The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-02-11
Shall We Move the Atlantic?


United States ports, and at these and
the other Great Lakes ports our car
go destined for Europe would load
and that such cargoes would proceed
direct.
The mid-continent has not as yet
heard the last Of these misleading
arguments. They should be valued
at what they are worth-as propa-
ganda for the purpose of delays-as
stories put out to break down the
morale of the West, stories intended
to divide it's public sentiment and
weaken its demand for the Great
Lakes-St. Lawrence ship channel so
essential to it's life, growth and pros
perity.
When the official report of the n
gineers is made, when the treaty be-
tween the two nations has been pre-
pared and is submitted to the senate
for approval, this propaganda will be
redoubled. Only by knowing the
facts and only by insistence on the
part of the marooned interior, it's
congressman and its senators stand
ing individually and collectively for
such a treaty with Canada treaty
that will bring the ocean inland and
that will make it possible for the
-mid-continent to expand it's indus
tries, strengthen its agriculture, wild
en- its margins of profits, and there
by stimulate it's growth-only by
] treason of insistence on the part of
the mid-cOntinent so informed and 81
represented, will such a treaty be ap-
proved and such a treaty cannot come
too soon.
The commerce of the United States
as a whole is expanding. The inter
change between section and section is
growing. The need for more trans
p%OrtatiOn facilities, the need for more
port outlets is a pressing one. The
necessity for better, quicker and
cheaper connection between the in
terror and coast is evident. With the
expansion of u business, has come
a tremendous expansion in the car
rying Of goods.
Twenty-Five years ago the railroads
Of this country were carrying Is COM
modify tons per year for each per-
son; in 1920, this movement had ir-
creased to 80 tons per capita, and the
rail movement of commodities pei
capita in 1924, amounted to 35 tons
It is a fact worth noting that the
peak of traffic on the Great Lakes
comes at that time of the year wher
the railroads of the United States
and of Canada are the busiest. Thi,
happens not in one year alone, but
season after season. The Great
Lakes-St. Lawrence ship channel is
a necessity. 1t is necessary to the
economical movement Of ~present-day
business. 1t is necessary for the
growth Of business for the future
1t is necessary to the development Of
our unused agricultural mineral anC
timber resources. 1T is necessary t;
the fullest and freest interchange o
/, commerce between the coastal ares
: of the country and the landlocked in
terror. Moving the Atlantic to tn,
!. mid-cOntinent will mean the stead7
: growth and future prosperity of tn,
nation.
And what about Canada?
For 100 years the United State
f and Canada have been at peace. Dur
: ing that 100 years of peace they hav
steadily developed this great water
s way as a means of communication fo
the use of the two nations. Thei
!, money has been invested in the deer
ening of channels, the building q
le locks, the construction of canal
Neither has created any advantag
~ that the other has not enjoyed. FC
le Canada, the problems of transport;
er ton are the same as they are fl
u he United States. The joint use ar
a 'Oint development of the one remain
lk ng gap, that will unite the Gre.
az Iakes and the ocean and that w
BRING Ocean-borne commerce to Il
a. shores of Ontario, Erie, Huron, S
0eriOr and MICHIGAN will croata r