New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-22
CANAL DEVELOPMENT.
Suggestion for Deepening Erie Ditch
to TzCenty-oR6 Feet.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: IN reference to your editorial Of the 10TH
lakes TO Gulf or Sea" 1t should be borne in
mind that the lakes-to-gulf deep waterway which
has been strenuously pushed this year. though for
a 14-foot way included g-foot locks. with the idea
Of such a way ultimately. Both the present and
prospective depths for the channel and for the
locks are deeper than the Erie Canal as row
planned. though the authorization by the people
in 1903 was only for such waterways connecting the
lakes and the Hudson OF at least depths OF
twelve feet. and minimum dimensions only as 70
width in earth and rock sections and now as 20
locks likewise minimum dimensions. Under such
the authorization is on the part OF the state Oh
S10l 900 OF bonds for such waterways which the
friends of the canal on the hearing before the
Attorney General asserted FOR suitable chan
nels Of commerce on the best lines between the
lakes and the Hudson"
The present River and Harbor bill the biggest
and best has passed the House. and provides Tor
proper preliminary examination in all It's phases
and connecting issues OF such a lakes-to-gulf deep
waterway. 1t also establishes the principle OF no
new projects unless their completion be provided
and the main provides satisfactory chanheIs I"'
all tho great harbors and throughout the lakes 10
the brink OF Niagara on the uniform I-foot basis.
The trustees Of the sanitary district have voted
n turn over the Chicago Canal 10 the federal gov
eminent II such deep waterway IS completed 10
the gulf and IL is estimated 20 be equivalent 10
half the cost thereof.
Il anpeared in the discussion before the House
that unless completed whole there would be
local and sectional antagonisms; that. If developed
only 10 ST Louis traffic would be turned irom
thercabouts out the St. Lawrence. Your editorial
suggests that II taken up whole. IT will meet
antaEonIsm as forming outlet from the Great
T akae 70 the Gulf rather than 70 the Atlantic
. Further II IS apparent that Canada will provide
such a twenty-one- foot outlet To the Atlantic by
the Georgian Bay-Ottawa short cut or the deNeop-
rnent of the Welland and St Lawrence system on
such basis But this Will not be by the hudson
In such situation the people OF the State Of New
York in Senate and Assembly represented. should
vote rs Chicago has done. 20 turn in that portion
OF its authorized bonds which would construct the
planned twelve-foot way the common route or
tbA federal deem waterway SURVEYS in the OswegO-
Mohawk and ChamplaiH-Hudson sections, and
make mutually satisfactory arrangements with the
federal government for tventy-one-foot ways
there Such deep waterways and uniform chan
nels OF twenty-one feet should connect with a
federal deep waterway TO be constructed through
the Niagara peninsula and around the Fans, as mas
already been done at the 500 and along the -.
Lawrence as Canada has done, and from the St
Lawrence TO Champlain by International agreement
as surveyed. Thus by the action Of New York the
United States may obtain such g deep waterway
from the lakes TO the Atlantic seaboard at half
price as they would obtain 10 the Gulf by the &C
ton OF Illinois Chicago, which sits on the crest or
The continental divide just six feet above Niagara,
as we'll IS all the territory tributary 10 the lakes
Will have like interest in both, and canada is in
terested to have safer and Longer open channel
IN the sea than by the Straits ar Belle Isle anu
one which IS direct for all West Indian and South
American trade.
New York should DO interested 10 sec that the
outlet from the lakes by the Hudson should be
superior, and not inferior 70 that by the Gun or
TIE 81 lawrence, and should draw down the busl-
ness OF All Canada and bring 20 the magnificent
Uaterfrcnts of Manhattan the lake vessels, there
10 transfer 20 the ocean carers
Then we should take up az q slogan lakes 20 the
CuIF and lakes To the sea, both together and both
deep waterways and should make II a separate
and unique undertaking. like that at Panama, out
side any river and haTbor bill. because ITS bGneSS
miIitatea against inclusion with other affairs and
because IL is practically Of interest 10 the major
part OF the United States
These lake channels and their adequate continual
ton botn 10 the Gulf and the sea represent with
The micronesia canals aouG the Atlantic and the
C;uIf the nrst Of which. the Cape COD is being
undertaken by "a private corporation with
others more less started IN the River ana
H3rbor bill and with a cut through the FlorIdd
Peninsula. the complete circle Of feasible deep
water navigation system. TO which tne situation
lends itself. and may note also that by private
with the progressive development OF the ONO, the
Mississippi Gulf deep waterway Will have two con
nectiOns with the lakes. would the HUDSON by
the above suggestion hv the OswegO- Mohawk and
Champaign route So II would be "a fair deal all
around. And with the great rivers and harbors i'm
duate inland waterways system. 1t would he pity
IL. this. the portion I'm New York state should
be inferior requiring transfer ut her borders. This
system would also reach through the Panama Canal
into the Pacific ana accomplish more for the pro
motion Of our foreign and domestic commerce and
than anything else could JOHN a. +. WRIGHT
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