Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-07-07
BRING OCEAN 70
CHICAGO and DULUTH
DEEP WATERWAY PROJECT Al.
MOST EQUAL TO BUILDING
PANAMA CANAL.
ocEAN-GoING VESSELS
oCEAN-GOING VESSELS
COULD TOUCH LAKE PORTS
Plan Proposed to Utilize St. Lawrence
River and WsIIand Canal - Canada
Would Be Asked to co.operate-At-
Iantic Coast Cities Probably Will
Oppose Townsend Measure.
rspecial correspondence].

Washington, July 7.-Senator Town
send, of Michigan, is doing his utmost
to bring about action by this country
which will set in motion the project OF
a great deep waterway between the
great lakes and the Atlantic ocean by
way of the Welland canal and the st.
Lawrence river. In a recent senate
speech, Senator Townsend urged this
waterway and spoke for a measure
authorizing the president to enter into
an agreement with Canada with refer
ence to this waterway. He would have
this measure made an 10
the reciprocity bill.
While there is no likelihood the
Townsend measure will be adopted as
an amendment to the reciprocity bill.
the Michigan senator intends to push
it and he and other supporters Of 1t
believe it is before long going to result
in legislation.
One of the reasons Senator Town
send is for reciprocity is that he be-
lieves reciprocity will better the rela-
lions between the United States NJ
Canada and that betterment OF these
relations will tend to help along the
waterway.
An Important Project.
The project proposed is unquestion-
ably one Of the most important ever
preached before congress-. providing 1t
is capable of the things which Mr..
Townsend and others think 1t is. What
is proposed is nothing more or less
an ocean waterway, or waterway
for the great ocean going vessels. from
the great lakes to the Atlantic ocean,,
via the ST. Lawrence river. 1t is In
sisted this is feasible, az no impracti-
cable expense, and that the benefits Of
a waterway would be enormous
alike to this country and Canada.
Bring Ocean 20 Chicago.
The accomplishment OF the project,
as described by Senator Townsend,
would amount in a word to h Ok
tension Of the Atlantic ocean to Chica-
go INC Duluth and the very heart OF
the continent. Such cities as Duluth.
Chicago. Port Arthur, Milwaukee, De-
troit. Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo. and To-
ronto would be converted practically
would float the ocean-gofng vessels OF
England. Germany, Russia. and other
maritime powers. On h other hanG,
as III oal ny Siio
vessels could be loaded at lake ports
directly for their destination at some
foreign port. as Liverpool, Havre or
Bremerhaven. h effect on the rail-
road rates from the east to h middle
west would obviously be tremendous.
As Senator Townsend points out. the
interstate commerce commission would
have no occasion to pass upon rail-
road rates from the middle west to
the Atlantic inasmuch as water COM
would keep these rates rea-
sonable.
Coast Ports Opposed.
Senator Townsend expects that op-
position will arise from Atlantic coast
ports, like New York, Boston, Phila-
delphia. Baltimore and others. But he
feels such opposition would be short
sighted. He points out that goods go
ing from the eastern parts Of this
country to the west would get lower
rates OF transportation and the result
would be q benefit all around, alike to
eastern manufacturers and western
The plans for the proposed deep
waterway. 1t Is insisted by those who
have studied the subject. do not in
volve anything at all impossible Of
achievement from an engineering
standpoint. Senator Townsend insists
that the project Is a greater, tho less
expensive one, than h Panama canal.
The rapids in the ST. Lawrence are
one Of the obstacles. Chief of these
are the Long Sault Rapids opposite St.
Lawrence county. N. Y. It Is proposed
by a series OF bis dams and locks to
convert these into deep pools entirely
M 20 <NS Ypoaf uocsa1a HofWaan Y.Qka
Ontario and Montreal, a number Of
dams and locks would be necessary to
overcome the rapids Of the st. Law
renee. But it Is said the power that
would be derived from he dams would
largely meet the cost Of improvement.
The Welland canal would have to be
enlarged. If vessels Of thirty-foot
draft are to be accommodated. h
channels in the Detroit river and h
st. Cl.i r river would have to be deep
cred ard some improvements at the
Sault ste Marie canal and in that
vicinity in st. Mary's river would be
essential.
Would Cost Millions.
In 1906. when President Taft was
secretary Of war, a survey found that
a twenty five-foot channel from Du-
luth and Chicago to Buffalo would cost
about s26. 000, 900. besides several mill
lions for dredging certain lake harbors
to the requisite depth. Senator Town
SER estimates $3.50, 00O. 900 as the cost
to be divided between the United
States and Canada for the improve
ment between Lake Erie and Montreal:
Canada Is seriously considering the
great project Of a canal and waterway
from Georgian bay via h Ottawa
river to connect with the ocean at
Montreal. But this project involves
great difficulties and If carried out
would be Of no use to the United