Norwich bulletin., 1922-03-02
Lakes St. Lawrence
 Ship Canal Hearing

Governors Allen and Miller
 Appear Before Rivers and
 Harbors Committee.
 Washington, March 1.-The battle for and against the Great Lakes-st. Law renee ship canal project was fought for nearly three hours today in a debate before the national rivers and harbors congress between governors of two states, Henry J. Allen of Kansas and Nathan L. Miller of New York. Governor Allen, aided by H. H. Mer- rick, of Chicago, former president of the Mississippi Valley association, l ehampioned the project while Governor Miller took the negative side. As the battle waged from side to side, with se- ] rious and humorous thrusts and par ries, the warriors were cheered appar- ently with impartiality. There was no | decision, both governors agreeing at the | end that congress would become the H. nal arbiter in it's action on the tnterna- tional commissions recommendations for construction of the project. As the final gong sounded from the chairman s | gavel, the two governors shook hands and exchanged congratulations. The cry of "sectionalism' early was brought into the joint debate of the l governors, who were brought together on the restum after recent newspaper | exchanges between them. Governor Al len and Mr. Merrick attributed New | York opposition to the St. Lawrence project to a desire to protect interests of New York harbor and state and the New York barge canal. Governor Mil Ter denied and decried sectionalism. De | claring he spoke from the nationa viewpoint, he marshalled arguments against proceeding with the project un til after a thorough investigation hat been made by experts and the projec examined frou all angles.
 Governor Allen stressed the "traged1 | of trahsportation" from which, he de clared the middle west had suffered The proposed canal, he said would
 bring oeean-go1ng vessels to the lak ports, aiding the transpot tation short age of eightee nmiddle western states Besides, he added, power developmen of the project would give great powe
 supplies to the eastern states and tn
 whole project, he argued. could be fl
 nanced and paid for within fifty year
 from the power receipts.
 
 of the project and branded the inter
 national commissions favorable repor
 as "superfciar and one Of utter worth
 lessness The cost, he added, woul
 greatly exceed the estimate of S250o00
 900 and he declared that the projec
 ou ght not to proceed without a furthe
 exhaustive investigation.
 Cost of the project figured largel
 throughout the debate, in conclusion
 Governor Allen declared:
 Tt isn't a question of cost, but it's
 question of giving ta -43,G2e,o90 l,sner leans of the middle west the use oi thi
 perfectly possible enterprise"
 Governor Miller had the last wor !, and declared that he and Governor A
 len after all were "very close together. Replying to Governor Aliens declars ton that congress should create a. con
 mission "to check up" the information; & commissions recommendations and q, termination upon the "method' of COT
 structing the project, Governor Mile i urged that an impartial and expert con { mission be authorized and ended tf 1 fray with the statement, that If 1t 7 demonstrated that this project is feas e ble, I pledge my support to 1t, no ma e ter what 1t costs.''
 ' Governor Allen and MT. Merricb oper }, ed the joint debate, Governor Miller O. n cupied an Intermediate interval and a 9 ter the Kansas governor had sevc n minutes to reply to Governor Miller. u s latter had an rqual period to close h final rebuttal
 Governor Allen appcaled to the "imaj l ination" of his audience to visualize tf = results of the ship canal, together wit e its power develcpment plans. The c; n nal, he said, would bring the midd U west 1900 miles nearer the Atlantic ar enable direct, through shipments to Er '' ropean ports. He declared that arg Q ments against the canal, because of ic : weather and ether difficulties applie . with equal force to the New York barr
 canal. Construction of only B miles
 canal actually was required, he col
 tended, and not 1900 miles as contendt
 by opponents.
 2 Governor Miller said that the lal @ channels were too shallow to adm v passage of ocean-going ships and wou
 have to be deepened at extra expens not now contemplated After his rec tai of obstacles. Governor Miller said: ,e TT agree with Governor Allen that s It will do what he believes 1t will d ii We should not count the cost. V n should find out whether the method n practical and results feasible and tn e decide whether to go ahead" g Governor Miller also emphasized [ l. existence of trade agencies at Ne l. York and questioned whether tn e could be re-distributed. He disclaim l. offering the state barge canal as a su h stitute for the St. Lawrence proje ,G and emphasized It's cost and those
 harbor Improvements in New York