East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-06-26

deep sea ship canal is an old dream
soon to be realized: and in its realiza-
ton will be witnessed one of the
greatest economic struggles ever
waged.
The Canadian government has de-
signs on the greatest volume of COM
merce which moves on the American
continent, and for the purpose Of di-
verting that commercial stream from
its present channels, has authorized
and is Just completing a survey and
estimate of an all-water Canadian
route from the Great Lakes to the
Atlantic.
The project is for connecting link
between Georgian bay-which Is a
deep indentation in the northern
shore of Lake Huron-and the waters
of the Ottawa and st. Lawrence rivers
flowing northeast into the Atlantic.
The distance to be bridged by the
canal is not great, and the cost has
been officially estimated at S65,OOO,-
600 TO s70,O00,000.
There are very strong reasons to
thorized by the present Laurier ad-
ministration of the Dominion govern
ment.
The importance of the project may
be realized when it is stated that such
a waterway, If built, would almost i'm
mediately take from the railroads OF
the United States the bulk of the vast
export trade in grain and meats, the
former aggregating 2,22S,0OO,OOO
bushels a year and the latter 1,OOO,-
OOO. 900 pounds. Three-quarters OF
this traffic now moves by rail TO
New York, and less than a quarter OF
the grain from Chicago moves by boat
even to Buffalo.
The recent emigration movement
which is taking thousands of farmers
from the United States into Canada,
and the general northern movement
of the wheat growing area, Is one OIL
the causes which will hasten the con-
struction of this canal. 1t is the de-
sire of the Dominion government TO
provide an outlet for this grain, with
out its entering the states, preferably
a cheap all-water route.
A glance at any map will show that
the shortest route, after the grain
strikes the Great Lakes is by the st.
Lawrence. The dip to Detroit, around
the province of Ontario, through
Lakes Huron, Erie and Onatrio, Is
extremely roundabout And, II the
grain is bound for Liverpool, whose
latitude is practically identical with
that of Montreal, every mile which II
s. out nf
The proposed canal will be regarded
favorably or otherwise, according tc
the point of view of the observer, anc
this is bound to change according tC
the latter's geographical location. II
its broadest aspect the construction
of the canal is an effort by one natioT
TO get the business of another neigh
Dor nation. Sentiments Of patriotism
would move Americans to resent sucl
a move. and to meet it. as the author
titles of New York state are preparing
to do with the old Erie canal, by tn
construction of an all-water route ol
American soil which will keep tn
trade we now possess.
The old Erie canal. from Buffal
to Albany where it connects with tn
Hudson river for New York. is to b
rebuilt at a cost of $101, 100000.
was the old Erie canal which firs
brought the grain traffic of the Yves
through New York state and city.
was permitted to become antiquated.
The cities of New York and Buffal
have most to lose by the construc
ton of the proposed Georgian ba
ship canal. Buffalo handles 14S,0O0
900 bushels of grain annually. most
it bound for foreign export, and it
to eliminate the heavy terminal an
elevator charges and the cost
breaking cargo that this new watt
route is chiefly desired. The cost
carrying from Buffalo to New Yor
is greater than the freight from Ne
York TO Liverpool.
It is impossible to say just no
much export traffic New York eli
has at stake, but it is known th
the region tributary to the Gre
Lakes develops 40,000.00o tons
freight a year. a large portion
which is destined for export and u
timately finds it's way out throut
the harbor OF New York.
The Canadian promoters do n
hesitate to claim that they would g
1000, 900 tons for their new canal,
a conservative estimate, during 4
first year of its operation.
While New York, Buffalo and Be
ton would have most to lose, the ne
waterway would have its effect al
on Philadelphia, Baltimore, Newpc
News, New Orleans, Galveston a
other southern ports from which III
foodstuffs sent to Europe by the IA
mers of our great Middle West. Coz
merce flows in the channels which a
shortest and in directions which off
least resistance. A water route whi
would enable produce to reach forei
markets from lake ports witho
breaking bulk, is a route which eve
railroad man is willing to admit v
take the larger share OF all "de
freight"
All the reports received by the st'
department from consular agents a
others, confirm the prediction that
canal is likely soon to be authoriz
The cost. which seems trffling VIII
compared with projects like the Ps
anna canal. is even less than II v
first supposed. and It has been ef
mated that that $65.0o0,oo0 so
vested would earn by tolls at least
per cent II no more than 7,0o0,C