Evening star., 1927-03-13
HOOVER DESCRIBES
CANAL AID TO WEST
Big st. Lawrence Engineer
ing Feat to Furnish Power
as Well, as Waterway.
By the Associated Press.

| By bhe AseoCiaheu ITesH
NEW HAVEN. Conn, March Ia
A shipway between the Atlantic and
the Great Lakes via the st. Law
renee River would open the whole of
the mid-continent to international
trade, substantially increase the re-
turns from farming by lowering
transportation costs and benefit the
industrial East by power creation.
Secretary Hoover told a gathering of
New England business men here to-
| night in an address before the New
Haven Chamber of Commerce.
Since the Canadian and American
commission OF engineers last Fail
pronounced the canal construction
feasible, he said, strong tide of SEN
timent for immediate construction has
gotten under way in both Canada and
the United States.
There may be difficulties in the
way of putting plan into effect for
opening the Great Lakes, the Com
merce Department head said, but in
spite of obstacles inherent in inter
national agreement, in the disposal
of power rights, the long record of
successful cooperation between the
United States and Canada left him
hopeful of agreement on the subject.
Would Remove Barrier.
THE construction would remove a
great barrier to world transporta-
tion," he declared. 1T is urgent TO
the prosperity of the vast Midwest.
1t will contribute a wealth of hydro
electric power. 1t is a task worthy
of the strength and purpose of the
two sister nations who have in two
centuries already overcome count
less obstacles in implanting the most
hopeful civilization of history.
Build railways as we may, man
demands an outlet to the sea by
direct ships and for one big reason
1t Is cheaper. To carry goods to their
destination without two to four times
rehandling is the only road to the
most economical transportation.
Our engineers have determined full
plans by which we can ultimately Sc
cure a 30-foot channel. admitting to
the lakes SS per cent of all ocean-going
vessels which touch North American
ports-and thus, great cities like Fort
William, Duluth. Chicago, Detroit,
Cleveland, Buffalo and Toronto may
take their place and part as the sea-
board of the world.
Stupend0us Scale Required.
While the works to convert the St.
Lawrence to a. ship way must be on a
stupendous scale-the greatest engi-
neering project of modern history
yet they are comparatively simple in
character as are most great things.
Our major purpose is to open a
great and cheaper transportation
route. The development of power is a
fortunate and valuable by-product.
While the total cost of the works on
about $500, 900, 200, our engineers esti-
mate that after we deduct that por-
tion of the works which will be taken
over by the power development, we
are left on various estimates with n
cost to the governments of 100000
900 to $500, ,000. 900, which itself may
some. day be recovered from power.
This is not a stupendous sum for two
nations.
There are groups of our citizens
who sincerely believe that we should
develop this outlet to the sea solely
within our own boundaries by the
deepening of the Erie Canal to a
depth of 80 foot.
our ATHty EHStHCCf5 h0FC
exhaustive examination OF the New
York route. If 1t were constructed
wholly upon American soil 1T would
cost over $3.50, 200 900. If it were con-
structed on the shorter route from
Oswego to Albany 1t would not be an
all-American route, for ships would
then need TO pass through the Canad-
ian Weiland Canal around Niagara.
In this case 1t would cost $500, ,0O0.Ooo.
In neither case would there be any
electrical power developed.
II would not say that the New
York route is never to be contem-
plated. If for any reason our Canad-
ian friends do not wish to join in such
an enterprise, l am certain that the
needs of our own population VIII
sooner or later compel our undertak-
ing the freeing Of lake shipping to the
sea even If II does cost $500, 900, ,000." "