Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-25
A GREAT LAKES CANAL
PROF. WILLIAMS THINKS ONE
SHOULD BE BUILT.
It Would Open Up the Great North
west to the Commerce Of the
World

Americas desire to build the isthmian
canal may be lfkened to the old adage. a
prophet is not without honor save in his
own country" said Prof Gardner S. Will
fiams, who holds the chair of professor of
civil engineering in the University of
Michigan. to Star representative today
while in this city on business of the uni
versity.
Il refer to the lack of recognition given
to the building of canal right here at our
own door,, continued Prof Williams
waterway connecting the great lakes with
the Atlantic ocean.
While not strictly opposed to the 18TH
milan canal, nor in sympathy with the po
sition that several railroads have taken in
the matter, yet am of the opinion that an
outlet from the lakes to the tidewater
would be vastly more beneficial TO the
American people as whole Perhaps it
would not give us much prestige in the
eyes of Europe-and that's what America
seems to be aiming at just now-but it
would have three great results, namely:
That of immensely increasing the COM
merce of the great lakes, the development
OF our great northwest, a section of this
country that offers wonderful opportuni
ties. and the opening up of those fertile
Canadian provinces lying along our bor-
derS.
Benefits From Such a Canal.
The Canadian country is very similar in
climate, minerals and other resources to
Iowa. Michigan, Wisconsin and the Da-
kotas, and offers the same advantages to
the farmer ard the cattle raiser As we
know, Michigan, bordering Lake Superior,
is rich in deposits of copper and iron. And
just much 50 is the province of Ontario,
which is Michigans northern neighbor on
Lake Superior.
Us it not apparent, then, that when such
country is open to commerce with the
world tie entire northwest, as well as Can
ada, will feel its untold Dement'S! asked
Prof Williams. "On the other hand, / can
not see that America is going to receive
any such advantages from the isthnan
proposition. 1t seems to me that Europe Is
to be given a greater share of its Dement'S.
In the meantime, while we are entirely
neglecting the great lake waterway, the
Canadians are growing impatient, and as L
understand, there rs movement up there
which strongly favors the building of their
own canal 1t viii not be a route that Will
benefit us, however. but will be an outlet
from Georgian bay. through Lake Nipis-
sing down the Ottawa river to the Atlantic
ocean.
DO you think that the work on the canal
is being delayed?' Prof. Williams was
asked.
No Unnecessary Delay.
NO not in any sense" replied Prof. Will
liams with decision. You must remember
that this sthmian canal is an immense I'M
dertaking. a year or more is needed to ar
range the details of construction, then
thousand Other questions Will COIlIIoH ZIG
engineers. and all these things take time
The most important question yet undecided
Is one which involves the kind of canal
we are going to have. whether ii Is to be
built on the lock principle or from the TIDE
water.
That however need not be of much con-
Germ, as | am told that the engineers IN
charge are men of ability and are thor
oughly capable of determining this import
ant point when the time arrives. Our great
fault so far has been that we are too i'm
patient to see results. When the canal
was decided upon the American people
thought that all they had to dc was to rush
down to the isthmus and make the dirt fly
for awhile and the result would be a first
class canal. But they are coming to realize
that this undertaking is something more
than a ditch through the city's streets, and
in adopting the policy of waiting We offer
the greatest encouragement to the men VINO
are conducting this great work.
Prof. Williams is one of the younger
members of the faculty of the Michigan
University, a man of vigor ard ideas, and
to him much credit is due for the rapid
strides the university has made in the de-
partment of engineering.