The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-06-03
Tuesday, june s, 1919.
-FNR LAKE ERIE CANAL

36& LAKE EXILE CANAA
"A statement issued by the Cincinnati
i6hamber Of Comerce says:
Increased interest is being manifested
I ~ Cinctnnati business men and capital
3afaaau the project 70 secure Tor western
Ono the route Of the proposed barge
canal. to connect Lake Erte with the
! 3yhlo river. While q determined enor
g being made by Pittsourgh 10 70, secure sbe
I this waterway. which will have the
nriancial support Of the government as
! Ncson rs q DEFINITE route - decided on.
t4rpoGraphtcal and industrial conditions
: pAeEn to favor the Cinc1nnatl-Eoleoo
Survey, which follows the limo OF the
Nreoerf Miami and Erie canal Through
Xf7orxs OF Albert KreIl. chairman OF the
N;Aarnber Of Commerce barge canal COM
taattfsa and president OF tho Central
States waterways Association, Gncan-
shaStans are Eivin gthetr financial sup
N,orS 70 the project Of the preliminary
Requirements, as laid down BY the gov
Arnment. Discussing the prospective
sSnildinr Of the barge canal In Western
Ohio. al q conference Of Cincinnati bust
hers men, Congressman B. F. Welty,
N,ho secured the passage OF a Dill IN
&,oawress authoNzing the survey or
&oufeu for the proposed enlarged water
Ray, declared that the completion OF the
Herminus, would make Cincinnati the
s&tsel centre Of the United States.
The above Is Of especial interest to
ithc people Of Wheeling. The 1ntelli-
fkencer has from time to time called at
kenticn TO the project to build the Lake
f8r,e and Ohio River canal. following
4he general route Of the Beaver and Ma
shouinE rivers. and connecting the Ohio
SRtyer at Beaver with Lake Erie at a
podnt near Ashtabula- This project
has been considered and studied at
much length. It's feasibility has been
AFFIRMED by, an army Of hish-class ex-
alneYtS, ind ita Importance to the indus
~ OF the Ohio Valley is beyond ques-
'ttion, For rome Inexplicable reason it
has hecn difficult TO arouse the interest
Tin the proposition that its Importance
Inherited. Particularly in the city OF
!! 2ittsburgh. there has been, until recent
S.naEhoet complete indifference in cir
EeIes In which Indifference was least to
.She looked for. However. VIC understand
that recently a very decided change has
kccrne over the minds OF Pittsburgh
scusiness men. Many who formerly
looked upon the canal project as a
sdream have become converted and are
Enthusiastic supporters. Perhaps. the
fact that the city OF Cincinnati Is alive
land moving in a rival enterprise may
nave something to do with the awaken
Sea interest in Pittsburgh and vicinity.
So far as Wheeling is concerned IT Is
ReAP that our interest in this particular
Ayith Pittsburgh's and we should CO.
lonef4te. to our extreme capacity in any
proper EFFORT to push this great project
10 q successful conclusion. The iron
and steel leadership OF this upper Ohio
VALLEY was not a mere accident. 1t
sras the result Of transportation and
Biographical conditions. which in the
searly staged Of the iron industry made
manufacturing in this section especial
by economical. But those conditions
have. to some extent. changed. On the
sR9eat lakes the mammoth industrial
fplants created by the United States
.Ssteel Corporation are evidences that the
bake frontases are dangerous rivals to
tOhio Valley iron and steel making. The
Ifuture Of this great industry is on the
'iseyen seas. Our manufactures. in the
wears u come. must be able TO reach
loot to the markets Of the world. The
take Erie and Ohio river canal. when
seompleted. will practically make the
surper Ohio Valley an arm Of the lakes
kand an arm Of the seas. It is necessary
seor our continued Industrial prosperity.
tnnd NJ 81, early date the Intelligencer
ihoues that some dennite steps will be
stahen towards the construction of this
great work