The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-06-04

~ Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater project
Ef&D~d tOuOWlng is typical memorial from
zR8AAzS4 the State Of North Dakota, presented
A by Senator Laid:
Ez&G 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
tne state OF North Dakota hundreds of miles
nearer the worlds markets; and
whereas there are within the State great re-
sources that lie wholly undeveloped while the
production OF all things is diminished or retarded
ny distance from markets; and
whereas because our producers and the
consuming public have alike suffered enormous
losses IN the last year by transportation shortage
and failure; and
whereas because by reason Of these conditions
the transportation situation constitutes an emery
ent need and
whereas a number of States have Joined
IN the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater As
ISOLATION, having as its object the early undertake
ing and completion of this Improvement: There
fore be it
resolved by the Senate and House of Renre-
sehtatVes of the State of North Dakota. that the
state OF North Dakota is properly associated in
"e aooFe-hamed organization with its neighbor-
ing commonwealth in pressing to advance this
uhuertaklng, and that the action of the governor
10 SO declaring is hereby approved and confirmed
ana the participation of this State by the governor
ana 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 no
requested to facilitate and expedite in every DOS
oiOle way the prosecution of this undertaking for
me economic freedom of a landlocked continent"
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater assocf.
euon Is a voluntary association Of IA member
states, including Wisconsin, Minnesota Michigan
illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, North Dakota South
Dakota, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado. and
Nebraska. The first three of these states have
aided the movement through state commissions
created by their respective legislatures These
states are today in voluntary cooperative eff
fort attempting to impress the nation and con-
gress with the urgent need of adequate transpor-
tation facilities at reduced rates, to be provided
by the proper development of our inland wafer
ways
The Great Lakes-St Lawrence Tidewater prof.
ect has been discussed for several years. Prog
ress was Interrupted in 1914 by the World war.
March 2 1919, Senator LenroOt of Wisconsin
had Incorporated into the rivers and harbors act
provision requesting the international joint COM
mission ito investigate what further improve
ment of the st. Lawrence river, between Montreal
and Lake Ontario, is necessary to make the same
navigable for ocean-going vessels, together with
the estimated cost thereof and report to the gov.
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 result is that the engineers appointed by
the two governments have been for some time
engaged in the making of surveys and the prep-
araton of plans and estimates for the information
of the commission. The commission has been
holding series of public hearings, at which ma
uonal, state, provincial, municipal commercial
transportation, and other bodies interested have
presented their views to the desirabiity or 9th
erwise of the suggested deep waterway and the
advantages and disadvantages of combining DOW
er development with the improvement of nayiga-
ton on the upper St Lawrence
Following will be found brief statmen+ oe tho
main features of the project The writer holds
NO brief for or against It.
There are two phases to the project: One f.
the opening up Of Great Lakes-Tfdewater trans
Dortation. 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 radius Of about $50 miles Ar
present the navigation and power projects are
being considered as one
The demand Of the Middle West is for xvator
transportation This demand in a nutshell. a.
that the Great Lakes be opened to the sea so that
ocean-going craft drawing from 20 to Is feet can
steam from Duluth to the Atlantic and thence
along the seaDoard OF the western hemisphere or
across seas to the markets of Europe
The Middle West argues this way The measure
of the countrys prOductiveness depends in LARGE
measure upon the expeditions, movement of tts
enormous and growing volume Of freight. This
movement of freight is at present slowed nm nv
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 Of
the Atlantic seaboard, without breakage of bulk,
delay and additional terminal charges
In this demand the Middle West" means the
heart OF the nation" with about one third of the
eTitory, population and wealth.
The Middle West holds that great and costly
hcsgh the enterprise may be, it is entirely feas-
BILE from the standpoint of the engineer; thar