South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-20
JUDSON |NSPECTS
. CANAL ROUTE BUT
HE'S SPH|NX-L!
Member of Board of Army En-
gineerS Is Guest of South
BenderS on Auto Tour and
Luncheon on tuesday.

South Bend Tuesday took in tow
Col. W. V. Judson Of the army board
of engineers. in whose hands lays the
fate Of the route of the Michigan
Erie canal and made it plain 10 him
IN every way that she wants the canal
and viii do anything in her power to
get II. The local canal committee
and other waterway enthusiasts of
the city met Col. Judson at the oliver
at noon, enjoyed luncheon with him
and then proceeded To take him over
the city and show him the bigness
of the metropolis
The day was started with two auto
loads from South Bend going over to
Michigan City where Col. Judson was
met coming from Chicago. Preceding
him was Capt J. II. Watkins who
has done the greater part of the sur
Veying of the canal routes. At Mich
igan City the cars started back for
South Bend, going over the proposed
northern route of the canal This
leads slightly north of New Carlisle
and then through South Bend.
Judson Is Interested.
Col. Judson manifested deep inter
est in the general contour of the
country, pointing out the engineering
advantages and disadvantages afford
ed by different physical features OF
the land. He, however, constantly
fought shy Of making any statements
that would hint at his attitude on the
northern route of the canal Only
at one point, and that west Of New
Carlisle, did he remark that the hilly
nature of the land there would prob
ably offer considerable difficulty and
would require much dredging. other
than this the engineer was exceedingly
clever in keeping back his innermOst
thoughts on the subject The local
committeeman endeaVored in various
ways to circumvent the engineer or
brings him off his guard with various
questions but he parried every move.
So the committee settled itself down
TO wait and see" In the meantime
it devoted its efforts during the re-
mainder Of Tuesday afternoon in en-
tertaining Col, JudsOn. Upon arriv-
ing at the Oliver hotel after the trip
over the route between Michigan City
and South Bend, a luncheon was given
at the hotel at which were present
various city officials including Mayor
Keller, Controller L. G. Manning,
members Of the board of works and
the local committee on the canal
project.
JudsOn Keeps Quiet
Most of the representatives made
short speeches at the luncheon. Col
Judson preferred to keep his remarks
unit he makes his report.
After the luncheon Col JudsOn was
taken on a sightseeing trip over the
city and given a view of the manu-
featuring industries and opportunities
afforded for canal.
on the trip over from Michigan
City occasion was taken to tell Col
JudsOn the fact that slowly but surely
the district between Gary and Mich
igan City and east is becoming one
solid factory district and will demand
a canal Of just the proportions as the
proposed Erie Michigan canal. Wheth-
er this will have much effect on Col
Judson and the other engineers or
not is still doubtful; it has been
pointed out that the engineers seem
ingly are not interested much in the
volume of local trade but are con-
sidering more the through freight
Will Inspect East Section. 7
After being entertained in South
Bend Col. Judson will be taken to
Elkhart over the proposed northern
route and then TO Goshen and finish
at Warsaw. What Col. Judson gathers
on his tour Of the proposed route and
the cities thereon will be incorpor-
ated in a report which he will submit
to the board at a meeting to be held
at the end Of the month in Fort
Wayne. This meeting was to have
been held Monday but ii appears the
strenuous efforts of South Bend at
the Chicago meeting last week induc-
ed Col JudsOn to come over the route
and have the meeting postponed
Those making the trip 10 Michigan
City Tuesday were Richard Elbel
chairman of the local committee;
Harry A. Engman. jr.. president Of the
Chamber Of Commerce; II. G. Spauld-
ing. secretary OF the Chamber Of
Commerce; Admiral J II. Dayton,
Joseph Oliver, jr, and Col. George
Studebaker.