The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-21
ST. LAWRENCE SHIP
CANAL ENDORSED
Hoover, Barnes and Redfield
See Benefit to American
Agriculture.

| Opinions in favor OF the st. Lawrence
canal project were rendered yesterday
to the International Joint Commission
the State OF New York office. SIS Lib
erty street, by Herbert c. Hoover Julius
III. Barnes. former president of the
United States Grain Corporation Will
liam c. Redfield. former Secretary OF
Commerce. and others
Mr.. Hoover said with the building OF
the st. Lawrence River deep sea ship
canal American wheat could be shipped
| directly in ocean going vessels. and his
would save 10 0cents bushel. The
price Of wheat is fixed at Liverpool che
delivery point for South American and
| other grain producing centres, Mr.
Hoover said.
The money saved by use OF the canal
could be diverted by farmers to fertiliz-
ing and purchase Of implements. and this
would be reflected by general agricui-
tural Improvement throughout the West
and the inland States, Mr.. Hoover sug-
gested. 1t was fair for New York o
share heavily In the canal project, said
Mr.. Hoover, because the commerce ana
business of the country rests largely
upon this State. and II the cost of trans
portetion from the in 'erior were lowered
this State would have contributed much
to the welfare and prosperity OF the ma
ton.
III farmers are not given an opportu-
nifty to increase production New York
and the nation will be handicapped in
the future by the grain situation domi-
mated in Liverpool" the food expert
stated.
Mr.. Barnes discussed difficulties OF CT
ficient handling OF freight out of the
West and said with the development VI
lake ports which would follow the con-
struction of the canal there would be
marked Improvement. The Erie Canal,
he said. is paralleled by railroads. AMI,
having advanced rates 25 per cent. is
not much Of a factor In reducing costs.
The railroads proved inadequate dur
ing the war; and have not yet recovered.
80 that a good deal OF freight Is now
being diverted TO water routes. Mr.. Red
field said. The st. Lawrence Canal was
a logical remedy for a bad situation. In
view of need for development of every
form of transportation to keep pace with
the growth OF the nation Mr.. Redfield
said the ship canal project was compar-
able to the opening of the Union Pacific,
which was followed by the tremendous
development OF the West.
Opposition to abe project. Mr.. Redfield
said was provincial" New England
WOuiu gain Hlstlclldhy ny tHt tIhiiiN
through the ship canal, as would the
Great Lakes ports. and 1t was likely the
cost of coal shipments would be lowered.
Read Admiral William s. Benson.
chairman of the Shipping Board, sent n
letter in which he said II was doubtful
whether railroad facilities ever could
be provided TO satisfy the transportation
demands of the middle West for getting
goods to the Atlantic seaboard.
1.-THE proposed canal" said Admiral
Benson's letter, brings vessels from the
sea into the heart of the great middle
West and is the greatest project to-day.
The canal must be accomplished II the
United States Is to keep pace with and
take care of the continually increasing
prosperity in agriculture and manufac-
turing"
Other advocates of the project who
spoke were w. L. Saunders. president of
the American Manufacturers Export
Association George p. Roberts. vice.
president OF the National City Bank
Charles Whiting Baker. consulting editor
of the Engineering Ncps Record. and
George NJ. Massey. American repre-
sentative of the Manchester ship Canal.