New-York tribune., 1903-02-16
THE C4N4L QUESTION.
State and Federal Corporation for
DeeD Wate71cdy Urged.

D6ep ~ GLe71cdU Cf9Pd.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: An editorial paragraph on Saturday says.
IF those who advocate federal action on water
uays sincere they w1uld take up the deepen
ing of the Hudson" AS who has furthered the
same (see brief In State Commerce Commission
Report. THE Troy Press etc1 and therefore free
from this reproach, permit me to say. l have
taken all matter publ highways roads and
canals) and familiar with public and private
opinion. that those who favor federal action are
more sincere than the psrtisans of the barge canal
or else thev better informed. This ailusion to
the deepening of the Hudson has gone the rounds OF
the partisan hargeway press the last weeks. as
have heretofore the special pleadings and curious
misstatements of Major symcRs and other paru-
sans of the bargeway in reference TO the deep
waterway. and which easily refuted. If one
has only the time to make the corrections in the
various papers in which they appear
The bargeway people determined to put
the advocates OF the federal deep waterway in
position OF antagonism. WHEN, if they really
Tor waterway development its merits' they
would bring about and enlarge their following by
cooperative plan, whereby. in view of the canal
project proposed. federal cooperation could be
provided whereby the United States would deepen
the Hudson. build A deep waterway around Mag
it has q the 500" and would cooperate
on deep waterway basis on the common Oswego-
Mohawk route. effecting there food disposal and
water storage well.
In editorial on roads and canals you state
that commissions have gone over this nal Ques-
ton. and it should be settled this autumn. That
is true We have had State commissions and we
have had United States commissions, and the
work of~the State commissions from their con-
stitution. the limited time and at their
disposal. have been compare lively inferior.
glance at the State and the United States reports
and their maps Will show. The United States
reports cover the ground wholly, including water
supply. other highway changes and interference
and all damages down to water power affected.
So far the State reports good they are
largely founded the work done by the federal
government. But have had consideration of
what could be done and should be done as 10 State
and federal cooperation. whereby both uses. COM
rnerciaI and naval should best be served and the
State and nation respond to benefits furnished
each. National cooperation is assured
a the opposition thereto. largely confined to New
York and Buffalo is modified. The Farmers
National Congress and the National Board of
Trade have this year favored it, and over the
specific objections Of the New-York representa-
tives that they intended 10 build this bargeway,
which all intelligent students Of the situation
not warped by special interests think is
inadequate solution Other farmer and CONNER
cial bodies have favored the deep waterway at
federal expense or cooperation elsewhere and In
this State as has the State Farmers Congress, the
Rochester Chamber Commerce, and the Tax
and Transportation Reform Association, etc /
can give you list Of -he important newspapers
which also do
The interests of the State and the maintenance
OF ways can be insured by convention, or without
bringing up the question OF sovereignty, by ces-
sion or grant IN the nature Of realty deed on
conditions The Rochester press and representa-
tives are against the bargeway and almost unan-
imous for the deep waterway. which will make
Ontario one Of the great lakes and promote iron
and steel Industries and ship building all along
the line and make Rochester seaport; and by
the com bination outlined what Newly ork ana
Buffalo want and what the interior and the na ton
want can be effected without more expense to the
State than the bargeway proposition, and federal
action can thereby be induced and impeiled as
part and parcel of whole arrangement Roches-
Ter is better informed on these subjects. In my
address to the Chamber OF Rochester November
1900 I showed slides CT the profile of the Hudson
TO which you refer and which includes a few
q Side Of Lake ST Peter and that the deepening
lesser effort than already done py our s17aiIsC
renee to make Montreal a seaport. You will
find these prollles in the United & states tate SsIii
REQUIRE only about twelve miles of canal and nine
locks 70 make feep paTrr TegFTS IN nine hours from
Erie into Ontario. You will also find that the
disposal is about the same for thirty or twenty
one foot way. and presumably for the pargeway;
system and the lake carrier through to .NeT- ",
& snd fed ~ erai cooperation is little more work
than proposed for the state alone is lrnnlteIy
better and can be effected at no more expense TO
It rests with the interests that promoting the
bargeway 20 say whether that proposition: aIreaog
weighted by the antagonisms Of all who are are
against such canal enhancement shall als3 cafLs L
public welfare and waterway development ana
gnperng Se III n any - way the barge
nroiect federal cooperation be allowed eHeetlns
es6aig eaeanat9 aS 1es 5e doVetaiisd shall bring to the
port Of canal iproyeent fi tnf for eep Wster
way ship canal and fedeTaI acaon 2T Sgc1g
Hq5I, Pncbaster n Feb s 1868