Brownville, March 3. -- The fifth and final debate of the 1921-1922 season series will be held in the Glen Park hall Thursday evening at 8 between Brownville-Glen Park High School and Sackets Harbor High school. Each school has won two debates. The trophy is to be a silver cup purchased by the four teams in the league. The topic of the debate will be "Resolved, That the St. Lawrence Deeper Waterway Plan Is Desirable."

That it will aid domestic industry in the United States, promote social and industrial relations between the United States and Canada and give the United States pretige in international commerce will be the issues discussed. The affirmative will be taken by the local debaters: Miss Doris Hasner, Miss Blanche Bennett, and George Hart. The negative being debated by Miss Ada Price, Leon Lonsdale and Howard Duggan. The chairman is Gordon Hayes and the timekeeper, Reba Jones. The judges will be Frank S. Tisdale, Superintendent of Schools of Watertown, Reverend Donald M. Chappel, pastor of the Stone Street Presbyterian church, Watertown, and Attorney Fred Baldwin, Watertown. The program follows:

Part I. -- Selection, Laddie Boy, High school orchestra, Miss Hall, George Hart, leader. Shephard Boy, Grammar school; song, Little Sir Echo, Francis Lingenfelter, Gerald Munson; Recitation, The Raggedy Man, Elaine McCollum; solo, I Love My Mama Best of All, Thelma DeLosh; debate.

Part II. -- Selection, Plantation Parole, High School orchestra; chorus, Boasting the Old High School, High School girls; recitation, Grandpa Keeler Gets Ready for Sunday School, Vernice Wood; duet, The Swallow, Dorthea Maxon, Thelma Beattle; recitation, The Honor of the Woods, Vernon Lee; violin solo, Berceuse from Jocelyn, Merle Munson; song, Dearest May, High school quartet, Ernest Lambert, Kendrick Brownell, C. Nye, Gordon Hayes; award; selection, Flag Day, High School orchestra.

The first page of the packet of preserved papers is follows:

Catalogue of Rebuttals

I. Cost of Canal
II. Feasibility of Project
III. Use of Canal
IV. Imagination
V. New York Owns Power
VI. Harm to New York and other cities
VII. Harm to Railroads
VIII. Freezing of Waterway
IX. Depth Canal
X. Barge
XI. Character of Rock
XII. Summary
XV. Danger of Joint Ownership

Note: XXIII. Did not appear in the material, nor did XIV -- perhaps they were lost. It appears that X was to have been a Summary and the last two items added after the notes were originally prepared.

Mr. Chairman, Honorable Judges, Worthy Opponents and Friends. For the second time the schools of Sackets Harbor and Brownville Glen-Park have met upon common ground and are to discuss a question, not only of common interest but one of present world wide vital interest and it has been our honest endeavor, as well as yours; we feel assured, that these arguments have been prepared, not with a view to winning a decision for our respective teams, but for a much higher motive, that of formulating an honest public opinion based on the merits of the question involved. In order to present this question honestly and squarely to a public whose future decision we may be able to influence, our presentation must be free from local or sectional prejudice. We must take the broadest, comprehensive view of the matter in order that the good of the many may have priority over the interests of a few.

Page. 2. We must therefore take into consideration the extent that this question has on, not one small section of the United States, but on the whole nation.

The question as associated with the first reads, “Resolved that the St. Lawrence deeper waterway will aid greatly in the development of domestic industry.” Before considering the effects of such a waterway upon the industry of the state, let us consider the possibility of such a project. Let us put the cart before the horse. First, is such a project technically feasible? Mr. Bowden of Canada and Colonel Wooten of the United States, the two best engineers of which North America boasts, have reported after two months of hard labor, that only two great barriers now prevent the unrestricted navigation of ocean going vessels between Chicago and Duluth in the West and the Atlantic ocean in the East. One of these great barriers is Niagara Falls. This obstruction has been nearly overcome by the building of the Welland Canal by Canada at a cost of $70,000,000. The other barrier is the rapids below Ogdensburg. This may be overcome by building a canal about 35 miles in length, much less in comparison than the length of the Panama Canal. There is also an absence of mountains, earthquakes and the resulting landslides or any other obstacles. Construction is therefore feasible.

Let us next consider the financial side of the project. Liberal estimates place the cost at $275,000,000 to be borne equally by the two nations. Our share is $137,500,000 or one-third of the cost of the Panama Canal. This sum to be paid in six yearly installments of about $25,000,000, is not very formidable when we are accustomed to add to or subtract from our yearly naval appropriation bill, $100,000,000, without comment. This project, therefore, is financially very simple. We have made no consideration of the revenue realized from the water power thus developed. Hence, the results which the completion of the project will have upon the industries of the United States, Canada and the world at large, remain for our consideration.

