New-York tribune., 1903-03-14
CONTINENTAL CANALS.
Committee Formed to Call Interna.
fiOndL Contention.

Al meeting yesterday in the Office of Andrsz
r. Green No PA Brnadway. memorial ~as pre-
sented to Senator Lewis approving his action IN
presenting his Senate resolution asking Congress
TO coynplete SURVEYS for canal thirty feet deep
between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic tide
water, and for The development and utilization OF
the water power that could be developed thers-
from.
a resolution vas adopted for a committee 70 ea1r
an International conyen'fo1 including all the peo-
PIES nf North America. for organizing a conr-
mental association TO promote the construction 81
a continental system Of deep waterways and . sys-
tenn OF water powers for irrigation OF arid and
arabic lands of tSs continent Among those asked
TO serve on this committee are Andrew Il. Green,
Frederick W Seward. =. EdUard Svanstrom Paul
Dana william Hyatt harrington, Dumont Clark
J Edward Simmons. Ludwig Nlssen. Gardner D.
Matthews Henry CIews. John De Witt Warner
F. p Olcott Lyman 7. Gage. A. D. Juilliard CIsr-
ence W. Seamans James \. Jarvie, A. P. Fitch
Charles 5. Fairchi1d. George Z. Seward, Charles
T Barney. Max Nathan. Henry Aorgenthau, Rob
ert c. Ogden Louis Stern ard Oscar Straus
In presenting a memorial to Senator Lewis Ethan
Allen said that az ths present time the cost %
TRANSFORMATION IN this country exceeded the cost
Of production Inc charge for Transporting the
products of the Mississippi Valley 10 the Atlantic
coast was so great to check production AMI
consumption and 10 limit the area in which pro-
duction was profitable. More than half Of the best
steel steamships Of the United states i'm
prisoned above Niagara Falls from December i
ApriI J.
Lake Erie TO the tidal Hudson. those vessels could
pass from the lakes in December and engage in
the ocean service until the opening OF navigation
on the lakes. The earnings on the Ssacoast would
enable them to reduce the charges Of transport
ton the lakes.
Ten billion dollars would construct . continental
system of deep sea canals and create water power
equal to 5A000 H0 hors cpower or 71hlf1. .60 man
power. By the couJ ersfon Of this power into
electrical power. 1t could he used motive DOW
er for production O distribution. A. the O.
SO a horsepower year. 50,UpfsO horsepower would
command rental Of 81 lJN6f0 Hh wear. ~ Pc
cent wear the On this basis the rental
of the power would diSChargs the interest
on the cost Of construction of the canals and
poEer and the cost OF maintenance. and create A
sinking fund for the discharge nf the principal
within fifty years. Competent autHnrIUes had
tInatsd the available water power upon this con
tinent to be equal to f0hO01fI0 horsepower
The systcrn outlined would give TO American
gels absolute control for all to OF the
foreign commerce of this continent without sub
sidies being granted To them. and therefore
the 500 0O 001 for subsidies proposed n tbs Hanna
Fry bill.
Senator Lewis thought that before the state BE-
gan constructing twelve-foot barge canal. az an
expense of S00000f0 all practicable means should
be exhausted induce the federal government 70
ascertain definitely whether the national deep
water canal could be constructed