The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-08-04


@SS| Whereas it is proposed to make
such improvement In the ST. Lawrence
as to make the Great Lakes accessible to ocean
going commerce; and
whereas this Improvement will in effect bring
the State of North Dakota hundreds of miles
nearer the worlds markets. and
whereas there are within the State great re-
sources that lie wholly undeveoped while the
prouucuon of all things is diminished or retarded
by distance from markets. and
whereas because our producers and the
consuming public have alike suffered enormous
and failure; and
whereas because by reason of these conditions
the transportation situation constitutes an emerg-
ent need and
whereas number of States have Joined
In the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater As.
socaton, having as its object the early undertake
ing and completion of this Improvement: There
fore be II
Resolved by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the State OF North Dakota that the
State of North Dakota is properly associated in
the above-named organization with its neghbor-
ing Commonwealths in pressing TO advance this
undertaking and that the action of the governor
in so declaring is hereby approved and confirmed.
and the participation of this State by the governor
and those who represent him in the council of
these States is approved;
Resolved that the representatives of this
State in the Congress of the United States be
requested to facilitate and expedite In every pos
sble way the prosecution of this undertaking for
tie economic freedom of a landlocked continent"
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater associ-
aton is voluntary association of II member
shtes, incullng Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan
Illinois. Indiana, Ohio Iowa, North Dakota South
oakOti, Idiho, Montana. Wyoming, Colorado and
Nebraska. The first three of these states have
,ided the movement through state commissions
krao ht tbai.
Etate, are today In voluntary cooperative ef-
fort attempting to impress the nation and con-
sress with the urgent need of adequate transpor-
katioI facilities at reduced rates, to be provided
Joy tie proper development of our inland water
Iwayt
Tie Great Lakes-St Lawrence Tidewater prof.
ect has been discussed for several years. Prog.
res interrupted In 1914 by the World war
Msrch 2, 1919, Senator Lenroot of Wisconsin
had Incorporated into the rivers and harbors act
aprovision requesting the international joint COM
mission "to investigate what further improve
ment of the st. Lawrence river between Montreal
and Lake Ontario. is necessary to make the same
navigable for ocean-gong vessels together with
the estimated thereof, and report to the gov
ernment Of the Dominion of Canada and to the
congress of the United States, with its recon-
mendations, for cooperation by the United States
with the Dominion Of Canada In the improvement
of said river"
the two governments have been for some time
engaged In the making Of surveys and the prep
aration Of plans and estimates for the information
of the commission The commission has been
holding a series Of public hearings, at which ma
tional, state, provincial, municipal, commercial
transportation, and other bodies interested have
presented their views as to the desrabty or 9TH
erwise of the suggested deep waterway and the
advantages and disadvantages of combining pow.
er development with the Improvement Of uaviga-
ton the upper st. Lawrence.
Following will be found brief statment of the
main features of the project. The writer holds
NO brief for against II.
There are two phases to the project One is
the opening up Of Great Lakes Tdewater trans
portation. The other Is the establishment in con
nection with the work Of great plants for the
generation Of hydro-electrical energy to be dis
tributed over AZ radius of about 250 miles. Al
present the navigation and power projects are
being considered as one.
The demand Of the Middle West is for watel
Transportation. This demand, In a nutshell, I.
that the Great Lakes be opened to the sea so tha
ocean-golng craft drawing from 20 to 25 feet car
steam from Duluth to the Atlantic and thence
along the seaboard Of the western hemisphere OF
across seas to the markets of Europe.
The Middle West argues this way. The measur,
of the country's productiyeness depends In larg,
measure upon the expeditions movement of it,
enormous and growing volume of freight Th.
movement of freight Is at present slowed up b,
the congested condition Of the railroads and east
ern terminals. Additional and supplemental
means OF distribution are necessary. In short
the Middle West must be brought within touch O
the Atlantic seaboard, without breakage Of bulk
delay and additional terminal charges.
In this demand the "Midll> West" means tn
'heart Of the nation" with about one third Of th
territory population and wealth.
The Middle West holds that great and cost,
though the enterprise may be, II is entirely feas
ible from the standpoint Of the engineer; tina