Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-01-13
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS IN ILL
NOJS

NDackwoodsman,n win saow the progress of that
sys,sm of Intsraal improvement, adopted by the
Legislature of Illinois a, its last general session
The eag.rness with whch capitalists seized the OPP
por,unity Of oanins to the State the means Of car
syiag on these works viii inspire the people wit,
eoo6ience ia tbs success, Of the system, and leave
b., little do ID, that she will, without difficulty, be
enabled to carry it oat. When these works shall
have becn completed, Illinois will stand bea-
eo, ligh: to may of the older States.
The Internal Improvements of this
State are directed by aboard Of Pub
lie Works." which lately held meet
ing at Vandalia, for the transaction OF
business. All their proceedings have
not reached US, but we will acquaint
our readers with what had been done
up to our last date from that place.
They have decided TO put the fol-
lowing Rail Roads under contract du-
ring the next six months: On the Cen
tral Rail Road, from Cairo, 20 miles.
From the Hines, northerly, l miles,
and tn. sane distance sou,herly.-
From G.'ena, southerly, 20 miles,
On the Alton and Shawneetown road
-fom Shawneetown to Equality, l2
miles. On the Alton and Mount Car
mel road, from Alton to Edwardsvile.
Is miles-from Mount Carmel to Al
bion, Is miles. On the Alton, Shell
byviIle and Paris road-from Alton,
via Upper Alton, a distance Of l2 miles
in that direction-from the State line
via Paris, westerly, Is miles. On the
Northern Cross Road-from Quincy
to Columbus, in Adams county, l5.--t
From Danville, westerly, Is miles,!
On the Peoria and Warsaw road--fron
Peoria, westerly, l2 miies--from War
saw, easterIy, IL miles. On the Pekin
and Bloomington road-from Pckin to /
fremont, 10 miles.
The whole distance which is author |
lied as above, to be put under contract
within the next half year, is 266 miles
But these, it will be perceived, are on
ly the commencement, at the ends Of
the several routes.
Few States are going SO extensively
into internal Improvements as Illinois |
The five millions recently borrowed,
will hardly commence the works al
ready chartered. That money can be |
obtained on the faith Of the State, to
complete these works, is very proba-
BILE; but is it it not questionable whe-
ther in SO new country, there will be
sufficient business on these canals and |
rail roads, to pay the interest Of the
loans?
We are decidedly in favor Of push
ing internal improvements, as rapidly
ahead as the interest Of the people will
at all justify; but we very much doubt
the expediency Of constructing same
Of these roads, at least for the present.
An immense sum has already been ex-
pended upon single work, the Illinois
and Michigan canal, and millions more
will be required TO complete it. Be
fore all the rail roads to be put in con-
tract in the next six months, are com
pleted, debt Of fifteen or twenty mil
lions viii! be incurred.
The men who are concerned in let
ting the contracts on the canal, and all
who are entrusted with the disburse-
ment of the money expended upon
the public works, owe tito themselves,
as we'll as to the public, TO give a fair
statement, as often, at least, as once in
three months, Of their disbursements.
As it is. fe" beside themselves, have
the means by which they can asccr-
tain whether the important trust re-
pesed in them has been faithfully exc
cuted. We would not insiunatc that
there has been the slightest misman-
agement on their part, yet the people
have right to know how their money
is expended.
At the late meeting Of the Board at
Vandalia, it was resolved 10 petition
Congress to grant to the State, all the
unapprop1iated sections Of land thro'
which any Of our rail roads may pass.
. a memorial was also TO be made TO
the Legislature Of Indiana, requesting
that State to make rail. road from a
point on the Wabash, opposite Mount
Carmel, to New Albany, on the Ohio.
Should this be granted, we shall have.
when the whole line is completed, a
chain of communication extending
from Alton, across the State, to the O.
hio.
This Board is composed ofable men,
who act with decision and energy. A
better selection could hardly have been
made. Lieut.. Governor Kinney is the