The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-03-17
A GREAT CANAL.
The Connecting Link Between Lakes
Huron and Superior.

Huron and Superior.
''rhe most wonderful ship canal in the
world" is the phrase by which Wadon Faw-
cett, in au article in McClure's Magazine for
March, characterizes the connecting water
liuk between Lakes Huron and Superior at
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
almost a thousand miles from the nearest
tidewater there passes through this waterway,
during the eight months which make up the
navigation year, n tonnage far IN excess oi
that which traverses the Sucz Canal or enters
the port of New YORK or London during the
full twelvemonth. II has ever been difficult,
seemingly, for people remote from the chain
OF great lakes to appreciate the magnitude OF
the commerce of the waterways nn our North
ern border. They have been told that upon
these inland seas, holding more than third
of the fresh water on the globe, fleet of more
than 1000 steam and sail vessels regularly
in service. Governmental reports have sho wn
that in the aggregate of tonnage the lake craft
exceed the whole feet on our Atlantic, Pacl iic
and Gulf coasts Finally. in the value of
their yearly output the steel ship builders ol
the great lakes have frequently surpassed their
brethren on the coasts. For all that, reali-
cation of the magnitude of the inland water
transportation interests of the United States
has been of slow growth, aud even more tardy
has been the comprehension of the magnitude
and value of the huge canal locks which ena-
Bile vessels carrying caTgoes of 5000 tons to
drop Is feet in half an hour.
GREAT COMMERCIAL FACTOR.
'In the distribution Of the worlds bread
stutfs the Saut Canal has also been reyolu-
tionary factor. For the wheat growers and
-four producers of our Western States the pro
vision OF the present facilities at the Sault
may be said to have offset, in great measure,
The injury which their interests sustained by
the construction of the Suez Canal The ditch
that Joins the Red sea and the Mediterranean
brought the wheatields of India and Australia
closer To European consumers, but the Amer
lean canal so cheapemed transportation that
the granaries Of the United States continue TO
serve as the slorehouses from which q eOusid-
erablc portion of the civilized world draws its
food supply.
The fur traders constructed the first lock AT
this point. capable of lifting a canoe uine
feet, and this primitive structure served
through many Of the decades during which
France. Britain and the United States strug-
sIed Tor sovereignty in the West The atten-
ton OF the people Of MichigaH was trst pub
licly called io the Importance OF securing a
ship canal around the rapids At Sault Ste.
Marie less lhaH three-quArlers Of a century
ago. ani it was several years later when an
appropriation Tor the purpose became availa.
ble " The transfer OF the canal to the United
States Government was finally accomplished
in ls-n Governmental control has resulted
va the construction Of two magnificent locks
one of them the largest in the worid-which
are operated absolutely free Of cost to the yes-
81 Interests. The smaller Of the tSo cost
s.. 5sO. .tso. and ~ something more than 80
i-et IN length by abopt one-siyth As much in
widih The larger taek. through which tout
Of the largest steamers on the lakes can lock
simultaneously. cOst the Government mors
than 100000. !, IS more than 500 feet N
l.uzth sad ha- a breadth OF 100 ie"l-
'.Upp.,.l;. to the Amerjean locks the Ca.
nadsaa t;overameut has constructed hand
some lock ai dimensions almost equal to the
larzvr Of ihose controlled by the United S,alcs
aHtharitirs. lis cupsiFagtion vas undertaken
St a isus shcn the relations of the United
States aui Great Britain had hs'sn temporarily
strained. aud when there Was forced apon
Canadian Interests realization % the ineon
vfn,sncs which would resall Ncre tbe vessels
sf the Dominion dcbarTvi from Hiag the
Americas locks
WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT.
''Thr INCREASE iu the commerce passing
through the Sault Capal wiihia The memory
81 suAay meu nov living IS without parable
"a Amrricah industrial development Twu
sr1re years age Isss thaa = Thousand vessels 81
al KINDS passed through ihe eauai ~ u year
NoR niacicen or twrnty thousand yesscls Loeb
through the canals daring the moaihs Of each
year during wh,ch the great lakes arr tree iron
ice. Only 10 years ago hardly more thsa s,
ucO. go iaus of freight Ssre carried past th'
rapids each ear, but sseh has been the devel
nlent u the decade that the ships uow take
through more than four tunes thai amount.
The freight moved 0n the lakes last yeai
vas carried az the rate oi about ihree-fuarter'
ii a mIll per toa for each mile transported.
These are the lowest freight charges IN the
world and are Of direct Importance 10 every
consumer Of hrrAdslatis 10 the East Aad q
every householder ia the West ~ho uses fuel
The freight carried annually through the mar
fow channel connecting Lakes HaFOn aHt
Superior includes $40. .0ou, ,OOO worth OF coal
SSl. dno 90 worth vi -four, So. 0oo. 600 NuEti
uf wheat. $50. 600, 90 worth Of copper. $50,
Uo0. 600 worth 90 iron orr aud 2,Ooo. .0u'
sOrih OF lumber.
go transport this vast accumulation of oN
clasively American pfuducts--va valued in th'
aggregate at almost $40 COO tspo--it costs onll
| a istile more than $3.50. O0O All Of ID,
! freight moved Is carried ON an average Loo,
miles aud the vessels which transport It have
easl between twenty five aud thirty million
dollars And this vast commerce Is almos
solely IN the hands Of Americans. less thar
per cent Of the vessels engaged IN It beins
owned in the Dominion ct Canada.
From 100 10 100 vessels pass through th
| canal every day aud the serious consequence
of = stop,agc If the traffic were shown IA th'
! autumn Of 1893. when one Of the large~
/ steamers on the lakes vas sank ia II. Mary
riv,f below the entrance To The canal. Traih
| WAS suspended for only about i've days, an'
| vet yesselmeu estimated that they had sustain
| ed loss little short OF million dellars.
POSSIBILITIES OF rHg FUTURE
Wonderful as has been the history Of th
| Sault Canal, IL is far surpassed By the posi-
| biiities Of the future. Lake commerce I
passing through IA transition. The exigencie
| Of the excessive demand for iron ore have IN
/ daced the Rockefellers. the Carnegies aus
! other great producing interests TO buy mine
| and vessels The vessels are increasing II
| size. too. with marvellous rapidity. and "
have steamers quite the equal in size OF IN
| transatlantic liners of few years ago.
The great cry Of the shipping interests o
| the great lakes l. for deeper channels, IA orde
that larger ships may be constructed an'
| greater cargoes carried. Already the Gov
| eminent has spent millions ct dollars in tn
work, aud even greater expenditures are con
| templatcd Among the most desired lm
proyements, however, Is the further enlarge
ment aud deepening of the locks at the Sanlt
and probably this viii be one Of the first pro
ects TO receive attention.
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