The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-04
Sectional Views On st
Lawrence Waterway

President Harding's endorsement
of the ST. Lawrence waterway pro-
ject follows the favorable report of
the international joint commission
which has been studying the sub
iect, and the introduction Of legis-
lation in congress designed to car
~ out the commissions recOmmen-
dations. With these three definite
steps already taken, the question
of the actual realization of the pro-
iect, the Newark News Qnd) says,
becomes one of immediate practi-
cal interest"
Public sentiment on the lakes
to-sea' proposal, as expressed by
editorial comment, is influenced
markedly by geographical location,
or, more accurately, by proximity
! to a harbor or to navigation facili-
ties. The Atlantic seaboard. from
Portland to Baltimore, rises as one
man to oppose the whole scheme.
On the other hand, Portlan0's atti-
tude is not that of New England as
a whole, nor is New York's repre-,
sentative of the state, for in
land New England and inland New
York are disposed to join hands
with the middle west in support
Atlantic Ports Would Suffer.
, Letting editors speak for them
selves, however, we find the Port
land Press-Herald opposing both
the canal route and the water pow
er project, the first because ''if it
becomes reality the Atlantic ports
will suffer the loss of considera-
BILE business" and Portland will
feel the effects of it" Water pow
er development is opposed because:
This state has considerable wa
ter power, developed and undevel-
oped, which the people hope may
some time attract many industries
to the state. If the proposed plan
goes through, Maine will have to
wait until all the power generated
on the St Lawrence has been alb
sorbed before it can hope to attract
either capital or industries for the
development of its own power"
But in its capacity as the princi-
pal port OF the country, New York
has the most at stake" the Evening
World of that city declares. So
what, asks its neighbor, the Trfb-
une, lis New York going to do
about the international waterway
scheme?" Aside from the question
of port and terminal facilities, New
York state, the Tribune points out:
GOWNS a competing route, that from
Oswego to the Mohawk and thence
to tidewater. This route is shorter,
capable of operation for a longer
period each year, and is the short
route to foreign ports. 1t lies with
in American territory and its de-
yelopment will hold American ship
ping and add to national resources
Why go to Canada in search OF a
new outlet for the commerce or
the lake region?"
although New York has been
most prominent in opposition,
Philadelphia raises its voice,
through the Evening Bulletin, to
announce that sentiment in this
port seems no less opposed to the
Canadian waterway" for one rea-
son. since there are grave doubts
that this waterway would actually
put Chicago and Duluth and the
rest of the lake ports on the Attain
tic coast.
But even granting that "a Du-
POOI AOo1S
cheaper transportation between
the heart of the United States and
Europe" it's carriage by way OF an
internationalized waterway would
probably mean, as the Baltimore
Sun forecasts it, that British ships
will absorb more business than now
goes to American railroads" IN
deed, lit might well mean the RUIN
of many of our trunk lines, without
Welding any corresponding oenent
to any American interests, and
while admittedly railroad revenues
should not stand in the way or wa
terway development, nevertheless
il must be remembered that the
project is the development OF a
canadian. not an American water
way. On the other hand. the Bur
falo Express remarks that we
would all favor" the building OF the
canal IL 1t really would cheaper
the transportation of farm and 9th
er western products" because what
New York might lose in transfer
trade it would make up in increas-
ed sales resulting from the greater
prosperity OF the interior" But its
objection is the same as that or the
Buffalo Times, business conditions.
impracticability from the engineer
ing and navigation points of view.
vested rights. the need OF civic
ECONOMY and the mandates OF com
mon sense, all initiate against IL