The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-04-09
LAKES TO OCEAN ROUTE
Scheme That Will Help
Great Northwest 49,.
DULUTH TO BE HARB0R
Gigantic Undertaking Which
Means Opening Up Large
European Trade
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
Opening Of the Great Lakes to ocean
traffic is one of the gigantic projects
the government has now under con
sideration. This means that millions
of dollars will have TO De spent in
deepening and widening the 500 Ste
Marie canal, the overcoming of the
passage by Niagara Falls, through the
improvement Of the Welland canal
and the improvement of the st. Law.
renee river so as to- get by the great
rapids of that stream. The improve
n:ent of the Welland canal has al.
ready been undertaken by the Cana
dian government. 1t is proposed to
build dams across the st. Lawrence
instead OF canals to get past the. st.
Lawrence rapids. The plan now is TO
have both the Canadian and United
States government CO operate in this
movement. 1t is realized that with an
all water route from the head of the
lakes at Duluth to the Atlantic for
ocean going vessels would mean a
saving to the farmers of the north
west in freight rates on grain alone
Of from $12,000,000 to $15,000,000 an
nually. BY an all water route from
Duluth to Liverpool the combined
rail and water freight rate can be re-
duced at least one third. With the
route, the great wheat fields of Min
nesota and North Dakota would be
brought at least 1900 miles closer 10
a seaport. Thus it will be seen that
the completion of the project would
mean much : to the farmers of the
northwest in the matter of getting
their products on the European mar
kets. This would include in addition
to grains, packing house products, and
all kinds Of agricultural products
which are always in great demand on
the foreign markets. -. ~. ~. ia
49, The Joint Commission.
There is an international ioiat com I.
mission composed of Canadians 1spT
Americans now conducting hearing
on the proposition both north anil
south of the great lakes for the purpsa
of obtaining support to the improve
ports of all cities bordering on the
proposed route. The tidewater- project
is destined to succeed, according 70
those in touch with the situation. This
will mean that ships may put in and
clear from Duluth and Superior 1T
the head of the lakes for foreign
ports. . ~
There is a possibility In connection
With the proposed lake to ocean route
of a revival of the once discussed pro
blem of converting the st. CroiX river
into barge canal from st. Paul TO
Duluth. In addition to the great ben :.
efits derived from. this latter propos ed
improvement to livestock and gram
growers, the consumers of coal would
reap the benefits of an all water route
from the east to st. Paul and Mime, .
apOlis for that product. which would
materially lessen the cost
The magnitude Of the service when
would be rendered by an all water
route to the seaboard from Duluth
and Superior Is reflected in the fact
that 100000 will be brought in con-
tact with sea. going shipping. Man
ufacturing plants along the line of the
proposed route are worth over $Sv,-
100000. =,
Detroit, Michigan is preparing to be
host to over one thousand persons
at the Great Lakes st. Lawrence
Tidewater congress to be. held at tnat
city June 3, 4, and 5. Among the
speakers on that occasion will be the
governors of the fourteen states Dor
dering along this proposed water
route, together with large nuIl.Der
OF representatives Of civic bodies IN
lake and river cities.
Just recently the Mankato CONNER
cial club passed resolution favOring
the project Of an all water route LOT
ocean going vessels from Duluth 10
the seaboard