The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-09-23
SUCH rs OPINION OF SECRETARY
bURo 8. PATTERSON OF THE
CANAL ASSOCIATION.
soosfer Of Proposed Waterway In
wheeling resterday-Says coun-
tics VIII Soon Vote On II.

In the opinion OF Col. Burd s. Pat
ferson OF Pittsburgh. Pa, secretary
on the Lake Erie and Ohio River
Canal association. the proposed wa
tcrway connecting the Ohio river ba .
sin with the Great Lake system will
be completed and In operation by
1920 Col. Patterson spent a short
time In this city yesterday, being a
member OF the party OF Pittsburgh
boosters who are making a trip down
the Ohio river on board the steamer
Ohio.
Secretary Patterson Is enthusiastic
over the outlook for the early COM
pletion OF the canal. He says senti-
ment everywhere strongly favors the
construction OF the waterway and he
feels certain that actual work on It
VIII be started in 1916.
A special election Will be held In
November. 1918. In the counties or
Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Viz
gfan affected by the canal, for the
purpose OF ascertaining sentiment
Tor or against the canal Mr.. Patter-
son said. He referred to the fast that
In 1911 the legislatures of the three
states authorized the issuance OF
0--0' ~ @A1oO tOdhlCo AOT the COu-
struction OF the canal There are 35
counties interested, he said, including
those along the proposed route and
along the Ohio river. II is estimated
that the canal will cost $50. OOO, 900
and Mr.. Patterson looks for no DIM
Guilty In raising funds for its con-
struction-
Increase Membership.
The Lake Erie & Ohio River Canal
Association will soon be reorganized,
Col Patterson declared. for the pur-
pose or enlRrging the membership At
present the membership consists of
one representative from each county,
but II N planned to- increase this TO IL
uom each county, the ~ forming a
committee to create, interest IN favor
Of the canal in its respective county.
Col Patterson said he will come 10
Wheeling In about a month to organize
q committee to represent Ohio county.
A general meeting of the association
VIII be held in Pittsburgh early in
1915. he said.
Advantages tor Wheeling.
Col Patterson referred at length 10
the advantages to thetOhio Valley. and
particularly to West Virginia, of the
construction OF such a canal. He
pOluleo out lDdt iron ore could De
brought from the lake region TO the
mills of the Wheeling district at a
much cheaper rate. While the proposed
waterway would affond a cheap means
OF Transporting coal from the West
Virginia fields 10 the northern mar
kets. By means OF the canal. he said.
the cities OF the Ohio Valley would be
brought IN close touch with the lake
points. and il would he possible to go
from New Orleans TO New York City
over an inland waterway by including
the new Erie canal. which connects
the Hudson river with Lake Erie.
In backing up his statement that II
would not cost more than $50, 0OO. 900
to complete the canal. and that the
york could be finished In three OF four
years. Col Patterson said that there
would be only 50 miles Of actual canal.
the rest OF the route being improved
river basins.
Col Patterson believes that the ca
nal viii bring thousands OF tourists an
hually to the Ohio Valley. II would
also mean the revival OF steamboat
business, he thinks.