The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-09-21
If St. Lawr!nce
Were Ofen Now
Would Save Cost in One
Year in Removing Con-
gestion of ShippingG Grain
and Coal.
BY has p. Craig.

If the st. Lawrence were open
now" they are saying in Canada.
The Canadians don't know where
they are going to get their coal this
winter. They will get it somehow,
but the outlook at this moment is
not attractive. For Canada's coal sup
ply is drawn from the United States,
and if the United States will have
scarcely enough to go around, the
Canadian supply will be still more
precarious. Canada has all kinds of
coal, down nea the mouth Of the st.
Lawrence. and if the river above Mon
treal would accommodate GOLFERS like
those on the lakes, Canada's coal
problems this winter would be solved.
BY the same token, the territory
served by the lakes on this side of
the line would be greatly relieved if
the way were open to bring in coal
from Canada's maritime provinces.
IF the St. Lawrence were open now
Farmers and shippers Of grain, and
railroad men too, are wondering what
sort of a transportation mess we shall
be in when the heavy crop movement
sets in. AS long ago as last spring
shipping associations were warning
their members that it would be as
much as ever the railroads were able
to handle their business this fell. In
fact, for almost a year railroad eX-
ecutives. vice-presidents McCrae and
Lee of the Pennsylvania and others,
have been sounding the warning and
that was before the railroads had
had the setback Of a strike. Under
the best conditions, the railroads
would have been hard put to it to
move the crops this fall and keep
other traffic rolling. With the added
griefs, the country will be in serious
difficulties, and the situation is right
upon us.
If the st. Lawrence route were open
so that vessels could pick up their
load at the head of the lakes for
delivery at the ocean ports on our
own sea ports or across the water,
the difficulty of the seasonal I'VE
ment would be reduced one-half and
more. New England can handle New
England traffic. The west can handle
western traffic. And so for all parts
Of the country. 1t is when the west
ern load piles up on top Of the local
traffic at eastern terminals that the
transportation system chokes. Cars
stop moving and there are no cars
for any shipper. Like any other ma
chine, when the railroads are over
worked, they don't work at all.
The st. Lawrence will not be open
ties. 1t won't be open to ships next
year nor for five years to come, at
best. 1t would save its cost in this
one year of 1922 if it were open to-
day. 1t would have saved its cost
in the year of 1920, If it were open
then. 1t will, as 500 as 1t Is open,
save it's cost over and over. The
West wants the way to the sea.
But it is not the need Of the west
alone. The whole country needs it.
Whether it is shortage Of fuel or
blockade OF merchandise or embargo
on perishables or congestion Of rail
way lines, there is one central diff
ficulty which is the key to it all.
The prosperity of the United States
depends upon thu" speed with which
a national transportation system can
be created. In that national trans
portation system waterways must
have their place, Among waterway
projects, the opening of the Great
Lakes to ocean going is a
fundamental. We need it now. Be-
fore it can be accomplished WI shall
desperately need II.