New-York tribune., 1921-11-26
St. Lawrence
Canal Favored
By Joint Board
Will Recommend $50 Mill
ion Project 10 Canadian
Parliament and Washing
ION; Fight Faces Congress
Farmers Bloc for Plan
Opponents Say N. Y. Water
way Is Enough; Others
Want All-U. S. Route

From The Trituac's Washington Bufedu
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.--The inter
national joint commission definitely
has determined to recommend to Con
gress that the st. Lawrence Ship Canal
be constructed by the United States
and Canada, The Tribune's correspond
ent to-day was informed by reliable
authority
The commi,sion's favorable action,
closely following that OF the engineers
who reported favorably upon the prof.
cct and estimated that its cost would
be about $3.50, 100000, will be sub
mirted to Congress and the Dominion
Parliament December 7, according to
the present plans of the commission
Responsibility on Congress
The commission had expected to
make its report public before that
date, but at a recent meeting deter
mined that whatever it had to say upon
this subject should first be communi- =
Gated to the American and Canadian
lawmaking bodies. This means that re-
sponsibility for American participation
in the scheme will be put squarely up
to Congress.
One of the biggest fights of the
coming session, it is expected, VIII
center around the canal scheme. Rep
resentative James NJ. Mead, of Buffalo,
announced to-day that he has com
pleted 81 canvass of the members of
the House Appropriations Committee,
which probably viii have charge of the
legislation to be introduced to commit
America to the undertaking, and that
he is satisfied there is not much sentl-
ment in favor OF the vast expenditure
required at this time, when economy is
the demand of the people and the
watchword of the Administration.
The Western agrarlan bloc, Wnlch is
all nowerful and comes near having It's
way on most subjects, is united in
favor of the canal. Some of the farmer
legislators are using the opportunity
afforded by the adjournment of Con-
gress to make survey of the situation
and win votes for the canal plan. Moth
ing but a combination of all OF the
sections of the country that consider
they would be adversely affected by the
canal scheme can stop it.
when the ST. Lawrence ship canal
comes before Congress" Representa-.
tive Mead to day declared, ait will be
opposed by two other propositions. The
first is plan for an all-American ship
canal and the other the proposition ad-
vanced by Governor Miller that the
! New York State Barge Canal provides
! everything that an enlarged ship canal
would. l rather think most Of the New
! York members, regardless of politics
will insist upon the barge canal having
a chance to demonstrate its worth"
Barge Canal Has Many Backcrs
As a result of the recent inspection
by members of Congress of the New
York Barge Canal, which is responsible
for heavy inroads being made upon the
strength of the St. Lawrence canal ad
vocates, it is expected there will be {
considerable following for the idea thai
the barge canal should be given fail
trial. The members taking this stant
will form one group, the st. Lawrence
advocates a second and the supporter.
of the all-American route the third.
The other link to connect Lake On
taro with the Atlantic would be pro
vided for by deepening the Oswego ant
there to New York by deepening the
Hudson River This suggestion is sale
to have the friendly consideration O.
Governor Miller, and, linked with his
scheme now revised and brought up tt
date, would furnish more advantages
it is asserted, than the st, Lawrence
scheme and would not cost the Fedora
government cent. All that is asked
by promoters of this plan is charter
from Congress.
This plan provides for continuous
depth of thirty feet, enabling 90 pei
cent Of the ocean ships to use thu
drainage canal Insurance rates woult
be 1211a cents Per 500 all year roune
compared with from 251a to 55 cents
as the season advances on the st. Law
renee. Neither would there be fogs OF
icebergs to contend with, it is said
Floods would be abated and pollution
of the Niagara River stopped.
1t is also contended that nine lock-
would be required from Lake Erie K
tidewater, under his plan, and the in
come from the water power at one cen
kilowatt hour and full-load facto
would be $10O,O00,OO0.