Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-21
City Will Soon Be Called on to
Answer Definitely Certain
Questions.
LIEUT.. BLACK OUTLINES THEM
Have to Do with Improvement
by the Government of the
Narrows on Lake
Champlain.

about this city's attitude toward the great
Champlain deep waterway project now
contaminated by the United states gov
ernment and the improvement of the mar
rows so that barges of large capacity MAJ
pass through.
Some Of the phases of this problem were
set forth Tuesday night at the Algonquin
club by Lieut.. r. d. Black. L. S. A, corps
of engineers Lieutenant Black came to
Burlington on the invitation of the com
mercal club and spoke 1T the Algonquin
club before a large number Of its mem
bers and guests. Lieutenant Black is an
authority on government projects for deep
waterways. and he gave most interest
ing outline of some of the questions in
volved in the proposed Champlain water
way.
While the whole question of inland
waterways is almost too broad a one to
be comprehendod at one sitting, the meat
of the matter as 1t pertains to Burning
ton is Just this:
What would It mean to the citizens of
Burlington, collectively and measured
rom a pecuniary standpoint. to be able
20 ship freight through the Champlain
canal in harges Of 1000 tons capacity, 300
feet long and having draft Of 70 feet?
And further, what should the harbor IA
ciites be in order to accommodate such
shipping and what does Burlington want
in the way of proper terminals, etc.
1t must be said to the credit of the
citys public-spirited business men that
the sentiment expressed last night. after
hearing Lieutenant Blacks talk. heartily
favored the deep waterway project Areso-
luton. introduced by ex-Mayor James
E. Burke after the address. was adopted
by the Commercial club and set forth in
substance that 1t was the sense Of the
club that such a project would meet with
approval
DIT f. W Sears, president Of the AL
gonqun club. introduced Lieutenant
Black. Or Sears said It was always a
pleasure 20 hear any man speak on any
subject uron which that man was an au-
THIRTY.
A SEEKER AFTER KNOWLEDGE.
Lieut.. Black disclaimed any credit of
being an expert and stated that he did
mot wish his remarks to be taken as
dictatorial in any way whatever. He
came to Burlington, he said. more as a
seeker after knowledge than with any
Intention Of debating to Burlington what
position It should take with regard to
the "oep waterways project
IN making las position plain, Lieut..
Black explained in brief detail some
thing of the process by which the gov
eminent sets out to spend money for
waterway improvements In word.
Lieut.. Elack explained that 1t was neces-
sary, under a new law, for the secretary
OF war to ascertain, through the chief
erCt.neers, the feasibility of any improve
ments that are proposed. The benefits Of
such improvements to the immediate vi
entity for which they are proposed. the
number of people benefited and the
pecuniary benefits to be derived, all en-
ter said the speaker, into the govern
ments consideration of the projects and
these benefits are taken as the basis for
the amount of money the government
feels it may reasonably spend in max
ing the improvements.
1t is for the purpose. therefore. Of
obtaining some of this needful informa-
lion as to what benefit Burlington
would derive from the Improvement Of
the Narrows. that Lieut.. Black came to
burlington. The benefit to Burlington
alone, of course, might not determine
would decide to spend In improving the
Narrows, but such benefit would have
It's part in the decision as to how much
should be spent. Lieut.. Black explained
that Vergennes is also interested in the
project and that cities and towns in
many sections of the last are consider
ng these same questions very seriously
with a view to aiding the government
N determining what would be a rea-
sonable amount to invest in deeper
waterway improvements and canal sys-
ems
So far as the Improvement of the mar
rows is concerned, Lieut.. Black said that
the preliminary survey has been com
2leted and it is practically certain that
the Improvement will be made,
BENEFITS TO BURLINGTON
The question. said the speaker. is how
much shall be spent and how extensive
the improvements shall be. As Burling-
ton is one of the tributary points on the
lake the benefit that would be derived
mere from deep waterway must be as
certained
The definite piece OF information that
Lieut.. Black wished to obtain. he said
was. what it would mean to Burlington
10 nave easy navigation through the
Narrows in large barges. The speaker
pointed out the manner In which com
Huhiues come to reach in business. what
might he termed their equilibrium" a
condition where it either does or does
not become necessary to branch out
Is the business of Burlington fully
developed?
is there chance for, and should there
be, further expansion?
II the business OF the city has mot do.
Veioped to its greatest extent. SHOULD 1,
not be so developed?
What part would the deem waterv.y
play In such expansion?
These are some Of the Questions tho,
the city must definitely answer. IN its
consideration OF the project contemplated
oy the government. said Lieut.. Black
me speaker stated that a puh,icly
owned terminal was without doubt a.
Important factor In the success of wate,
transportation This brought Lieut.. RI,cL
10 the question of wharfage charges. I,
wharfage charges appear, said he, as a
separate charge, business viii seek othe,
ne'oS The question of the reduction n,
terminal charges, he said ia one tho,
.' ne solved by the people OF New Yort
"'e AT no distant period puhiic,,
'""eo' Tree docks, he said. are n rrea,