The Washington herald., 1922-08-26

IN throughout the East in regard to the ST.
Lawrence waterway project. Senator Frank B.
Kellogg, of Minnesota presented the subject clearly
and concisely in address at Duluth early this
month. His words should appeal to every Ameri-
can interested in the fullest development of the
great interior of the United States
The whole structure of civilization in this coun-
try rests upon transportation. Why should the
nation e railroads to bear the entire burden of
its futL-- when the cost OF rail transportation
already has become almost prohibitive in respect
to many necessities? The greatest need of
America today is cheaper transportation. The pres
ent cost OF carrying needed articles from
locality to another is the principal element in the
high cost Of living which, in itself, is the chief
reason for widespread unrest. Rail transportation
rapidly is reaching point where it is costly to
be entirely practical. When it arrives at that stage
the United States will face the most serious crisis
in its history. OF transport will be
evolved great deal OF the growth and pros
perity OF the country will be checked
/: is time to look ahead at the inevitable. The
ST. Lawrence Canal will, at least make the prob
lem less difficult Waterways are civilizations old
est and cheapest form of transport. They formed
the nucleus of all great civilizations which deve-
oped in the world before the railroads There
are some wise economists who predict that even
tually mankind will revert to the old condition.
The ST Lawrence Canal will tap the food res
ervoir OF the United States Its importance was
we'll emphasized by Senator Kellogg in these
words:
Along the great natural pathway OF the
Lakes lies OF the most magnificent agri-
cultural in the world The center of the
fooc-producing section OF the United States lies
tributary to the western end of these Lakes.
From Ohio to Colorado, from Missouri to
Minnesota and North Dakota, is the valley OF
the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers-of unsur-
passed fertility and marvellous production 1t
is peopled with a virie race of men and
women, filled with wonderful cities and dus-
trial centers. 1t appears by the report OF the
commission that the center OF the wheat pro-
duction of the United States is Southeastern
Nebraska corn in Illinois; oats in Southeastern
Iowa. potatoes in Wisconsin, wool in Wyom-
ing; swine in Illinois; cattle in Kansas; butter
in Illinois; cheese in Wisconsin; farm acreage
generally in Central Missouri; farm values in
Iowa. packing in Iowa; iron ore in
Minnesota; and the largest manufacturing dis
trict lies along the Great Lakes from Duluth
to Cleveland Here alone in 1920. tributary to
Chicago was agricultural, mineral, and
manufacturing production OF more than S16-
ooo,ooo,ooo, to say nothing about the production
and commerce tributary to other places Here
Is produced the most of our agricultural prod
ucts which exported to Europe in the form
OF wheat, -four, and meat products Tributary
TO Lake Superior is produced Is per cent of the
iron ore which goes into the manufacture of
the iron and steel products of the United States.
T. hardly possible that any short
sighted policy will prevail in regard to fur
nishing transportation from such region.
Any such policy would be comparable almost
to attempted national suicide