The Washington herald., 1913-06-29
MAKING sEApoRrs on LAKES.

krum the Journal OF Commerce s.-sl-
i Making ship canal from Georgian
Bay on the north side Of Lake Superior
to the St. Lawrence River by way Of
the Ottawa. whereby vessels loaded al
the lake ports can make their way to the
sea and across the Atlantic to European
ports, has been a Canadian dream for
these many years. but not so many a
the American dream OF a canal between
the oceans at Panama lasted before II
began to be realized. According to Sir
Robert Parks long a member Of pariia-
ment and now OF prominent engineer
ing firm at Ottawa. the realization Of the
Canadian dream Is now at hand. Its
scheme has been growing since IL was
conceived years ago and company was
charter and enlist the aid OF the Cana
dian government. Then a depth of only
ten feet was talked about and a capitali-
cation Of 900 In stock and $40. 000. oo1
in bonds. and the destination of vessels
" IS to be Montreal. After while II was
decided that there must be depth of
twenty feet and a capital of 100000 in
shares and s10o.00o.000 In bonds, the esti-
mated cost being ZOO. It was a
question then whether the vessels should
cross the Atlantic or transfer cargo at
Montreal
Now, according to Sir Robert Parks.
there is a question The waterway In to
be twenty-four feet deep and the vessels
must go through from Port Arthur. Du-
luth. and even Chicago. Milwaukee and
Detroit. to Europe 1t il IAN assured
thing" he says. Laurier and Borden.
the leaders of both parties. "have pledged
their support to the construction OF II.
The charter has been granted. the sur
veys made and the company formed to
finance II. II win cost SIS. 0oo. 900 to build.
It will be financed by Canadian govern
ment guarantee on the bonds. although
the canal company will have to take the
risk of building II within the guarantee
amount" This waterway. IL successfully
constructed. will greatly shorten the
water route from the lakes to the ocean
besides making IL navigable all the way
for lake and ocean steamers
Its length from Georgian Bay to the
ST. Lawrence below Montreal will be
about 40 miles. but less than 40 miles.
II il said. will be an artificial canal. The
one-half of which will require deepening
or other Improvement" The summit at
Lake Nipissing and Trout River Is about
$40 feet above sea level. and II In now
believed that ample provision can be
made there for the supply Of water for
either side. There will be "a locks. ac-
cording to present plans, but the rise from
Georgian Bay is only about 90 feet. and
the descent to the st. Lawrence by the
way of the Ottawa about 500 feet Steam
ers of 1000 tons. the enthusiastic Cana
dian engineer says. will be able to load at
American ports on Lake Michigan and
Lake Superior. as well as at Canadian
ports on the way. and carry their car
goes directly to European ports with
out change" II is estimated that u.s.
10000 tons will pass through the canal
year, which at 50 cents a ton would
provide an income Of ss.Ooo0o0. II Is also
expected that along the line, chiefly on
the Ottawa river, 100000 horsepower
will be generated to produce additional
revenue. The yearly operating expenses
will be 100000. says the sanguine Sir
Robert