet the splendid enterprise of the Cana
dams, who, with population less than
that of the State of New York, have in
vested $50, 600, 600 in their canal system.
An American ship canal from the lakes
to the Atlantic will not interfere in the
least with the Western ship channel con
Meeting with the Mississippi. Both in
fact, are Indispensable parts of one great
waterway, and each will add to the prof
liable operation of the other. If the ship
of 3, 600 tons that can now traverse the
Canadian canals could ascend the Missis-
sippi, reach the lakes and thence pass to
the Atlantic, and vice versa, a colossal
new vista of commerce would be opened
up. Hundreds OF inland ports would be
in direct touch with ocean traffic. The
grain, ores and other products of most of
the States could easily be placed at once
upon capacious sea going vessels. There
would be an inland ship passage from the
gulf to the great harbors of the E Eastern
States, a route peculiarly important TO the
Nicaragua or Panama Canal. In no re-
spect whatever is this idea visionary nor
are its engineering or financial features
difficult to any serious degree. New
York alone proposes to build its end of
the ship channel and make it free. Up
to this time the Erie Canal has cost the
State SCI, 100000 1t has paid in various
ways, successfully reducing the freight
charge between Buffalo and New York
from 500 ton TO SO, then to s. and
finally, as at present, to Less than ST.
In the current North American Review
appears an article from prominent civil
engineer who takes canal transportation
for text. His argument is to- the effect
that New York should have "a channel of
distribution so ample and convenient that,
as far as sound Judgment can foresee, the
minimum freight rates shall be charged
and generally, the resistance to trans
portation shall be less on it than on any
other conceivable route between the great
lakes and the Atlantic" The Mississippi
Valley needs the same assured facilities
and the Mississippi River offers the natural
foundation for them. As for the lakes,
they already have these advantages.
Through the 500 in 1899 passed 20, 255
vessels, with tonnage OF II, 95S, 3347. A
ship canal is the basis of the enormous
traffic. Crossing half the continent by
ship will be an every day matter before
the first quarter of the coming century is
over, and the accomplishment of this
necessary work will be FASTENED if the
new Canadian ship canal attracts even
half the business its builders look for and
are providing for St. Louis Globe
Democrat