Evening star., 1924-02-23
INLAND WATERWAY
.IAlANS ARE SCORED
Canadian Shipping Fears
Loss of Two Much Water
From Great Lakes.
by J. &. BOYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. February a3.-The de-
velopment of inland waterways as
freight carriers and for power pur-
poses, which has assumed such pro-
portions and importance throughout
both the United States and Canada. is
finding considerable active opposition
from certain shipping interests in the
Dominion. The Chicago drainage
canal. which has had much to answer
for in the past, is blamed to a large
extent for this antagonism.
The Importance of these new water
ways developments for all sections of
the United States becomes evident
when il is known that one-third Of
all the shipping now under construc-
tion in this country is in the yards of
the Ohio and Mississippi valleys and
on the great lakes. and that practl-
cally every basic industry is prepar-
ing to increase use of waterways for
transportation of raw and finished
products.
Why Canada Protests.
Canadian opposition as outlined by
Robert w. Redford. president of the
Shipping Federation of cauada. is due
1" the loss in depth OF the harbor at
Montreal which reputable hydraulic
engineers place at from Ia %
inches. Redford charged that while
The international treaty permits Illi-
nuiS to take only 4.l6I cubic feet of
water per second from Lake Michigan,
the sanitary district has been with
drawing an average daily flow from
the lake of 690.000.000 cubic feet. or
about the entire low water flow of the
mississippi at St Paul.
Continuous withdrawal of this
lowering the levels of Lakes Mchi-
gan and Huron five inches or more
and that of Lake Erie nearly as much.
This fall would reduce the permissi-
bic load of lake vessels from 800 to
90 tons and of ocean-going vessels
reaching the lakes by much more.
This has Solidiiied antagonism in
some quarters to the st. Lawrence
canalization project which il is pro-
posed to complete in con junction with
the United States.
EncrOachment of Rights Seen.
''There is no doubt that the continu-
ed diversions of water from the St.
Lawrence channel by the Chicago
drainage canal commission is an en-
croachment on the rights of Canada
under the international waterways
treaty" Bedford said. 1T is illegal
and unjustitiable and trust all pub
brought to an apprecia ton OF the
damage it is doing to the main artery
Of Canadian transportation and Will
be inSiStent that this question is sat
iSfactorily settled before entering into
further negotiations for canaliZation
of the ST. Lawrence and the develop
ment of water powers thereon. with
the United States government
Another enormous project for de-
velopment of waterways and water
powers now is before the Canadian
parliament. This scheme provides for
the building of Il deep-Watcr canal be-
tween Montreal and Ottawa on the
Ottawa river, "A distance of 10 miles,
by the Confederation Canal and Pow
cr Company. Large tinauciers of New
York and Chicago are said to be De
hind the new scheme. and il is rumor-
cd in Canadian circles mat one OF
the better known Of the Boston bond
houses will handle the financing OF
the project, which will cost in the
neighborhood OF S500,000.00o.
Another Plan Also Opposed.
The promoters of this new PROPOSE
ton urge that ocean-going steam
ships would be enabled to proceed as
far inland as Ottawa with consequent
saving on freight shipments. but the
main object of the scheme undoubted-
ly is to harness sufficient water
power to provide for the industrial
development of Montreal and the sur
rounding districts.
This plan is also meeting with op-
position, first, because opponents say
it could not be financed by English
or Canadian capital. and. second, be-
cause they claim ocean steamships
would end their trips at the head OF
unobStructed navigation even though
they might proceed further through
canals.
Shipping interests generally regard
the new plan as dangerous, contend
ing that if dams and power plants
are constructed there will be tend
ency to store up water during Off
peak periods. which would cause
dangerous fluctuations in the water
levels of the st. Lawrence at and