Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-01-18


of Illinois.
The undersigned, to whom was refer
red the lcvelling Of tao route and estimat-
ing the expense of constructing the con-
templated Canal for connecting the wa
tiers OF Lake Michigan, with those OF he
Limos river, in presenting their field
notes and plans of the route run and le-
Vels taken, have the honor to report:
That pursuant to Instructions from the
commissioners, they proceeded with two
! companies, one to Chicago, ON the shore
OF Lake Michigan, and the other 10 the
rapids OF the Illinois river, with mutual
naders anding resulting from a cursory
examination OF the topography Of the
country, made in the autumn OF 1923, to
ecnnae the oasr-tieas q dwelling ~ ,hr
norIh side OF the rivers Illinois and Aux
FLAMES, and in the valleys ofthose rivers.
II consequence of which the party at
/ Chicago, after sounding ,he lake near the
shore, and sounding and uiesnderng The
ohicaso RIVER 10 It's head, Qhe waters Of
"hlch we're found stagnaDt and on level
with Lake Michigsn) proceeded lerei
! ing IN lie dlrec ion TO the ford OF the
des Flames, where they crossed that
stream and descended on the north side.
IN us valley, Till the two companies inter.
! cepted each other IN front OF Mount Je
| lette.
The object Of this tour being to ascer-
tan the inclination Of an imaginary lane
drawn from the surface of the wafer 10
| Lake Michigan to the surface OF the wa.
eF' at some convenient point on the H..
iinoS river, below the rapids, and to con-
'idsr the pracsicabiliiy and probable ex-
pense OF constructing Canal connecting
nose points, the undersigned have con-
iloed themselves no further to location
ban merely to designate the two ex-
rene points, the head Of the Chicago RI
yer being one, and the confluence. of the
Little Vermillion and the Illinois river
'ehg the other. The depth of the wa
or between this r oint and the rapids b.
ing Insufficient for the purposes Of navi-
CATION, aud the nature Of the adjoining
shores OF the river being unfavorlblc for
the object required, il was deemed adj
viaab'o to descend to this point, "a few
miles below the foot Of the rapias) where
Convenient and safe location of the lunc-
ton OF the canal with the river may be
had ii being near the bluff, and having,
10 lis inanediate vicinity, but small
strip Of ground, at any time, subject to
inupdation.
between the two extreme points above
designated, the country, particularly the
valleys OF the rivers, being generally an
open prairie, the undersigned have, in
the courses run, consulted expedition,
bni when practicable have avoided eros.
sing ground sensibly affected by high wa
ter.
From this general view of the plan of
their operations, the undersigned draw
their attention to more detailed consi- |
deration of the various subjects connect.
ed with the objec, in view, and beg leave
to further report:
lst On the inc lination OF the planes
designated points on the route,
and the inclination OF the planes connect
ing the extreme points.
Cd. On the rivers crossed in the route,
their general character, and the qsanti-
titles of~ater furnished by each.
Sd. The description and nature Of the
earth and rocks on the route followed.
Alb. On the probable quantity Of ex-
cavations, entertainments and grubbing.
5th. On the number and description of
dams and culvertsthat willpyo. I
aably be required onsthe different routes.