The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-06-17

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k--1sSssssl by Senator Ladd
E---S-J "Whereas It is proposed to make
such Improvement in the ST. Lawrence
as 10 make the Great Lakes accessible to ocean
gong 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
production of all things is diminished or retarded
by 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 emerg-
ent need; and
whereas number of States have Joined
IN the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater AS.
sociation, having as its object the early undertake
ing ana completion of this Improvement: There
fore be II
"Resoved by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the State of North Dakota that tile
State OF North Dakota Is properly associated In
the above-named organization with its neighbor-
ing Comlnonwealths in pressing to advance this
undertaking. and that the action Of the governor
IN so declaring Is hereby approved and confirmed
ana the participation Of this State by the governor
and those who represent him in the council of
these States Is approved; n
HSsoiNeu lIlut lHe representatives OF this
State in the Congress Of the United States be
requested to facilitate and expedite in every nos
slbe way the prosecution of this undertaking for
the economic freedom of landlocked continent"
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater associ-
alton is voluntary association of ii 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 a voluntary co-operative ef-
fort attempting to impress the nation and con-
gress with the urgent need of adequate transpor-
taton facilities mt reduced rates. to be provided
by the proper development of our inland water
ways
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater prof.
ect has been discussed for several years. Prog.
ress 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 intemational joint COM
mission ito investigate what further improve
nent 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 cost thereof, and report to the gov.
ernmcnt of the Dominion of Canada and TO the
congress of the United States with its recom-
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
aration Of plans and estimates for the information
of the commission. The commission has been
holding a series of public hearings at which ma
tonal, 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
Iayaln wit fba I'm nynp1a nf
ton on the upper st. Lawrence.
Following will be found brief statment of the
main features of the project. The writer holds
brief for or against II.
There are two phases to the project One Is
the opening up of Great kes-Tidewater trans
portaton. The other Is the establishment in con.
nection with the work OF great plants for the
generation of hydro-electrcal energy to he dis
tributed over radius Of about 250 miles. At
present the navigation and power projects are
being considered as one.
The demand of the Middle West Is for water
transportation. This demand. in a nutshell. IL
that the Great Lakes be opened to the sea so that
ocean-gong craft drawing from 20 to 25 feet can
steam from Duluth to the Atlantic and thence
along the seaboard of the western hewisphere or !
across seas to the markets of Europe
The Middle West argues this way, The measure
of the country's productiveness depends In large
measure upon the expeditions movement of its
enoTmous hhu SiVwiH6 so'ohic VI heiSht. lnls
movement of freight Is at present slowed up by
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 "Midlle West" means the
Aheart OF the nation" with about one third OF the
territory. population and wealth.
The Middle West holds that great and costly
though the enterprise may be, II is entirely feas-
hla from tho staadnnint of the engineer. that