Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-05
PRESIDENT ORDERS
|. & N. CANAL MADE.
SAFE FOR TRAFFIC
NATIONS CHIEF EXECUTIVE,
BACKED BY WAR DEPARTMENT.
COMMANDS IMMEDIATE DREoG.
ING OF WATERWAY.

President Wilson and Secretary of
War Baker. realizing the need of trans
portation tor supplies TO take care of
the American army in France. as we'll
as the people at home. today gave or
ders TO at once have the Illinois ana
Michigan canal from Lockport to La
Sale dredged out and improved TO
permit of navigating boats to its orig
lnal capacity.
II is admitted the original canacit,
OF the canal is not adequate to meet
present demands There is no connee-
uon now by water between La Sale
anu Chicago which boats can use so
long AZ the canal Is filled up. With
railroads congested and. unable TO
meet war demands To say nothing of
domestic and local shipping troubles
1t is pointed out the opening of the
canal will permit of shipping COO GOO
tons OF treithg in a season This
means releasing at least 10000 cars
which railroads can use to take wal
supplies and ammunition for seaports
Lakes Load For France.
Lake vessels are now loading in Gin
eago for France and taking carg0es
through without transfer. hTe open
ing of the canal will allow water shin
ments through Chicago from all west
river points. Fleets with one tup
can haul l200 ton cargoes. Coal can
be transported to Chicago and local
points from southern Illinois coal
fields, In view of The raise in railway
freight rates the saving will be con
siderable by using the water route. al
though al present shippers urging add
ed transportation facilities say it Is
not a matter Of rates but means &c
move shipments to prevent paral
ysis of business in this country that Is
the question TO be solved.
Both President Wilson and Score
tary Of War Baker realize this eondl
ton II is predicted it will grow worst
rather than improve during the period
of the war
Wanted Canal Open.
The opening OF the canal was pro
tected by United States army engi
peers last February In a conference
with Governor Lowden the govern
ment desired the state to open the
canal, Because of attacks few wear.
ago by Chicago politicians a decision
of the state supreme court held no
appropriation could be made by the
state 10 maintain this property. II
was not large enough to compete with
rail shipments proftably under ordi
nary conditions and its earnings
would not maintain II in navFable
condition for commercial shipping
May Prevent Famine.
w. l.. Sackett, state superintendent
OF waterways, was asked to come t,
Washington in March for confer
ence with the president, secretary o
war, army engineers and others ant
go over the facts. An agreement wa
reached by which the president early
in MAY allotted the money necessary
for the work The state is to operate
the canal. Mr., Sacket admitted t
possess valuable knowledge of the Ell
tire waterway situation as well al
shipping possibilities and facilities
and his work attracted favorable com
ment from federal officials.
The men at the head of the project
result Of the conferences and Mr.
Sackett's knowledge of the work To be
done, that he has been called upon
to aid and cooperate in it,
Colonel Richie and Mr.. Sackett. rep
resenting the federal government wal
department. the state and engineering
corps will have part in the work by
direct request of the president.
Boats to Be Built.
The transportation situation Is SO
acute 1t has been decided this is one
OF the essential war problems to be
solved and the two men named have
been placed in charge of the job OF
solving it,
Theopening of the canal It is
hoped will prevent fuel famine IN
the middle west this fall and winter as
boats will he constructed and in use
on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers
at an early date
With the canal open boats will be
able to use the Illinois and Mississippi
rivers and greatly add TO the move
ment of coal and other bulk freights
as well as grain which can be taken
to Chicago where there are terminal
facilities for handling.