Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-25
A NEW SCHEME.
To Connect Inland Seas With Gulf of
Mexico.

Washington. June 24.-Lakes- tot the
Gulf deep waterway enthusiasts are
looking forward to the presentation of
q new scheme to connect the inland
seas with the Gulf Of Mexico. Word
has been received here that plans are
being prepared by Capt Robert +. Orr,
Of Illinois, which contemplate practi-
cally the abandonment Of the MiSSiS-
sippi river south Of Cairo and the
utilization of a chain of lakes in es-
tabliShing the proposed now route. 1t
is reported that Il $50. OOO. 600 appropria
ton will be sought to put the scheme
in operation.
Capt. Orr's figures, according to re-
ports estimate that the cost would be
about the same per mile as railroad
construction. He would have the
work begun at Lake Borgnc and
would carry ii north to Cairo, divid-
ing the operations into five sections Of
about one hundred miles each. From
the western end Of this lake a cut
would be made to Lakes POntchartrain
and Maurcpas. From these lakes the
channel would follow Il course slightly
northwest until Spanish Lake was
reached, when it would assume Il north
trend and parallel the Mississippi
river until it got to Cairo, where con-
ncctiOn with the Illinois river would be
made once into the river. the pro-
posed route would be- that already dis
cussed. connecting with tn" Great
Lakes through Chicago's sanitary
canal.
Capt. Orr expects to enlist the
Lakes-to- thc-Gulf Deep Waterway As
SoCiation in the matter. and will ask
that organization to support his plan.
This is the logical association to press
the fight before the next Congress. il
one is to be made. for the National
Rivers and HarbOrS Congress, while 1t
is the most representative organization
Of its kind in The country, IS COM
mittcd to no Individual plan of better
ment and believes only in the general
prouosition that the Federal Govern
mcnt should exrcmd $300o0,OO0 year
on the work Of general waterways inn
provcmcnt The Congress. which
counts its members in every state and
territory in the Union is cndeavoring
to increase its membership 50 as to
further its program at the coming ses-
sion of the national legislature. Capt.
j. T.. Ellison of Cincinnati. secretary
and treasurer of the organization. is
bending all his energies to this end.
TO return to Capt. orrS plan, he cSti-
mates that it will require four years
to complete each of the sections, or
twenty years to fnuish the entire Mis-
sissippi portion. His scheme to take
the work n section ut time. Complct-
ing each link and throwing it open tn
traffic. Capt. Orr is confident. will
work great economies. He believes
that 1t would be possible to secure big
returns from the gigantic undertaking
almost from the beginning of the work.
and at the same time build IN new
territory and give shippers transporta-
tion accommodations which such
waterway naturally would afford.
Capt Orr is said to have made Il
personal survey and close study Of the
route he has selected 1t lies east Of
the Mississippi and close To II" foot
hill. where soil. as he explains it. is to
be found that will furnish 4 splendid
foundation. In addition It will he
possible to use this SOIL in the con-
StructiOn of banks and bikes The
proposed canal will be fitted with
locks. hut how many the reports do
not indicate. 1t IS said that Capt.
Orr is firmly Of the opinion that it is
cheaper to lift n vessel than 10 COM
pei it to force its way against a heavy
current