It is the natural tendency of a people to consider their own purpose first. Therefore, let us consider what results this tremendous project will have upon our local industries. Are you industrial workers of Northern New York aware of the great permanent changes that are occurring in our respective communities, caused by the present reconstruction period? Do you realize that by the St. Lawrence project, cheap transportation and an abundance of power will be opened to new industry? Think of the hundreds of men that will be employed in the enormous work of building the canal thru the Long Sault, and when this enormous power is harnessed and hitched up like a mighty steed, the reins will be in the hands of the American workmen who will drive this giant to success.

Our shore villages will teem with new life. We may see Clayton, Ogdensburg, Cape Vincent and Massena thriving cities, rivaling Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

And what might happen to Sackets Harbor? Not a town in all North America with greater opportunity to develop water under the new order than Sackets Harbor. Sackets Harbor with its historical setting. Sackets Harbor with its high intellectual type of American citizenship. Sackets Harbor with its fine, deep, natural harbor. Sackets Harbor with its pent up energies of over two hundred years turned loose with the aid of unlimited electrical power and suddenly located directly on the line of the greatest commercial highway. Might become is not the word but would become one of the greatest thriving industrial centers is what would happen to your town, my friends. In view of the possibilities it is difficult for us to see how you even in debate can find the nerve to champion the cause of selfish Central and Southern New York at the expense of your own community, in particular, and the world, in general.

(walk) Let us proceed a little farther. Time was when New York taxed New England for all goods shipped into or across her territory. New England, in turn, retaliated by boycotting New York. This has all changed now and most states realize that one state’s opportunity is the other’s also. That which is bound to occur in New England if the St. Lawrence Ship Canal is finished is as follows: 90% of her population living within 25 miles of tide water, will be receiving six million tons of food products to say nothing of such raw material as wools, hides, and copper, and she will be sending gack to the western states, textiles, shoes and machinery. This exchange will be made more favorable to both sections than now for the high cost of both transportation and middleman’s profits will be cut out to the mutual benefit of both sections.

We will now change our viewpoint to the midwestern states. Just think of a non-stop voyage from Duluth, Chicago or any intervening port to Liverpool and other ports of Europe. The world’s market will be brought to the doors of the warehouses of the world’s richest mineral and agricultural section. Every lakeport, Atlantic port and many riverports of U.S. and Europe within reach of iron, wheat, corn, pork, beef, mutton, flax and numerous raw and manufactured articles that can be handled in immense quantities by one simple loading and unloading process.

Is it no wonder that eighteen of the Mid-Western states have formed the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Tidewater Association and are not asking for this wonderful improvement but are demanding it?

From the many arguments we have been able to gather on the affirmative side of this question, I have chosen for my last, one affecting not only the capitalist and specialized industry but the great mass of the common laboring people as well. Post war conditions have caused to be thrown out of employment 1,000,000 working people in the United States and some 200,000 more in Canada. Since the close of the Washington Conference, our government discharged at one time 15,000 naval workers. Labor conditions are growing steadily worse. What a great boon to business recovery this project would be. Our currency system would be filled again in a natural way with good old U. S. greenbacks which would be worth millions to American labor, a thing every unemployed man could appreciate.

Therefore, my friends, I have proven that the St. Lawrence project is feasible and it will be successful for there are no insurmountable obstacles. It will more than pay for construction in power development. It will give employment to the working men and the majestic waterway to trade with European countries will be our own St. Lawrence.

Refutation

Sarcasm: Mr. Chairman, honorable judges, ladies and gentlemen. In opening this rebuttal I would like to call your attention to the unnecessary amount of sarcasm used by Mr. Lonsdale. We feel this is hardly proper in interscholastic debate and we also feel that it has had no bearing upon the question and will therefore gain you points.

Keeping to issues: In the second place I wish to call your attention to the fact that (blank) speaker did not keep to the issue. The issue reads (blank) resolved.

(blank) has brought in such statements as (several blank lines), which has no bearing upon the question at hand.

Cost of Canal: Mr. Lonsdale spoke of the great expense of building this project, millions more than it would be worth. If it costs double the estimates, it would be worth it. The heart of the continent with its vast resources in both agriculture and industry would be brought in communications with ocean routes. Furthermore, currency would again be put into circulation which would lift us out of the present depression.

Feasibility of project: Miss Price said that the canal was not feasible and that the engineers were not required to report whether it was possible.

The improvement for navigation alone is feasible and it will be more economical to coordinate navigation with water power. Do you not think that the judgment of the two engineers, Mr. Bowden and Colonel Wooten, should be taken in preference to that of the ordinary citizen?

Use of the Barge Canal? The talk of Mr. Lonsdale and Miss Price of using the barge canal as the ship channel to the sea as satisfying the needs and demands of the great middle west is like trying to feed a starving giant through a straw.

