Evening star., 1938-08-17
BY ANDRUE BERDING.
Associated Press Stan Writer.

AbSOClAted fress Stau Wrlter.
MASSENA, N. Y, Aug. 17.-This Is
. tale Of two cities-the one here
today and the one there will be if
hydroelectric power pours in from
the proposed Great Lakes-St. Law
renee development.
The writer has encountered In
Northwestern New York State con-
siderable enthusiasm for the deep
waterways project. Up the river, near
the Thousand Islands, President
Roosevelt and Canadian Premier Mac
Kenzie King will confer at a bridge
dedication tomorrow.
The people here are divided, how
ever, over the time factor Some
think the development will come with
In a few years. The ma ajority say, 1T
Is bound to come, but won't live to
see it. You won't live to see it. But
our children will"
Big aluminium Producer.
Massena is city of $4,000 persons
Its veins and arteries are high-trans-
mission lines from hydroelectric pow
er. Because of this power, residents
say, 1t has become the worlds largest
producer of aluminium.
1t lies in the international rapids
section of the st. Lawrence, which
would be the heart Of the deep water
ways-power development. If the prof.
ect goes through, some 10000 horse
power will become available to the
United States.
State Department officials in Wash
ington believe that in this region the
combination of deep waterways bring
ing in ore and hydroelectric dams
bringing in power will result in the
birth of another great American City
like Chicago or Detroit.
The writer was told here that is
Or 16 factories were completed in and
around Messena in the last year with
the expectation of using Canadian
power.
Power imports Cut OFF.
The State Department, backed by
President Roosevelt, clamped down
last March on the importation Of Ca
madam power, on the ground that
such importation inspired the devel-
opment Of industries that might be
cut off in time Of war. Now the fac
tories are hoping for the creation CT
American power or the beginning of
the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence prof.
ect whose new power set-up would per-
NIT power to be imported.
The picturesque international rapids
nearby roar over rocks which before
many years may be deep beneath
smoother water. Dams would stretch
from Barnhart Island to the Canadian
and American sides.
On the Canadian side province of
Ontario) one fact is apparent-the
single-stage development Gone dam
only with great lift desired at
Washington never will be accepted by
Canada.
Urge Single Stage Project.
The 1882 treaty which did not pass
the United States Senate envisioned a
two-stage development. Now WASH
ington officials hope to effect SINGLE
stage project at Barnhart Island,
Wnlch would result IN a considerable
saving in money.
The drawback Is that the total lift
Of water with the single-stage devel-
opment would be IS feet This would
result in flooding the Canadian side
for many miles. Hundreds Of homes
would have to be abandoned. The
town of Iroquois would be submerged
The Canadians in this region are
rooted to the soil and their land is
rich in history. As you drive along
the northern shore Of the river you
zee one historical landmark after an
other. To ask the Canadians to SUBJ
NIT to the flooding of this territory is
like asking us to submit to the food
ing Of Valley Forge or Gettysburg.