Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-02-24


ing channel, is by far preferable; and
they adhere to this opinion with much
confidence, i, beng supported by reasons
which do not exist IN the other cases.
II this plan should be adopted, il could
be promptly put into execution, the be-
nettIal effects OF our Legislation would
soon be fell by our fellow citizens and
what also strongly recommends ii TO ia
vorable consideration, this mode OF me
lloratlhg the Navigation would be equally
efficient as any of the others, and The ex-
peDse would be diminished nearly one
hall. 1t is an objection o this plan, that
alter The channels have been opened, a
few f'eshets would fill them up, and the
obstrncuons be again as great as they
ever had been. But this is mere sur
mise, unsupported by argument re
rienqe; and may he c!assed among those
visionary objections, which find their ao-
count IN the preludlced minds on those
who are hostile 10 TIE enirpi .e r cri-
nlinaliy careless on The SUBJECT l. is
repeated, that this plan, Il earned into
operation, would fully produce tie in,-
portant results desired by the legisla-
lure and people +; and that in short tune
boats OF every descrlp ION winch navl-
gaze the wes'ern waters, would be seen
lioaling upon the Wabash unmoIes'od
by those obstacles which now deter them
from it.
The question finally presents itself,
from what source are we to derive The
lunds necessary 10 the completion oil ttls
work Your committee recommend the
expediencY, and urge II with the most
anxious feelings, 10 divert and apply Tic
amount of the three per cent. lund ap-
propriated on certain state roads in The
western part OF The STATE, that may III
justice be cue to the counties bordering
On The river. Thus measure may at frs
alarm those counties through which
these roads run, and which II IS presum-
ed are deeply interested in having them
comp eted according to the original in
tenlion of the legs stature. But whet
they reflect that Providence has markeG
the course OF this noble stream throngh
the most fe,tile portions ut the state;
that the Improvement OF us Navigation
would enable the farmer al all seasons
to transport MS surplus produce 10 mar
ket, and speedily 10 return with I've re-
ward of his honest Ind siry, that il would
attract population, greatly enhance the
value OF lands, magnify the political i'm
porance Of the countfy-the considera-
ton of these and other consequences
producing lncalculsble advantages, vail
silence every niurmur and convert hos
illily to iriebds'ilp-tbey have every con-
Edence in the discernment and patriot
ism of the people, and believe that al
though the designing and male,ole
might for time impose upon that bo-
nest native credulity which is peculiar
to a country life, that little dispassion
ate inquiry would soon remedy the evil.
They therefore recommend to ,ht
House to pass the following bill:
BILL for improving the navigation of the
river Wabash.
Be i: enacted by tie General assembly
oftAe State Of Indiana, That the amount
OF the three per cent fund, appropriated
by the act, entitled " An act authorizing
the laying oil certain state roads in this
state, and approprialing one hundred
thousand dollars of the fund commonly
called the three per cent. stock fund tor
opening the said roads," which is now
due and may hereafter be due to the
counties of Knox, Sullivan, Vigo, Yer.
million, Parke, Montgomery, and Put
nam, in equal proportion with the other
counties of this state, be, and the same
is hereby appropriated for the purpose
of opening and amending the naviga-
ton of that part of the river Wabash
situate between the mouth Of said river
and Li;tle-Rock ripple inclusive.
Sec. Q. Tina, the Governor of this
state is hereby authorized and required,
whenever in his opinion, a sufficient sum
for the commencement and prosecution
OF the work, OF the funds hereby appro-
prialed, shall have accumulated and
been received by the agent of the three
per cent. fund, to appoint skilful, judi
cious citizen as commissioner to lay
out the said appropriation and who
previously to entering on the duties as
signed him by virtue of this act, shall
enter into bond to the state OF double the
amount to be received by him, with suf-
fcient security to be approved by the
Governor, conditioned for the faithful
discharge Of the same; and the said
commissioner shall be required to lay
out the money hereby appropriated in
the manner best conducive to the object
of this act, and shall cause to be exca-
waited at the ripples and rapids, channels