Evening star., 1932-07-21
St. Lawrence Canal Project
Has Strong National Backing

Keen appreciation Of the benefits to
be derived from the proposed ST.
Lawrence Canal project is indicated in
many sections of the country. Water
transportation to the sea is desired by
States covering a wide area. while the
advantages in power production as we'll
as in shipping are acknowledged. Some
Eastern ports indicate the probability
OF criticism when the treaty, an
rounced by President Hoover. comes
before the Senate. Gov. Roosevelt's
request for a personal conference. with
refusal BY the President, Is believed by
some papers to foreshadow attention to
the subject during the campaign
will benefit most directly from the sea-
way" states the Milwaukee Sentinel.
will justly be gratfied that a success
ful termination of the long years of
discussion and study and conference
iG at hand" The Sentinel believes that
1t is safe to assume that in relatively
short time the great enterprise will be
on its way to completion" The Roch-
ester Times Union says: While well
aware that Buffalo and New York fear
loss of trade. we find it hard to believe
that this State will be injured in the
long run by placing the vast area
tributary to the Great Lakes in direct
deep-water communication with the
Atlantic 1t is wonderful thing to
bring the ocean 1000 miles inland"
The Providence Bulletin emphasizes
the point that "a tremendously impor-
tant by-product Of the project will be
hvdro-electricity Of more than 2,000,-
900 horsepower that will be developed"
and adds that "a saving of nine cents
2 bushel on the cost of shipping wheat
from the West to Europe, and proper
tionate economies in the shipment OF
other commodities will, it is claimed,
result"
The sooner the seaway is ready for
use. the better it will be for this
country, particularly inland America"
according to the Oshkosh Daily
Northwestern. while the Appleton Post
Crescent calls the plan "a matter of
sensible, practical. even vital public
Improvement" and the Asbury Park
Evening Press advises that the cost,
although large. would largely be COM
pensated for by the power made avail
able and by the shipping facilities
afforded the Midwest" The Escanaba
Daily Press finds "jubilant public in
IeItSl, anu ltIlldlhS llldb Viz ldNO
that the difficult task Of making a
treaty between the two governments
has been accomplished may be con-
sidered as a battle more than half
Won''
Sentiment in the Middle West and
Northwest" states the Philadelphia
Evening Bulletin, has been keen for
realization of this project as greatly
cheapening the cost Of transportation
of grain to the European market.
Opinion on the Atlantic seaboard has
been that the benefits of the improve
ment have been exaggerated. A con-
siderable time must elapse before the
matter can be tested by the actual
operation of the waterway. But there
Is no question Of its general cervice-
ability as a development of watc- trans
portation. And it is vision notably
cherished by large part of the United
States"
Plenty Of time remains for planning
celebration of this billion dollar project" "
advises the Toledo Blade. stressing the
necessity fer dispoSing of many details,
and concluding: In the opinion of the
joint board of United States and Cana
dian engineers. seven to eight years will
be required to complete this under
taking-twice as costly as the Panama
Canal-after the actual beginning Of
operations" The San Antonio Express
predicts continent approval of the
agreement" and adds that the Govern
ment should push work on the Inter-
coastal Canal of Louisiana and Texas so
that through barge service may be had
between Chicago and Corpus Christi; !;