New-York tribune., 1903-06-22
ARGUE AGAINST a SHIP CANAL.
Committee Thinks Unheard Of Sums Would
Be Necessary to Paw for 1t.

The Canal Irnproveu,ent State Committee yester-
day issued another statement in reply to the ad-
dresses Of the fifteen an;i-canal Eenators. Inc
statement follows in part:
The suggestion has been made that it would be
preferable TO adopt the so-caed Lake ontario
route for an improved canal between Lax Ere Ere
IA T q bsi, - tiI STATE and has been
rejected Lake Ontario cannot be ravigated by or
dinary canalboats in the spring anu tan &s the IN
surance rates on that class of vessel on Lake On
tario prohibitive. To navigate the waters OF
Lake Ontario on this canal route vessels must be
OF stronger and heavier construction than those
vessels that confined exclusively to canal navl-
. S.,+sTio ,-o-,lS he -
capable OF navigating Lake ontario ~ould De ap-
proxmately 100 per cent more than that OF an or
charge on the combined lake and canal Vessel. The
cost Of maintenance and operation would neces-
OF higher training would be required Owing to the
weather conditions during the early spring and taI
Lake Ontario the towing Of barges would BE-
dangerous and at times impracucable The sub
ton OF the inland canal between Buffalo and Syra-
would deprive considerable part of the State
of the benefits that are expected 10 result from the
improved waterway.
AS last resort of the enemies of canal improve
ment in this State the well known national ship
canal proposition is brought forward. Such people
after charging danger TO te state rom me use OF
barge canal. clanior for ship canal that would
require very much larger quantity OF water The
advocates of the ship canal scheme present very
fascinating picture OF oceangong steamers taking
lakes and through the canal and across the ocean.
without breaking bulk To compete with an ocean
must draw between thirty and thirty-fve feet Of
water, they would. therefore. require a depth Of
thirty-iVe feet with corresponding size Of
lock. They would. Furthermore require entire
reconstruction of the channels between the lakes
and Of the h&rhor work in all lake cities No
Inmates of snip canal OF such size and of the
work needed 10 adapt the harbors Of the Great
Lakes such craft has ever been made. and the
expense Of \ ship canal OF this size. with the
9f deepening the harhorS and channels would
involve enormous sums Of money heretofore
heard Of II is highly mpToba bic that the Congress
of the United States would ever consent 10 under
take a work Of this magnitude, which would be the
signal for demands from all parts Of the Union for
the execution Of works Of similar magnitude. in
favor Of particular localities New-York State
would be Obliged surrender the Erie Canal 10
the national government. and New-Yorks com
yuerce and industries. far they depend upon
the canal would thenceforth be At the mercy Of
hostile Congressional majority when application Is
made for ths appropriations necessary from time
10 time 10 maintain the canal and The lake chan
nels and harbors
The ship canal cannot for moment be seriously
considered IN connection with the Improvement OF
the waterways Of the State OF New ork and the
argument Of a shin canal only be used an
obstruction 10 any Improvement