The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-11-16
Prominent Pennsylvanians, Including
Ex-Mayor Of Pittsburgh, on Gov
ernor Tener's Canal
Commission.
RIVER TO LAKE CANAL
Commission Has Charge Of Canal to
Connect Great Lakes With
Mississippi and Ohio
Valleys.

Five men, comprising commission
appointed by Governor John K. Tener
of Pennsylvania to construct q canal
connecting the Mississippi and oslo
river valleys with the great lakes.
made an inspection here this morning.
Of the dam and power house for tue
purpose of securing data that VIII as
sist them in planning the develop
ment of water power in connection
with the canal.
Four of the men are prominent
Pennsylyanians and the fifth coionei
in the United States army. The com
mission is headed by William A. Nc
lGee. recently mayor of Pittsburgh.
The other members of the party are
General James A. Chambers, Thomas
P. Sloan, A. S. McSwigan, all OF Pitts
burgh. and Colonel Thomas W. Sy-
monds, u. s. A., Washington, D. q.
They were conducted through the
mower house and dam this morning
and left on an early afternoon train
for Rock Island where they will In
spect the proposed Improvement OF
the canal between Chicago and the
Mississippi.
Appointed by Governor Tener.
The commission appointed by GOV
ernor Tener was charged to consider,
survey, estimate the cost, construct
and operate" the canal, according to
Mr.. Magee, president of the commits
sion The proposed canal Will extend
from Beyer, Ohio, on the Ohio river
| twenty-six miles below Pittsburgh, 10
the lakes, 1t is said to be shorter
| ,uta for a connection Of the valleys
OF the two great rivers with the lakes
| than the proposed Chicago to the gull
route that would necessitate the con
| struction OF canal through the state
OF Illinois. The distance from Bever
to the lakes is 1913 miles, Mr.. MCGEE
said.
Al present the commission Is con
sidering the most advisable method OF
developing water power in connection
with the canal, and the inspection OF
the Keokuk project was of great as
sistance to them in securing data Tor
this work. The difference in the level
of the lake and the river will provide
for the development of an immense
amount OF power, it is believed. II
will be necessary to construct twenty
eight locks at different points along
the canal to overcome this difference.
| Impressed with keokuk Plant.
The five men were strongly impress
| ed with the magnitude of the great
water power development here.
There is no question but that this IS
the greatest dem In the world saio
Mr.. McSwigan to representative or
The Gate City who interviewed the
party at the hotel Iowa Immediately
| after they had returned from the dam.
The members Of the party closely
questioned the reporter regarding the
! development OF industries here and
expressed real interest in the future
Of the city.
! The commission recently has In.
spected a number Of canals and water
| power developments in various parts
Of the country. They were yesterday
at st. Paul where the government
dam between the Twin Cities is being
built. Previously they were at Duluth
and inspected the canal and locks at
SAUL Saint Marie, and expect to visit
number OF other places before re-
| turning to Pittsburgh.
/