Evening star., 1921-12-18
GREAT-LAKES- TO- OCEAN
ROUTE WILL BE PUSHED
Great Efficiency and Saving Seen in Pro-
posed Trans formation of Inland Ports
Into World Terminals.

: same time he emphasizes that the cost
of increasing railroad facilities to
meet normal traffic requirements IS pro-
hibitive, and hence the demand for the
ship channel.
selfish interests of the congested port
of New York and the tollgates OF
Buffalo in being willing to punish the
entire nation for their own selnsh
interests. That the farmers and manu-
and northwest will derive through the
proposed lake-to-sea route benefits
amounting to more than half bill
lion dollars annually is claimed by
Representative Nelson. The resulting
Improvement in the condition of the
try in all parts of the United States,
since the farmer constitutes more
| than half of the consumers of the en-
tire country. while traffic through all
of the ports would be developed.
The estimated cost of the work, as
Canadian engineers, Is conservative
and the outcry of the Governor of
New York that it will cost q billion
dollars is unWarranted. Harbor i'm
provements at New York are not
needed anywhere near as much as to
establish conditions that will bring
about better distribution of traffic
through all of our ports. thus avoid
ing congestion which has resulted
| from the effort to move larger share
the archaic port of New York.
| Would Aid Lake Ports.
! Claims OF opponents that the open
! ing of the great lakes to ocean ves-
sells would divert commerce to for
| eign ports are mythical" Represent
ative Nelson says, and calls atten-
tion that Montreal is now the head
of ocean navigation on the st. Law
renee. Montreal has already OBJ
tanned supremacy in the grain trade.
The extension of ocean navigation
! from Montreal into the Great Lakes
instead of diverting commerce to
Canadian ports, will enable the ocean
vessels to reach the important Amer
! lean ports on the great lakes 1t is
colossal mistake. Representative
Nelson argues. not to join with Cana
| da wholeheartedly in the develop
ment, control and administration of
common property owned Jointly by
J treaty rights.
! Regarding the alleged dangers of
navigation. he shows that they are
all below Montreal and have failed to
prevent the rise of Montreal to its
| present position of eminence. He
shows that the extension of naviga-
tion 1s2 miles from Montreal to Lake
Ontario. which is the Improvement
proposed. will involve none of these
dangers, which are below Montreal
and not above.
In disproving the cry of prohibi-
i've insurance rates. Representative
nelson insists that the difference in
insurance rates as compared with
New York, amounts to oniy sE cents
per 800 and that with wheat at 81
per bushel the difference in insur.
ance cost is too small to be found
with a microscope.
Handicapped By Cost.
In place of a billion dollar draft
on the Treasury. as has been sue-
sested. the proposed inland water
way Will not be burden on the fed
eral Treasury at all, and marshaIs
some well recognized authorities to
prove this statement,
ASIDE from more efficient and logical
reroutlng of traffic. Representative
nelson lays stress on the fact that
ms plan-the opening of the great
! lakes to ocean vessels-wiu result in
| tremendous development of the north
central and western areas of the
country, which are now handicapped
by excessive transportation costs.
ihe development, he points out, will
require not only the utilization of
lake ports as outlets, but also the
greater utilization of the existing
ports of the Atlantic, gulf and Pacific
coasts, to meet these needs, Repre-
sentative Nelson says-to see that all
these ports get a fair share of the
business.
The opening of the great lakes to
ment of the Mississippi river and
tributaries. with a direct connection
between the Mississippi and the great
lakes, and another connection between
Lake Erie and the Ohio river, con-
stitute indispensable parts of any
fro
for the United States, says Repre-
sentative Nelson.
The great benefits accruing to the
farmers and producers will be shared
by all industries throughout the
country.