The New York herald., 1920-01-04

VHE Canadians do NOT wait. That sayins
born on the battlefields OF France when
Il the Dominion troops leading the
imperial divisions over the top. is being
verified a home as Canada turns its attention
to its biz peace time problems. The inter-
National project of making the st. Lawrence
nayiSsble for ocean vessels clear through TO
the Great Lakes is only in the carly stages
Of discussion as related in recent article in
the HERALp's Sunday Magazine; but the Well
and Ship Canal. which is important part Of
that project is well under construction. The
Canadians do wait.
The ST Lawrence and the Great Lakes would
form magnficent water highway right into
the heart of North America were it not for
certain obstacles which nature has set in the
way. Here and there are shadows and rapids
and at Niagara is the supreme obstacle-the
Falls, The white was first baffled by
these when La Sale encountered the grand
sault'' in 1879 when he pushing westward
in the hope of reaching the land of Cathay.
Here he had the heart breaking task OF build
ing in the wilderness above the Falls a new
ship. the famous Griffin.
In 1879 this obstacle to navigation was over
come by the construction across the Niagara
peninsula in Canada OF the Welland Canal
This although the depth of the water over the
mitre sIls was only eight feet. sufficient
Tor the requirements Of those days. The rapids
hN
Canada and the welland Canal enlarged be-
tween 1910 and 1850 The Sault Ste. Marie Canal
was built between Lakes Superior and Huron
and the shadows between Lakes Huron and
Erie we're dredged the latter work bens done
mainly by the United States
But these canals, excepting that at Sault ste.
Marie. which has a depth Of eighteen and a
quarter feet permit the passage OF vessels
drawing less than fourteen feet only. This con-
dtion of affairs necessitates the transfer Of
cargo from large ships on the lakes by means
of elevators with storage capacity to smaller
ships which can traverse the canals with
second transfer of similar nature to ocean
steamers at Montreal The system is so slow
and costly that rail transportation com
pete with it on favorable terms. especially for
the canalized sections. So always the dream
has been cherished of day making this
route navigable throughout by ocean-goins
vessels
When this is done. the HERALD has pointed
out, all ports this waterway would become
seaports. The advantages to Toronto, Detroit,
Port Arthur. Chicago and Duluth obvious,
The distances of these ports from the by
this route are, in statute miles. follows
Toronto, 1.Sn; Detroit, 1918; Port Arthur 2,2lI;
Chicago. 2.24S and Duluth. 2sse. Great
ports more than ZOO miles from the sea! The
saving in freight rates and trans-shipment
charges claim the Canadians would be such
as to bring a prosperity TO the interior
Of both the Dominion and the United States,
These considerations have spurred men on TO
the task of bringing the dream into the realm
of the practical. Many plans and estimates have
been made regarding the scheme the chief
difficulty being the canalzaton of the rapids
of the St Lawrence and the settlement of ques-
tons of International importance arising there
from. There is also the question OF the dispo-
sition of the enormous amount of waterpover
that would he thus developed.
However. while the complete carrying out of
the project awaits the settlement of these
questions as regards the ST. Lawrence. no such
conditions apply at Weland. where the canar
is wholly in Canadian territory. Moreover. the
development of this canal will be of immediate
great service to the lake traffic SO Canada
has not waited until the whole plan was made
practicable. For some time the Dominion has
been engaged on the task set before It on the