Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-03
The Erie Canal and Maine.

Tho Erie CanaI ana Ma1nos
One of the most important things
which is involved in today's election
has not been mentioned in the papers
outside of New York city. but it is new
tertheless a matter which vitality con-
Germs, both the city and the state Of
New York and great sections of the
West as we'll. Indirectly 1t also con-
Germs Maine. 1t has nothing to do with
the municipal campaign in the metrop-
oils. which has been so picturesque and
vigorous as to attract the attention OF
the whole country. 1t is not ques-
tion of parties or candidates but
question of business. The people or
that state are to vote on the PROPOSE
ton to bond New York for 500, 100000
to rebuild the Erie canal. The plan is
to widen the canal, give it depth OF
IL feet, and otherwise improve it so
that It can be used for barges, having
capacity Of 1000 tons.
The improvement is advocated on the
ground that only by some such means
az this can New York hold it's own as
a seaport with other great cities of the
North and East. The opposition to it
comes on the part of many voters in
the rural sections. who think that it
means tax on them without any cor
responding benefits. Other opponents
on the canal. twice as much should be
spent SO it could be made a regular
ship canal and not merely barge
waterway. Still others say that ca
nails are out of date anyway, and
that New York cannot save it's
commercial supremacy by any such
agency. Some New Workers think
that If Congress should appropri-
ate $200.000,000 to build ship
canal. but it is highly improba-
bic that the national legislative body
could be induced to spend SO much
money for the benefit of a single state
or city.
The great Northwest is interested in
the improvements of the historic old
waterway for it would mean that part
of its wheat crop would travel through
people realize the immense proportion
of the lake borne traffic, and there is
no doubt that with modern waterway
between Buffalo and New York, the
Erie canal would get a great part Of
this business and regain much of it's
former Importance. The interest which
New England and especially the city of
Portland, has in this proposition is seen
when we consider the great amount of
grain which the Grand Trunk takes to
Montreal and to Portland to be shipped
to Europe. II there were better water
connections between the lakes and
ocean much of the grain would
probably be shipped from New
York. The great trunk lines of
the country have all the freight
they can handle in classes that
pay better than grain can be expected
to do, and so they have shown an indif-
ference to the growth of the Grand
was built to supplement wagon roads.
II it should be improved as proposed it
would supplement the railways and af-
ford cheap transit for bulky freight,
which cannot be conveniently or profit
ably handled by railroads.
There Is but little competition be-
tween a canal and a railroad. while
there is mutual benefit. The main
business of the canal is to move coal.
non, lumber. wheat. etc, from point to
lbint, and the more of this kind of
freight the canals handle the more fin
Ahed freight at high rates there will
Ne for railroads. And so while it looks
q though it would be for the benefit of
1rew York state. the great railroad
Mes and the great Northwest, to have
the canal improved, the step would
probably prove direct injury to New
England and to the cities of Portland
ahd Montreal in particular. Bearing
this in mind, the people Of this section
till find a new interest in the returns
fom New York's election which show
die vote upon the canal bond propo-
1''on.
THAT million dollar fire which swept