The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-06-19

nRflon- Sentiments OF patriotism
would move Americans 20 resent
such = move. and TO meet II. rs the
authorities OF New York state ara
preparing 60 do with the cid Erie
canal. b. the construction of an all
water route on American soil which
viii keep the trade which We nov
Possess.
The old Eric canal. from buffalo
10 Albany. where Il connects with
tho Hudson river for New York. IL
20 be rebuilt AT a cost % ti8t. 900 .0e0.
II Nas the old Eric canal which first
brought the great grain traffic Of
tbs west through New York state
and city. Il was permitted 10 b.
come autiqnated.
The cities OF Nov York aud Buf-
faio have most to lose by the con
siraction OF tho proposed Georgian
bag ship canal Buffalo handles
rs. e08 90 bushels OF grain annual
". most OF Il bound for foreign "a
port. and u II 20 eliminate the
heavy terminal and elevator charges
ana the cost Of breaking cargo that
this nsu waller route l. chiefly de-
sired The cost Of carrying frOm
buffalo to NeN York la greater than
the freight from New York 10 Law
erpooi.
I, Is impossible tn nay Just how
much export traffic New York city
has az stake. but Il ia known that
the region tributary to the Great
Lakes develops s0.0o0. 90 tons 81
freight q year. 4 large portion Of
which a. destined Cor export and
ultimately finds lie way out through
the harhor Of New York
The Canadian promoters do not
hesitate 10 claim that they would
get 1000 900 tons for their new
canal. AZ a conservative estimate.
during The first year % It's opera
lion.
While New York. Buffalo and
Boston would have most 70 lose. the
usw waterway wuuld have ita effect
also on Philadelphia. Baltimore.
Newport NewH. New Orleans. Cal
weston and other southern ports
from which floN the fuadatuffs sent
10 Europe BY the farmers u our
great middle west. Commerce flows
In tho channels which are shortest
and In directions which offer least
resistance A water route which
would enable produce TO reach for
eign markets from lake ports with
ont breaking hulk. IL n route which
every railroad man is willing % ad-
NIT will take tho larger share OF all
dead freight"
But New Yorts loss would be
ChicaEo'a gain. Changing the point
Of view the canal looks Ike an al
most unmitiRatSd blessing. Every
city or citizen tnot engaged In the
railroad buEinessl west Of Buffalo
TO the Rocky Mountains. and north
Of Memphis. Tenn. would be pleased
10 find in the canal a shorter and
cheaper road 10 the foreign market
where he sells his produce
Tho middleman. the elevator man
and the railroad would be largely
eliminated, and the farmer or man
ufacturer would be that much closer
TO tho actual buyer and consumer.
Every western lake port would
become also sea port. open 10 all
but the largest oceau-golnR vessels.
and from these ports freight would
move. not only aboard. but up and
down the Atlantic aeaboard. and.
when the Panama canal Is complct-
I'd. even 20 San Francisco and tho
Pacific ports
Lake vessel owners would vel
come a canal which would permit
them 10 escape during the winter
months when navigation Is closed.
Three or four months Of every year
this great fleet, representing mill
lions OF capital invested. Is forced
20 remain Idle If they could get 10
tho ocean they would always find
profitable employment In the coast
wiHo trnda
A person not familiar with this
geography would undoubtedly be
surprised 10 learn that the distance
from Chicago % Buffalo via tho