ALS as president, five pages on three sheets, 5 x 8, Executive Mansion letterhead, October 28, 1895. Letter to the Honorable John E. Russell, urging him to accept membership in a newly constituted commission to investigate the construction of a “waterway.” In part, “I enclose you an extract from the last Sunday Civil appropriation bill. Will you act as one of the Commissioners therein?…I have thought of a great many people but have asked…Ex-Senator Edmonds who is greatly interested in the subject but cannot accept the appointment…Senator Vilas is very deeply interested and was in fact the sponsor for the provision in the Senate…the preparation and possibility of constructing the waterway should be fairly and intelligently considered.
I said to him that I would wait for him to suggest names before appointing. He has secured the command of Jm. B. Angell of Michigan University…to ask if he can be associated with Senator Edmonds in some such mean. A letter from Mr. Vilas a day or two ago informs me that Mr. Angell suggests you and I cannot think of a better man in the United States for the service.
As an engineer…a Mr. Cooley of Chicago is mentioned who I believe stands very high as a deep water engineer having been engaged on important work of the such contemplated. I understand the Canadians are prepared to confer. The subject of this waterway is attracting a great deal of attention and those who are connected with its investigation can do a great public service in determining the practicality and usefulness or its impracticality or inefficiency.
You will see that his pay is attached to the letter—only expenses— but I do not think the inquiry will engross much…time. President Angell accepts with the understanding that the time required will not interfere with his duties at the University. I wish you could accept this position.” Along the right edge of the last page, Cleveland adds a short postscript which reads: “Of course the sooner I can hear from you the better. G. C.” In fine condition.
On November 4, 1895, President Cleveland appointed Angell, John E. Russell, and Lyman E. Cooley to the Deep Waterways Commission, which had been instituted by the Congress to work with Canadian officials on the creation of a waterway that would allow ocean-going traffic between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. In spite of Cleveland’s contention that “the preparation and possibility of constructing the waterway should be fairly and intelligently considered,” the idea never got much farther than a feasibility study and proposals for further appropriations to Congress. It was not until 1959 that the goal of the project, then known as the St. Lawrence Seaway, finally opened. This letter represents the first step in the integral waterway. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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