New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-10
LAKE r0 Gle az 10 SEAH


Chicago will no doubt be much disappointed
at the refusal of Congress, by an Overwhem-
ing majority, to provide for the construction
of a shallow navigable waterway from Lake
Michigan TO the Gulf of Mexico. The city by
the lake has had its heart set upon such
waterway for many years. 1t was win mat
end in view perhaps much as for reasons
of sanitation that it planned and constructed
the drainage canal which now carries its sew
age down 10 Joliet, Peoria. st. Louis and other
suburban towns. and which it frequently, but
with serene Indifference to facts, describes as
1.-The largest artificial waterway ever con-
structed" We have no idea that Chicago will
even now abandon its ambition. Succeeding
Congresses will probably have the same inter-
esting project urged upon their consideration
Indeed it may he that in time the scheme VIII
be approved and executed. 1t probably Will be
If ever the United States pays as much atten-
ton as other nations have done TO the deyel-
opment of inland waterways.
So Chicago need not mourn as one without
hope. or indeed without material consolation
in the near future. If she cannot get the United
States TO give her a navgable waterway 10
the Gulf of Mexico. at least the State Of New
York, without her asking Is at the present
moment engaged in providing her with an
equally commodious waterway to the Atlantic
Ocean. OF course the Erie Canal will not
transform Chicago into a true seaport, since
oceangoing craft cannot pass through it, But
then neither, for the same reason, would the
canal which Chicago has wanted Congress to
construct across Illinois. And if thus in any
case she must remain an inland city. dependent
upon some other for access to the sea, why
should not New York. rather than New Or
leans, play the grateful part of Pir9us to her
Athens?
It is true that. while Chicago is nearer TO
New York than to New Orleans, the distance
by water is some three hundred miles greater,
because of the roundabout course through the
Straits OF Mackinac. If only Chicago had had
the enterprise to get a canal cut across South
ern Michigan. as New York did from the Hud-
son River TO Lake Erie the distance by water
would be less 10 New York than to New Or
leans. But even in existing conditions it seems
better TO make the longer trip TO New York
than the shorter one TO New Orleans because
Of the difference IN distance between these lat
ter places and the other ports to which access
is desired by the commerce of Chicago. The
bulk Of Chicago's foreign trade is doubtless
with Europe. Now 1t is three hundred miles
further by water to New York than to New
Orleans, but 1t Is fifteen hundred miles less
from New York than from New Orleans to
Europe. so that there is still a margin OF twelve
hundred miles in New York's favor. For MeXi-
can and Central and South American trade the
New Orleans route would be preferable. But
that trade is not yet comparable with that of
Europe.
1t is not unrea sonable to expect that one Of
these DAYS there will be navigable waterway
from Chicago to the Mississippi River, as there
will also be other navigable inland routes
which have not yet been developed. Whether
the whole nation should pay for It, however, or
Chicago and the State of Illinois should do so,
as New York did for the Erie Canal, may he
open to consideration. But with the great pub
lie works already in hand but still far from
completion, and with the prospect of a deeper
waterway to the sea by way of New York at
an earlier date than she could probably get
one by way of New Orleans Chicago may well
content herself to wait a while for the reallza-
ton Of her darling dream.