Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-31
CANALS WE MUST DIG
LAKE ERIE TO MICHIGAN AND
DELAWARE TO CHESAPEAKE.
Several Vast and Important Problems
Which the Coming Generation of
Engineers Must Solve.

From the Technical World.
This nation requires the construction OF
six great canals to facilitate its commerce
and give its navy free movement to points
of advantage Each one would save some
of our vessels hundreds of miles in MAX
ing their usual routes. This would greatly
lessen freight and save time In the trans
portation of goods and in order to meet the
competition of the world we must soon take
advantage of our opportunities in this line.
Our country Is not favorably shaped for
navigation. We have few bays indenting
our coast SO that our vessels must sail
very long distances. 1t is all the more i'm
portant. therefore, to make the most OF
what we have.
The first canal to be constructed Is the
Panama. AS this is already under way.
and has been much discussed, it Is not nee
essary to dwell on 1t. When this great wa
terway is finished we shall be spared the
necessity of sailing around the vast con-
tlnent of South America in passing between
our Atlantic and Pacific seaboards, or In
going to Asia
Another canal of vast Importance which
should soon be undertaken will run across
the lower peninsula of Michigan from Lake
Michigan to Lake Erie This would have to
be about 200 miles long, but its construction
would be greatly facilitated by utilizing
the channels of several rivers. The land is
nearly level, that 1t would not be expen-
siye either to construct or to operate. When
finished 1t would shorten the distance be-
tween Chicago and Buffalo by 400 miles.
Vessels must now sail the whole length of
Lake Michigan and Lake Huron to reach
Lake Erie, coming back almost to their
starting point.
Water Communication with New York.
This canal-with the proposed one here
matter mentioned, from Chicago to the
Mississippi-wili give water communication
from New York throughout the greater
part of the west. and through it our vast
grain, coal and lumber trade can be car
ried on at greatly reduced cost. The mil
lions that would be spent in constructing it
would be repaid in the advantages of short
and cheap water communication between
the west and the east. This is public i'm
provement which should receive the atten-
ton of capitalists and of the government
Two other canals would naturally con-
meet with this in time. One Is the canal
from Chicago to the Mississippi just men
toned, to be constructed by deepening the
Chicago drainage canal and the Desplaines
and Illinois rivers, or by a shorter cut TO the
Mississippi by way of the Hennepin route
running directly west from Chicago. This
canal would unite the great lakes with the
Mississippi and furnish a continuous water
way from New York to New Orleans.
With the connecting rivers, 1t would also
run waterways all through the west so
that our vessels couA sail over almost the
whole country. This canal would not be ex-
pensive. since the most difficult part has
already been built at an expense of 10000
600. through the divide which separates the
waters of the lakes from those of the gulf
Much of the remaining construction would
run through the channels of existing riv-
ers. The value of this water route would
be enormous. In afrording cheap transport
tation for goods and establishing per1na-
nent competition with the railroads.
A Larger Erie Canal.
The other canal. which will connect with
the two preceding. Is the Erie. which the
state of New York has undertaken to deep