The New York herald., 1921-11-15
ST. LAWRENCE SHIP
CANAL IS DOOMED
Governors of Western States
Urge Project.

The st. Lawrence ship canal project.
by which a new ocean trade route would
extend to the great lakes and reach the
heart of the North American continent.
was the subject of debate last night at
a Joint meeting of the metropolitan sec
ties and representatives of eighteen
middle Western States and Canada.
Opposition to the plan has arisen in
New York because it would divert trade
from the State Barge Canal to the St.
Lawrence River. Gov. Henry J. Allen
OF Kansas and former Governor W. L..
Harding of Iowa were the principal
speakers for the project on behalf of the
middle West The meeting was held by
the American Society of Civil Engineers.
the American Society Of Mechanical En-
gineers, the American Institute of MIN
ing and Metallurgical Engineers and
the American Institute of Electrical En-
gineers in the Engineering Societies
Building. 33 West Thirty-ninth street
Other speakers were II. l. Hartman
of Boston, DIR. r. S. MacElwee OF
Georgetown University and w. i. Saun-
ders. julius II. Barnes. president of
the United States Grain Corporation,
presided. Delegations representing the
New England-St. Lawrence Associa ton
and the Massachusetts and Rhode Isi-
and commissions on foreign and domes-
tic commerce were present
Gov. Allen took issue with Gov. Mil
lers opposition TO the St Lawrence pro-
ject. The saving on freight and grain
II one year. he said. would pay the cost
OF the Improvement. He continued:
ut appears that the Governor in q
Buffalo address said. that the more lie
looked at the barge canal and thought
about the st. Lawrence project the mad
der he got. 1t is plain that he is op-
posed TO the plan on four main points:
THAT II is impractical and bound TO
fail because it is scientifically impos-
sible.
THAT we will succeed in creating a
waterway deep enough to float the navy
Of England In case of war.
"That the project will cost lot of
money and will not produce channel
TO carry any considerable commerce.
That the enterprise will be Of great
profit to Canada.
zone of the Governors statements Is
this:
1T was not a pretty thing for these
Middle Western States for whom VIZ
nav " waterway 10 NgltHta
TO get the Federal Government 10 spend
a billion dollars
II am sure the Governor has nisin-
terpreted the spirit of the middle West.
We arc not guilty of ingratitude. we
are bound for Liverpool, not for Buff
falo. h.e want thcs shortest route from
the middle West 90 Liverpool"
Gov. Allen then explained I'm detail
how he disagreed with each of Gov.
Miller's points. which he called illogical.
lie said
"Thc port Of New York belongs ia
the country. not To New York. IL IA
rot tho thought Of any man who believes
IN the Sc. Lawrence project 10 reduce
the glory Of New York. II Is my indie
nont that after the ST. Lawrence proiec.
Is functioning as It will function. thore
VIII still he left for New York such n
preponderance Of traffic that IT will call
upon her best efforts 10 furnish terminal
facilities"
Mr.. Hartman pointed out that tho
project VIII cost $500, 100000 not 81 =
o0o.0co.Oo0 IA Gov. Miller said. oar.
share Will be one-half. he said. or $3.50 !
100000 which the Government wonld
not feel.