GREAT PROJECT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 279, 20 July 1932, Page 3

GREAT PROJECT

(Press Assn. —

(Press. Assn.-

canad1an water way second only to p anama canal scheme in size the treaty signr1d

By Telegraph — Copyright)

WA-SHINGTON, Tuesday. The St. Lawrence Seaway Treaty was signed to-day by Mr. H. L. Stimson for the United States and Mr. W. D. Herridge (Canadian Minister to Washington) for Canada. The treaty calls for the development of the St. Lawrence for 180 miles from Montrea.1 to Lake Ontario in eight years. The task will enable ocean going vessels to travel to the heart of the continent.

— By Telegraph — -Copyright).

OTTAWA, »Tuesday. The net capital cost to Canada for the St. Lawrence project is 38,071,500 dollars (£7,614,300). Canada will get credif for her previous expenditures including those on the Welland Canal. The gigantic project is second from an engineering standpoint only to the Panama Canal. It will provide a 27-foot channel. The agreement must be ratified by the legislative bodies of both countries. It deals only with the section of the St. Lawrence constituting the boundary between New York and Ontario known as the international section. The national, or Quebec, section of the river Mr. Bennett stated, would be developed by the Dominion with Canadian labour and materials. No control or supervision, elther direct or indirect, will be exereised by the United States over this national undertaking. As both Canada and the United States possess rights in the international section, Mr| Bennett added that the development of the river for the combined benefit of navigation and power can only be undertaken by an agreement for ensuring co-operation between the two countries; therefore it is neessary to have a treaty defining the basis of co-operation. The net capital cost- to Canada was brought down to 38,000,000 dollars by 67,000,000 dollars paid by Ontario to the Dominion on account of power work in the international section. Canada had been credited with the cost of the Welland Canal (128,000,000 dollars). The total net cost to the United States is 243,000,000 dollars (£48,600,000). These figures do not include the cost of installing power-hous'e machinery or equipment for developing power as these will be financed independently of the treaty and in the case of Canada by Ontario.