Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-25
THE BARGE CAN AL
QUESTION OF SECURING COL.
SYMoNS' SERVICES.
It is as an Advisor Only, Inasmuch as
He Made All the Prelimin-
airy Reports.

A prominent representative from New
York referring to the efforts being made
in the interests of the barge canal by Sc
curing the services of Col. Symons, the
protector of that work, as unanimously de-
cided upon by the state board, said: The
question seems to be entirely misunder-
stood. The cooperation" he continued,
asked of the government by permitting
Col Symons to give part of his time to the
prosecution of the work is not out of the
line of government participation In such
enterprises The canal is really national
project, although in this philosophical in
stance to be paid for by the state of New
York 1t is a common practice for Con-
sress to vote appropriations for surveys
for water routes which have less bearing
upon interstate commerce than the great
waterway proposed
In the case of the Illinois river large
sums were expended and United States en-
gineers engaged in solving the problem OF
connecting Lake Michigan with the Mfssls-
sippi river by means OF canal ana river
navigation. In this case all the expenses
were borne by the United States, although
the Improvement might be called local, yet
the benefits are interstate In every sense.
In the case of the New York canal that
state asked nothing from the government
for surveys and plans, the liberal sum OF
5000 600 out Of state funds having been de-
voted to the preliminary details
His Earlier Reports
"All this having been accomplished with
| out dollar of expense to the united
States. the government Is asked to carry
| out the scheme which really began unoer
| its own auspices. When Col Symons TOOK
| I'D these Investigations it was as part or
| his duty as United States engineer In
charge of river and harbor improvements
at Buffalo The earlier reports which he
made were to the chief of engineers of the
U. s. army, and the investigations were
continued under the same auspices Ihere
seems to be no valid reason why he should
not be permitted to devote part of his
time for the benefit of this public construc-
ton in which the lake and tidewater
commerce of the United States have a
direct interest. The plans and specifica-
tons without expert promotion by their
| originator would be much lessened in value,
and might entail great loss in the utiliza-
| ton of the millions voted for the purpose
| by the legislature and ratified by the peo-
| pie of New York by larger majority than
| ever given for any elective office or con-
structive work.
so far from interfering with Col.
| Symons' performance of his regular duties
as an engineer officer, his position on the
| canal board will be but advisory and there
( fore will in no way interfere with his mill
| tary assignment. He is not proposed for
| engineer in charge of the work. This is
entirely another branch paid for by the
| state of New York. The state simply de-
| SlfSS MS expert kUOWieuSe oI the
| Ing features essential to success, and.
| asks sufficient of his services for that pur-
| pose. That their pay for them Is not un-
| usual 1.-The laborer is worthy of his
| hire in this instance at any rate The
! services required will not necessitate his
| presence only for advisory purposes oc-
| casion may suggest, which would not take
| more time than would belong to him as the
| law stands. He is not accepting a civil
| office, his proposed duties being purely ad-
| visory and not requiring all of his time he
| should not be curtailed in his regular
| duties.
| Importance of the Work.
'"The canal is as important to the United
| States as a lake and tidewater route paid
| for out of the New York treasury as the
Panama canal will be to the world from
ocean to ocean paid for out of the treasury
| Of the United States and built by the United
| States engineers. The United States is GER
tainly as much interested in an interstate
lake and canal highway of commerce in
! New York and seven other states as it Is
! in an interoceanic canal in Panama for the
| benefit of England. Germany and France.
| As commerce now rules England will get
| more out of the Panama project than the
| United States. The states bordering the
! canal and the great lakes contributafy to
| it have population of 2S.0o0.000. There
! are sixty-six representatives in Congress
| whose districts touch on the waterways, to
| which it will give outlet on United S:otes
| soil from Duluth to New York. The traffic
| in grain. iron ore and other slow freights
| is almost beyond conception" The repre-
sentative added: This is the correct way
| to look at it, Congress will not be estab-
| fishing president. not violating any law
on the statute books nor order of the de-
partment. The services of Col Symons are
necessary to the success of the work as its
| protector. and IL he can accomplish that
/ end without Interference with his regular
! duties Congress should be willing to con-
tyil>, hat tn hQ CT "a NJ
| toward the success of its great undertake
1 ing"