Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-18
SEE CHANCE FOR J..
s. HELP BUILDING.
A DEEP WATERWAY
GOVERNMENT BECOMES INTER.
eSTED IN JOLIET-UTlCA PRO.
JECT-NEEDS MEANS OF RE-
LEASING FREIGHT CONGESTION

|
Railroad congestion and shortage
of coal, together with other transpor-
tation problems created by the war,
is working to the benefit of the deep
waterway between Lockport and
Utica, says enthusiasts here. Officials
Of the government are being won
over to the belief that improvement
of the inland waterway is a necessity
and the war department is said to be
seriously considering changing front
on the waterway project turned down
during the Dunne administration.
President Wilson, Secretary Baker
and Chairman Hurley. of the shipping
board, have plans of inland waterway
development to supplement railroad
transportation under consideration,
and there are rumors in the national
capital that their activities In the
matter will result in an early revival
! Of the LOckport-Utica project to con
meet the Great Lakes with the Gulf
OF Mexico.
Governor Makes Tour.
Shortly after his Inauguration
Gov Lowden announced that he con
sidered the deep waterway one of the
important matters which should be
taken up. He followed this deolara.
ton with trip from Lockport to
Utica in company with number Of
the leading waterway experts In the
state. The tour was made for the
purpose of getting acquainted with
actual conditions that some decision
might be arrived at Gov. Lowden has
not yet made an announcement fol.
lowing the tour. altho 1t is asserted
by men close to him that he was ia,
vorably impressed
Among the men composing the gov.
ernor's party during the trip down
the canal were Joy Morton, who op
Grated salt feet between Chicago
and Davenport, Iowa, in past years in
the hope of reviving interest in the
waterway project; John r. Pirie, of
Carson, Pirie and Scott, leading
Chicago mercantile firm; w C. Bisby
4 waterway engineer of national rep
utation. George r. Page, a prominent
attorney Of Peoria. and Charles B
Fox, general manager Of the Alumni
uum Ore company, one Of the largest
shippers on the Mississippi river.
Would Prevent Coal Famine.
During his term in office, Gov
Edward f. Dunno was booster fol
The waterway project and the eigh
foot channel plan was evolved. One
lOf the strong arguments which was
presented was that Illinois annual,
produced s15O0OO,0OO worth of Goa
and large part of the supply which
would be needed in Chicago could be
transported from the mines to that
city by barges, with proper improve
ment Of the waterway Illinois is tht
third state in the union in the pro
duction of coal. and has exhausted
only 2 per cent. of its known re
sources
With an unlimited supply within
from 50 to $50 miles Of Chicago there
is no reason for that city living from
hand to mouth" each winter so fal
as fuel Is concerned. he asserted,
Other Freight Available.
| Advocates Of a deep waterway alst
point out that there Is an immense
amount of other freight which woult
be available for transportation will
the improvement Of the waterway
Ind at lower rates than now charged
by the railroads AT the same tim
the hauling of this freight by waite
would greatly relieve the railroad
and would prevent congestion in tn
future.
Improvement Of the waterwa
would also bring the middle west 90
miles closer to the Panama cana
and make us an active competito
with Atlantic coast interests. thos
who favor the plan assert with III
federal authorities interested in tn
development of the waterway an
, making the plan a study at the pre-
ent time. important developments ar
looked for in the immediate future
y The railroads of the country are nc
;. able to handle the business which ha
n come to them and plans for govern
= ment control are now under conslde
alton. so that this opposition to tn
development of the waterway will
= done away with