Evening star., 1932-07-26

down to Lake Michigan and Lake
Huron. We have deepened the So-called
rivers which connect the Great Lakes
In 1880 Congress authorized deepening
these channels to 25 feet and the work
is new under way. With the exception
of Lake Michigan, half Of each of the
Great Lakes belongs to our neighbor on
the north. And Canada has not been
slow to appreciate the importance to
the development of her interior prov
inces of these great waterways. She
has spent many millions of dollars in
providing little canals II feet deep to
take small steamers around the rapids
of the st. Lawrence. She has just COM
pleted the Welland Ship Canal, 27 feet
deep, to take large lake ships from the
upper lakes around Niagara Falls and
into Lake Ontario.
Canada Is not so fortunate as the
United States. because the ocean to the
north of her is closed during a consid-
cradle portion of the year and she IS
virtually shut off by natural conditions
from good portions of the oceans to the
east and west of her tremendous area
But she has been far-sighted in devel-
oping those inland seas on her south
ern and our northern boundary. They
are connected with the Atlantic Ocean
by the st. Lawrence River, which is
only partly navigable. At Montreal
Canada has great seaport.
Canada Has Canal.
From Montreal to the sea Canada
has already provided a first class ocean
Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake
Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario
will soon be connected by water at least
27 feet deep. Below Lake Ontario lie
the Thousand Islands, a beautiful re-
gion familiar to many Americans, where
the st. Lawrence really forms great
inland sea, famous in song and story.
The channel for steamers comes through
the American side of that inland sea
and consequently the task belongs to
us. Through it 27-foot channel will
be completed this year. This, in con-
nection with the Welland Canal at the
other end of Lake Ontario, extends the
radius of operation of the larger lake
ships $50 miles, down to Ogdensburg,
in New York State
But between Ogdensburg and Mont
real there are many difficulties and
several great stretches of on-navigable
rapids. To help her water-borne COM
merce along this stretch, Canada has
built six little canals IA feet deep in
her own territory. but they are not
deep enough to satisfy the demands of
most of the ocean-going ships of the
world. We have shared the use of these
canals on equal terms given to citizens
of Canada. We have been permitted
to share in the use of the Welland
Canal. In exchange we have given to
Canada the advantages of the locks We
built to let water-borne commerce out
OF Lake Superior and also the channels
dacYnVnI IN fHa ca
Claire and the Detroit Rivers.
On the other hand, we have shared
In the betterments to navigation which
Canada has paid for In the lower St.
Lawrence connecting Montreal with the
open ocean. The history of the peace
full development and occupation of the
Great Lakes without the construction
OF forts or the maintenance of navies
Is source of pride to the citizens of
America and Canada. Peacefully and
In q spirit Of cooperation we have de-
veloped the channels when they come
on our side of the International Bound
ary Line that goes through the middle
and Canada has done the same on her
side. Actually she has spent more than
we have.
Section Most Difficult.
And now we come to the most diff
cult section Of the great waterway
which nature has provided between the
ports or the Great Lakes and the At
lantic Ocean. Below the Thousand Is
lands section and the upper reaches of
the st. Lawrence, section where the
course OF navigation is practically en-
tlrely in American waters, there comes
AZ miles OF river known as the Interna-
tlonal Rapids. 1t begins little below
Ogdensburg and goes to the northern
boundary OF New York and the begin
ming OF the Province Of Quebec. Below
that point the river is all Canadian, and
there are no delicate questions invoking
international rights and privileges. Cam
ada Is engaged building two deep canals
which will take SO per cent of all ocean
going ships and will have a depth of 27
feet. One OF them is II miles long and
Is called the Beauhernois Canal. The
other one, some miles In length. is
just above Montreal and Is to be known
as the new Lechine Canal, soon to be
begun. The problems connected with
their development are purely Canadian.
Iney are to be paid for.in large part
by the water-power development con-
nected with building of the dams and
the locks in connection with these
canals.
In the section between the interna-
tlonal boundary line, between the Prov
1nce OF Quebec and the State Of New
York and the Thousand Islands section.
there are, as I have said, AZ miles of
rapids where the channel crosses and
recrosses the international boundary
line at frequent intervals. 1t has taken
years OF patient negotiation between the
representatives OF the two countries and
their engineers to work plor,
which would be fair to both countries
and which would not endanger the port
OF Montreal with regard to the amount
OF water needed at that point.
At length, after all these years of
patient negotiation and study, a re-
markable treaty has Just been signed
by the representatives Of Canada and
the United States which solves this
tough problem concerning the Interna-
tlonal Rapids section, and, incidentally.
irons out many of the difficulties con-
nected with the whole system of inter-
national waterways of the Great Lakes
and the st. Lawrence River. 1t pro-
Vides for an international engineering
commission to undertake work that is
going to cost several hundred millions
OF dollars and the development of great
power plants, one series in each country.
1t meets the objection of the Canadian
engineers to development which might
have cost less money, but which would
have endangered the port of Montreal.
1t meets the difficulties which might be
encountered in procuring workmen and
materials for project carried on simul-
taneously under joint direction of two
great countries. Actually it is a great
triumph of international good viii and
diplomacy. To be sure. it does not
actually go into effect until approved by
the Congress OF the United States and
the Parliament of the Dominion of
Canada. Before it Is approved 1t will
be carefully studied by statesmen of
both countries. 1t will doubtless be OBJ
jected TO by interested parties. 1t will
not be welcomed enthusiastically by the