The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-07
SCHEME TO SPEND PEOPLES
MONEY IN FOREIGN COUNTRY
Artou
Ransom Pioneer Automobile Manufacturer of Michigan
States That 1t Would Be Very Unwse Spend Public
Money on St Lawrence Canal Project

creased in order to promote what is
| only an experiment, and asserted that
we should improve our own ports and
waterways instead of promoting a
project in foreign country. The gov
ernor Is further quoted as saying that
the cost of the scheme was heralded
over the country as only s250.0o0,o00
and that this would include the devel-
opment of 1000, 900 horsepower, which,
he said. SIS held out as an alluring bait
to the New England states" 1t would
be reasonable. in the governors opin-
ion. to add at least % per cent as
unexpected cost, which would bring
the United States half up to more than
$50, 900. 900 for a canal 25 feet deep.
IHe estimated that it would cost $780,
100000 to deepen the channels and
harbors Of the Great Lakes to a
depth of % feet, so that the share TO
be borne by the United States would
amount to $500, 000, 900, which sum is
one-fifth of the total amount expend-
ed to date in improving all our rivers
and harbors.
On the economic phase, Mr.. Olds
quoted State Senator Gibbs, of New
York. who said: 1T is outrageous at
this period of the financial crisis con-
fronting the nations that anyone
should have the audacity to ask the
government to spend a quarter of
billion dollars so that private interests
can profit from a venture for which
they themselves should pay" Further
Senator Gibbs is quoted as saying
that heretofore we have taken the po-
sition that if water power is all that
is desired-and there is increasing ev-
idence accommodating to show that this
is the real stake-those who desire -
should apply for it on the same terms
as all other applicants for licenses and.
like them, should bear the cost Of de-
velopments.'
Mr.. Odds realizes that the advocates
of the st. Lawrence route make claims
as to the great relief this would give
our trunk line railroads at the season
of the year when our wheat is moving
to the seaboard. but in his opinion this
is not to be counted on. because it is
now cared for by present canals and
railroads, and long before the st. Law
renee canal could be completed it is
only reasonable to expect our railroads
will have made up their inefficiiencies
in equipment and terminal facilities.
The barge canal can be provided with
facilities sufficient to make 1t a def
mite factor in service to shippers, as
there are already in sight greatly en-
larged facilities along the Atlantic
seaboard.
In summary Mr.. Odds expresses
himself against the st. Lawrence ship
canal on the following grounds:
/. The unwarranted expenditure of
millions of public money in a foreign
country at this unsettled time on an
unproven and experimental project.
9. No ocean steamship company of
account could afford to waste the time
of theif great ocean liners to come
1900 miles inland.
3. Ocean liners are not made or
adapted for canal work.
4. transportation by modern lake
carriers to Buffalo and thence by New
York State Barge canal to seaboard is
and will continue to be cheaper than
the through route from lake ports to
the transatlantic ports. on account of
the great saving in distance through |
using the first route.
5. The misleading statement of cost |
brought forward by the advocates of !
the st. Lawrence route. If this pro-
ject were started, no one knows the |
extent of the cost.
s. Navigation of the st. Lawrence |
only open two or three months a year, |
and this would not justify the vast |
expense necessary for its being made |
navigable.
7. The canal would be absolutely |
useless unless lake ports and channels |
were deepened at an enormous cost.
s. The operating cost of ocean |
steamers through such canal under |
the most favorable circumstances /
would be far greater than the cost of
transporting grain through the ele-
vators to ocean ships at real ocean |
port.
Q. Insurance rates on the st. Law
renee river are much higher than for
Atlantic ports. especially in the fan |
and spring, when dangers of fog and /
ice are most pronounced.
10. That as power proposition,
even IL 1t could be justified on eco
nomic grounds it is not one for which |
the government of the United States
would be justified in pledgang its /
credit, or spending the money of its |
people, raised by taxation.
IL. Since private capital has not /
displayed any willingness to furnish |
capital for the canal. it is apparent |
that the appeal to our government to
build it is evidence that private inter
ests have not sufficient faith in the re-
Turns to he had from it.
u. 1t has none of the justification |
of the Panama canal that is, OF cut
ting off enormous distances between
this country and its possessions. or as
a matter OF military and naval pro-
tectiton of our country's coast in times
OF war.
IS. That before taking on the con- |
struction of a new canal at high cost, |
assurance should be given that the |
direct and indirect benefits are COM
1t should be demonstrated |
that the existing facilities are insult |