The Washington herald., 1922-01-17
international C Commission
Approves Proposed
= Construction.
FINDS OPPOSITION
. IS UNJUSTIFIED
Recommends Treaty With
Canada to Carry Out
Scheme.


The detailed plan for the con-
struction Of the st. Lawrence sea-
way, which would make ocean ports
Of cities on the Great Lakes, was
submitted to Congress yesterday. to-
gether with the recommendation Of
the International joint commission
that the project be undertaken at
once by the United States and
Canada.
The cost Of construction of a st.
Lawrence ship channel of twenty
five feet draft is estimated at $780,
ooo, 900. and Of the welland Canal
at $e0.oo0.ooe The undertaking, it
is proposed, shall be financed BY
sale of bonds by ths American and
Canadian governments. and the
bonds retired from proceeds of the
sale Of the vast volume OF water
power developed
Would Beneat wide Area.
More than $4,000. 900 people in the
Midwest and Far West would be
benefited by this scheme to enable
ocean ships to penetrate to-the heart
Of the AGRICULTURAL section. exchang-
ing cargoes OF foreign imports di>
rectly for cargoes OF grain and
other products. ~
Such Eastern opposition as has
developed to tde project. the COM
mission hnd unjustified. declaring
the New York barge and other
canals inadequate to relieve the
acute existing transportation short
age and pronouneing the ST. Law
renee route superior to all others
forHthe purpose of anording the in
tefior OF the country direct access
70 the ocean.
-~Reeonnesdation slbaittel.
The Recommendations Of the Joint
commission follow:
I. That the governments Of the
United States and Canzda enter into
treaty for.a a scheme of Improve
ment of .he st. Lawrence Hiver be-
tween Montreal and Lake Ontario.
2. That the weIland Ship Canal
be embodied in the scheme and
treated as q part thereof.
3. That the proposed works be-
tween Montreal and Lake Ontario be
based upon the report of the engi-
neering board accompanying this re-
port. but that before any final de-
cision Is reached. the report OF the
board. together with such COM
ments, criticisms and alternative
plans as have been filed with the
| commission be referred back to the
board, enlarged by other leading
members Of the engineering pro-
fession.
VIII Investigate Damagea.
| 4. That there shall be an exhaus-
tive investigation of the extent and
character of the damage through
howage involved in the plan. of de-
velopment finally adopted.
8. That assuming the adoption of
the plan of the engineering board:
or Of other plans also involving a
readjustment Of the internationa al
boundary. in order to bring each
Of the powerhouses on its own side
Of the boundary, appropriate steps
be taken TO transfer to one country
or the other. as the case may be,
the slight acreage of submerged
land involved.
| s. That Canada proceed with the
works necessary for the coupletion
of the Welland Ship Canal in ac-
cordance with the plans already de-
cided upon by that country.
Provides for Beard.
:. That such navigation works
as do not lie wholly within one
country or are not capable of eco
nomical and efficient construction
maintenance and operation within
one country. as complete and inde-
pendent units. be maintained and
operated by q board hereinafter
called "the International Board" on
which each country shall have equal
representation.
s. That such navigation works
as lie wholly within one country
and are capable OF economicsl and
efficient construction, maintenance
and operation as complete and In
depedent units, be maintained and
operated by the country in which
they are located with the rfRht of
inspection by the said international
Board. TO insure economy and efi.
cheney.
| 3. That power works" he huilt
installed and operated by and Al
the expense Of the country ir
which they are located.
| Would Apportion Cost.
| 10. That except as set forth ir
recommendation eleven the cost Of
all navigitation works be an.
portioned between the two coun.
tries on the basis Of the benefit.
each will receive from the new
waterway. provided that durins
the period ending Ave years afte:
completion of the works-and tc
be known as the construction
period-the ratio liking the amour,
char4eable to each country shall
he determined upon by certain
known factors such as the de.
veloped resources and foreign an.
coastwise trade of each country
within the territory economicall,
tributary to the proposed water.
way, and that that ratio shall b.
adjusted every Ave years there.
after and based upon the freight
tonnage of each country actuall,
using the waterway during thu
| previous fve-year period.
IL. That the cost of navigation
works for the combined use o.
navigation and power over ant
above the cost of works neces,
sary for navigation alone shall b,
/ apportioned equally between the