The Indianapolis journal., 1902-10-29
COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES AND
CORPORATIONS.

Sault ste. Marie, Mich, announced the
turning OF water into the new power canal
at that place and the celebration OF the
event by civic parade, etc. The canal Is
at the 800" on the American side and its
opening marks the beginning OF a CONNER
cial enterprise that has more than local
interest because it illustrates the indom-
liable spirit of American progress. The
canal has been constructed at enormous ex-
pense for water power purposes upon the
theory OF doing for Lake Superior what
Niagara Falls does for Lake Erie, viz:
make its waters available for commercial
purposes. The canal was built by a Phila-
delphia company, representing a capitaliza-
ton of sl37 0o0, 900 Invested In rail mills, pa
per mills, pulp mills, machine shops, blast
furnaces, electric light and street-car
plants, sawmills, smelters, ETC., all OF
which are to be supplied with power gener-
ated by the canal. The canal itself is 1900
feet long and 200 feet wide, part of it
through solid rock. The fall is twenty feet,
and water will flow through the canal at
an average depth Of twenty-three feet with
velocity of four and quarter miles an
hour, delivering approximately $1,000 cubic
feet of water every second to the turbine
wheels which it will operate. This will
make one Of the greatest water powers
in the world, overshadowing for commercial
purposes even Niagara Every detail in its
construction was worked out with the high
est engineering skill and executed regard
less of expense, with a view Of producing
q 6o.OOO horse power electrical current. The
. engineers who superintended it's construc-
ton say it will last as long Lake Su-
perio- itself and that the power it gener-
ates can only fail when the waters of the
| largest fresh water lake in the world give
! out.
The event proves what many Republican
speakers are now trying to impress the
people, namely, that this is an age OF great
commercial enterprises which are bless
ing to the communities where they are To-
Gated and benefit to the country at large;
and that these great enterprises can, as a
rule, only be carried through by incorporat-
ed and consolidated capital. This canal,
furnishing the greatest artificial water
power in the world and operating more
than a score of large factories, besides
street car lines. could not have been con-
structed by any individual nor even by a
corporation with small capital. 1t required
a great combination to do it. In fact the
Consolidated Lake Superior Company,
which built the canal. is trust, and owns
all the capital stock of several subsidiary
companies, by which different industries
and operations are conducted. The names
and scope of the operating corporations
are:
The Algoma Central & Hudson Bay Rail-
way Company.-Owns and operates railway
lines upon the Ontario land grants and a
fleet OF steamers on the lakes; operates
the British American Express Company,
Ltd, and the Algoma Central telegraph
lines.
The Algoma Steel Company, Ltd.-owns
and operates the steel works and rail mill
and the blast furnaces at Sault Ste. Marie
Ont
The Lake Superior Power Company
Owns and supplies power from the water
power canal on the Canadian side OF the
ST. Mary's river; owns and operates the
smelters in the Sudbury district. and ferro-
Nickel charcoal and by-product plants al
Sault Ste Marie. Ont
The Algoma Commercial Company, Ltd
Owns the Ontario land grants and con.
ducts land, timber and mining operation:
and operates sawmills upon these grants.
The Michigan Lake Superior Power Com
pany.-Water power canal of about 6OOO
hydraulic horse power on the American side
of the ST. Mary's river.
Tagona Water and Light Company.-Sup
plies water and electric light and power t.
the town of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
The Sault Ste. Marie Pulp and Power
Company.-Owns and operates ground woot
pulp and sulphite pulp mills and the Algo
ma iron works, at Sault Ste. Marie Ont
The international Transit Company
Owns exclusive franchises for street rail
way lines in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont, which
are now under construction and nearl,
completed.
Now constructing street railway lines II
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
BY consolidating these nine corporation
into one they are brought under a common
management, which will be able to maxi
one tributary to another and all conduciv
to common end. The canal will furnisl
power for all except the steamer lines
The various factories and mills will Civ
employment to a large number of men an,
will be a permanent benefit to the com
munities where they are located. The popu
I. lation of the $500 has increased from
1O.53S in 1900 to about 1900 at present
Inc operations OF the consolidated LAX
Superior Company have converted wha
was formerly sleepy place into a manu-
: featuring site scarcely surpassed in tn
world. and has created an important ney
center Of industry. 1t took q trust wit
large capital to do this. The turning O
I water into the canal was made the occa
sion of three days celebration in tn
n the public schools were dismissed and thou
sands of visitors came from a long distanc
to witness the installation of the ne,
power. 1t would be difficult to convinc
those people that all corporations ough
to be smashed or even that all trust
: should be abolished
, THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.