The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-15
CANAL IAN ECONOMIC CRIME. u
REMEMBERING NEWS" on THE
PROPOSED WASTE OF MILLIONS.
rweive-Foot Channel Will He Useless Long
Before the Debt Incurred Will he Paid
-Extravagant Route Was Selected I'm
the Interest OF the Elevator Rings.

the Interest or the Elevator Rings.
Nothing less than an economic crime
is what the Engineering Neps says of the
proposition to sink $1O1 OO0,O 900 in / 900
ton.barge canal.
Engineering Neus is a representative
journal OF civil. mechanical, mining and
electrical engineering. Its articles on the
canal project, in the discussion of the past
six months, have been marked by an init
mate knowledge Of the history and eX-
perience of canals and OF all the details of
the present plan and the other routes that
have been suggested. 1t can hardly he
said to be influenced by other than the
highest considerations 1t does favor
ship canal from the Great Lakes to the
Atlantic which would enable the Lake
steamers to carry their cargoes right to
seaboard, and abroad If need be.
Engineering News, speaking with e1-
pert information at it's command says:
What assurance can the men responsible
for this enterprise give that the proposed
twelve-foot channel will not be as obsolete
half century hence as the existing seven
foot ditch 10 at the present time? Even those
who are most certain that the canal is needed
at the present time must admit, If they are
candid. that it's usefulness fifty years hence.
or even twenty-five years hence. is extremely
uncertain.
In calling attention to the fact that this
canal must necessarily compete with the
projected Canadian deep waterway EN-
pineerino News says:
To build a twelve-fo chnanel for canal
boats to compete with a great, deep water
way accommodating the largest ships on the
Lakes would be like building q horsecar line
to compete with an electric railway.
In connection with these opinions it is
interesting to recall what the late Elnathan
Sweet, the real originator OF the project
for enlarging the Erie Canal and president
Of the Board Of Advisory, Engineers Tor the
barge canal survey, said
No waterway built to connect these waters
1.-THE Great Lakes and the ocean, can hope
10 secure great commercial Importance unless
can aecommodate the largest HeTssls rnv, If
great sums Of money for jed improve;
Tnents OF the present canal Is to be DISCOURAGED
the wise md statesmanlike undertaking OF a
deep water outlet for Lake commerce.
The extravaganza Of the route selected
for the barge canal and the selfish con,
siderations Of the promoters are pointed
ont in to-day's number of Engineering
Hens First it quotes from the report
Of the State Engineer. who. after making
his survey, pointed out the great advantages
Of the Lake Ontario route, which was not
selected. Engineering Ners says;
The or RantIatlOn WnlCn mas bpen pnsnlnp
the cana scheme however, W uld hear nothing
Of the Ontario route. They turned "A deaf
ear TO ali the well known ad nta ges of natural
Waterways as compare ed with artificial chan
peS declared that the barge canal oaI must be
forcipYihSir scheme through the Lcgsla ture
in this form.
Their ostensible reason for this was that
the ma VACATION OF Lake Ontario is too danger
Gus for i,oOo-ton barses OF chea construction.
such as are proposed for the iOoo,ton- barge
the Buffalo interests would not favor the
barge canal until they were assured that It
would not In any way permit freight to pass
through Buffalo without transfer.
In the Legislature OF 1902 the Buffalo in
.erests opposed the l.ooo.ton-baI se canal
canal or else adopt the scheme OF Mr.. George
X. Raymond, a prominnent owner OF d gram N
TO take boats OF rs feet width and l2S feet