Evening star., 1922-02-01
Sectional Views on St. Lawrence
Waterway.

A.
the ST. Lawrence waterway project
follows the favorable report OF the
international joint commission, which
has been studying the subject, and
the introduction Of legislation in Con-
gress designed to carry out the com
missions recommendations. With
these three definite steps already
taken the question of the actual
realization of the project, the Newark
News Independently says. becomes
one of immediate practical interest.
Public sentiment on the '1akes-to-
sea" proposal. as expressed by edi-
torial comment, Is influenced mark
edly by geographical location, or.
more accurately. by proximity to
harbor or to navigation facilities. The
Atlantic seaboard. from Portland TO
Baltimore, rises as one man to oppose
the whole scheme. On the other hand
Portland's attitude is not that OF New
England as whole. nor is New
York's representative of the state, for
inland New England and inland New
York are disposed to join hands with
the middle west in support.
Letting editors speak for them
selves, however. we find the Portland
Press-Herald opposing both the canal
route and the water-poWer pro3ect'
the first because "if it becomes
reality the Atlantic ports will suffer
the loss of considerable business and
Portland will feel the effects OF it.,
mort Of the country New York has
the most at stake" the Evening
World of that city declares. So what.
asks its neighbor. the Tribune rs
New York going to do about tne
International waterway ,," nort and
terminal facilities, New YORK state'
the Tribune points out: ..,+
Gowns a competing route, that
from Oswego to the Mohawk ana
thence to tidewater. Ihis route IS
shorter, capable or opera1ion ~ .oi The
short route to foreign ports It hes
within American territory and It's
development will help American
shipping and add to national re-
sources. Why go to Canada in search
Of new outlet for the commerce VI
the lake region?'
"Although New York has been most
nrominent in opposition" Philadel-
mia raises it's voice, through the
Evening Bulletin, to announce that
Sentiment in this port seems no less s
opposed to the Canadian waterway,
grave doubts that this waterway
would actually put Chicago and Du-
luth and the rest Of the lake ports
on the Atlantic coast" the money
might better be spent ..,1,+tss in the deTe,t Rt
even granting that "a Duluth-to-
Live.pool route" would cheaper
TRANSFORMATION "between the heart of
the United States and Europe" its
carriage by way of an international
lied waterway would probably mean,
as the Baltimore Sun forecasts 1t,
business than now goes to American
railroads" Indeed. 'it might well
mean the ruin of many of our trunk
lines, without yielding any corre-
spending benefit to any American In
terests,'' and while admittedly rail
road revenues should not stand in the
way Of waterway development. new,
ertheless it must be remembered
that the project is the development
Of a Canadian, not an American, wa
terway. On the other hand: the But5 ,
falo Express remarks that. I'VE would
ali favor" the building of the canal
if II "really would cheaper the trans
portation of farm and other western
products" because what New YORK
might lose in transfer trade it would
make up in increased sales resulting
from the greater prosperity. in the in
terror" But its objection is the same
as that of the Buffalo Times, "busl-
ness conditions, impracticabillty from
the engineering and navigation points
Of view, vested rights, the need Of
civic economy and the mandates Of
common sense all initiate against it."
The Chicago News reports -four
teen states Of the great west, as
well as Canada, on record as ear.
nestly in favor of this magnificent
water highway to the markets OF
the world" The west wants the
waterway" the Chicago Journal says,
and the Superior (Wis.) Telegram re-
plies that tft has made up it's mind
to have It" The waterway "is going
to be. constructed" asserts the st.
Paul Pioneer-Pl ess; 'the producing
interests Of every state touching the
great lakes are entitled by right to
have the benefit of any advantage