The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-01-19

new tonnage to that already in ex-
istence True, the direct trade be-
tween the Mississippi and Lake
Michigan is now comparatively a
small item. But that is traffic by
rail and therefore costly A canal
would cheaper it and would encour-
age a movement of commerce on
longer lines which now passes East
and West by more direct ways. The
only way to make an improved Mis-
sissippi of real use to lake ports will
be to provide an all-water route from
those ports to the Gulf. OF course
the necessity for this is not imme-
ture, say in less than ten years. It
lis absurd to say that the railroads
are equal to this prospective traffic,
when the ink is not yet dry on the
statement Of James ]. Hill that they
are nearly six thousand millions be-
hind their present opportunities and
that il will take them Ave years to
catch up with the present. not to
mentioa what they have to do to
abreast Of conditions Eve years
hence.
But If the enlargement Of the Chi
cago Drainage Canal TO . depth Of
ten or twelve feet aad correspond
ing width is persisteatiy viewed as
. peril to the lakes. the same thing
can not be said Of deep-water chan
mel across Southern Michigan from
the head of Lake Michigan TO that
of Lake Erie. For this would be
merely taking water that now flows
around from one lake to the other
by : more direct way. Considering
the watershed. it would tend to help
The level Of both lakes. The next
step would be deep-water channcl
between Toledo and Cincinnati. and
this would Obviously be contribu-
ton Of water TO the tower takes and
to the Ohio river. The ieagth of a
water way IS within reasonable linn
its not the importaot point From
Chicago by way Of Toledo. the Nj
ami and Erie Camel 2ad the Ohio
River TO the Mississippi would be
around the whole curve Of an irreg-
uiar letter U. But Chicaxo's water
traffic now has to cover precisely
a similar course going oorth to St
Mays Canal and then down through
Lake Huron and Lake ST. Clair be-
fore it can come to the straight line
for Buffalo and the coming great
Erie outlet to tide-water. The thing
is as broad as it IS long.
It is absolutely certain that the
Michigan-Ohio route would have
plenty of water for every purpose.
1t would give to the lakes instead of
taking from them. It would pass
through territory, every foot OF
which is rich beyond the dreams OF
avarice, through regions already
enormously populous and capable OF
sustaining many millions of people
more than they now have, besides
great towns which are already ports
and manufacturing centers second to
none This whole matter has been
discussed for years. Not that the
Michigan Ohio route should be con-
sidered as the rival of the proposed
Illinois Canal. Both will, ten years
hence, be found indispensable, just as
the waterway from the fot of Lake
Erie to the headwaters Of the Ohio,
if it can be supplied with water, will
be found indispensable, and the sew
en-foot channel between Cleveland
and the mouth of the Muskingum
will be found perservingly useful.
These water lines and an infinite
number of others from one end of
the country to the other are the only
devicesby which the railroads can be
permanently relieved of the difficult
ty they now have of keeping UP with
the business of the country.
There is no use of saying that the
Country should De less prosperous.
But it is an insult to Providence, II
mankind fails to do the best it can to
make the benefits it receives univer-
sal. To burn or to let it rot for lack
Of transportation, when there are
people who go hungry for want, this
IS flying in the face of Providence.
To multiply and cheaper the means
IF communication is one of mans
asks as a partner of the Deity in
making the earth what it should be,
he Garden OF the Lord. The story
If Edan is not half so much history |
IS prophecy. The waterways are an |
essential feature of the lengend: |
And out Of the ground made the |
ord God grow every tree that IS |
,leasant to the sight and good for
God And a river went out |
# Edan TO water the garden; ana
rom thence it was parted and be |
anne into four heads. The name Of
he first is Pison: that IS it which |
.ompasseth the Whole land of IIavs
ali, where there is gold, and the gold