Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-21
Deep Water Route from the Great
Lakes,

Inasmuch as the project to connect
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by an
isthmian canal had it's inception near
~ four hundred years ago and the great
undertaking has not yet been consum
mated, the advocates Of deep water
route from the Great Lakes to the At
lantic ocean have no reason for dis
engagement over the comparatively
short period that has elapsed since 1t was
FIRST proposed to make 1t possible for
ocean.Eoing vessels to ply tho waters Of
those vast inland seas. On the other
hand reason for positive encouragement
IL to be found In the fact that while the
project OF a deep waterway from the
Great Lakes to the sea has not been
taken up as a whole. sections of what
weuld constitute that route have already
been constructed or are under serious con-
temptation.
1t is announced that company has just
been formed At Cleveland, Ohio, having
for it, purpose the construction of a deep
water canal between Lake St Clair and
Lake Erie. English and French capital
Is behind the project and arrangements
are said to have beep made with London
and Paris bankers who propose to take
over the bonds. The passage planned Is
in q straight line from the st. Clair
Flats to Lake Erie, and the new route
would not only DO shorter and safer than
the Detroit river. but it will also be of
great benefit during fogs, while result
ing in material increase in the shipping
season.
In order to fully understand what sig
niicance the completion Of the Detroit
ship canal will have for the whole project
OF deep water route from Lake Super.
Tor to the sea. it is necessary to note what
has already been accomplished The
American Sault Ste. Marie canal about
the rapids In st. Mary's river, between
Lakes Superior and Huron. completed in
1855 at an expense Of over $s.oo0,o0O and
enlarged in 1870. Is 1.6 miles in length,
and It has a width OF 100 feet and depth
or q feet, so that large vessels can be
accommodated. In 1895 the Canadians
completed another deep water canal on
their side of the channel at Sault Ste.
Marie, at a cost of nearly a. 900 900 This
canal, which IL 1125 miles in length, has
. width OF $50 feet and a depth of 20
feet.
Tho construction OF these canals at
Sault Sta Marie made it possible for
vessels Of largo size to freely pass to and
fro between Lakes Superior Michigan
and Huron and Georgian Bay. The CON-
plstion Of the proposed deep water canal
between Lake st. Clair and Lake Erie
will facilitate lsage shipping from Duluth
to Buffalo. distance of 1000 miles In
round numbers, and all that will remain
to complete the deep water route will
be the enlargement Of the Welland canal
between Lakes Erie and Ontario. which
has . depth of only fourteen feet, or the
construction of new ship canal; the
dredging Of the st. Lawrence river at DIFF
fersnt points; the opening Of the channe
between tho ST. Lawrence and Lake
Champlain. and the deepening OF tn,
Champlain canal to the Hudson. The en-
cheering difficulties attending the worl
are not serious, and judging from thu
manner in which English capitalists are
financing big projects like the st. Cla
canal and the electric power canal a
Massena, N. Y, little difficulty woulc
be experienced in securing the necessar,
capital, even II our own government
absolutely refused to assist in tho un
dertaktng, which is doubtful in view
Of the manifold advantages that woul'
result from tho opening OF a deep waite
route from the Great Lakes to the sea.