Imagination: Mr. Lonsdale, of the negative side, accused us of having imagination. Let me ask you a question, my friends. Would that memorable date of 1492 have been recorded in our history books, had it not been for the imagination of Christopher Columbus?

New York Owns Power: Miss (blank) made the statement that New York owns the power and should not sacrifice their right. Yes, it is true that N. Y. does own the power and it is also true that it is undeveloped. Under this plan the power would not only be developed by outside capital but would be available to New York just the same, and millions of horsepower to districts outside of New York.

VI. Harm to New York and Other Cities: I wonder that (blank) dares to state that the St. Lawrence waterway would work such tremendous harm to New York and other cities. If this waterway is of enough importance to commerce so that it could possibly injure New York with its momentum of an early start of 400 years, with the best harbor on the Atlantic coast, with its miles of modern equipped dockage and its 6,000,000 population. Then indeed is the new waterway to be a strong factor in future commerce. We therefore appropriate this argument of New York for the affirmative side.

Miss Price in one of her arguments took a moral standpoint. The second issue is that it will promote social and industrial relations. It does not mention the adjective, moral.

VII. Harm to Railroads: To the objection raised by Mr. Duggan that the railroads of the country will suffer. We wish to inform you that the president of the New York Central Railroad has no objection. This project will relieve the railroads of much of the burden which is least profitable for them to carry and will save them millions of expenditures for improvement that would be required. During the World War the railroads absolutely fell down. Had there been this canal the burden would have been divided. And do the railroad heads consider our welfare instead of their own? What about the present freight rates---?

VIII. Freezing of Waterway: In regard to the argument of Mr. Duggan about the St. Lawrence being frozen over for five months in the year. The St. Lawrence River is not frozen for more than three months at the most. The cold weather closes the Barge Canal at the same time. Those engaged in commerce would time their work so as to use the canal when it is open just as they do in northern Russia. Why cannot the ice breaker be used as it is used in the vicinity of Montreal? Therefore, this argument is not valid.

IX. Depth of Canal: Mr. Duggan stated that ocean-going vessels of deep draught (sic) could not use the canal. Part of the propaganda against this improvement includes that vessels of 40 ft. draft would be needed to develop ocean trade. The deep draft vessels of the world are big passenger liners, or really floating hotels with four or more decks. The vessels which carry commerce are different in construction and draft. The bulk of world’s shipping is carried on in boats less than 8,000 tons’ burden. Is it feasible that an ocean vessel of 8,000 tons’ burden and with a draft of 20 ft. can be built?

X. Barge Canal: What the Barge Canal needs in order to handle a tonnage that will make an asset of it to the State is a multitude of sound industries using cheap power distributed through its length of 356 mi. an abundance of cheap power combined with attractive water and rail freight rates with nearby ocean traffic facilities. Will create an industrial situation that cannot be otherwise brought into existence. When this is brought about and not until then will the Canal be worth the money it has already cost? N. Y. must depend on manufacturing for its future growth and the industry must have “white coal” as developed by the St. Lawrence project.

XI. Character of Rock: M---(blank) of the negative side made the statement that it would not be possible to accomplish this project because of the character of the rock.

An extract from the Report to the International Joint Commission states that diamond drills were used to determine the character of the rock. There were 56 holes drilled on each shore and it was found that the rock is a hard blue dolomitic limestone. Throughout all the drilling no seams were encountered and the foundations are adequate for this purpose.

Mr. Lonsdale said that loading and unloading grain cooled it and preserved it. This grain will not be spoiled if the senders see that it is properly dried before it (is shipped). By transferring it the friction would heat it thereby spoiling it. The loading of grain and the elevators has no direct bearing upon the first issue that is will aid domestic industry.

Transcriber’s Notes: There were two pages of miscellaneous notes, spralled out on the pages. These notes were made by someone other than Miss Hasner. They follow:

Lonsdale -- cost of canal -- Barge Canal. Mr. Lonsdale said that loading & unloading grain cooled it and preserved it. I should think the sender of the grain should see to it that the grain, when shipped, will not spoil.

Unfriendly relations.

Bringing liquor over here.

Miss Price said that smuggling would be made easier. This is not true because boats will have to stop at ports where customs officers will be and inspect boats. To do this would make smuggling more difficult. This will eliminate much trouble because where before they had several customs offices, they will only have one now.

(in a third person’s handwriting) Miss Price brought up the argument about bootleggers and criminals. Although we must confess these would escape easier, we want to call the attention of the audience that these have to escape the.....(sentence not completed)

XV. Danger of Joint Ownership: Miss Price stated that the joint ownership would lean to entanglement and trouble with Canada. If trouble is possible between the United States and Canada after 100 years of peace, then civilization is a fraud and christianity, a myth.

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