The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-12-16

itors therefore have such separate and exclusive
right to its avails, would not without their con-
| sent, Justify throwing II into aggregate fund for
a general payment of debt. Ifthey should require
| it, we would be bound in duty and honor TO sur
render it to them. It's however. believed that no
such requistion will be made. They understand
their true interests too'wel they know as well as
ourselves, the Importance and profitable character
of this great work, and would prefer looking to its
/ probable completion rather than an immediate
critce of the of carrying it on, for ultimate
payment. They must, and do understand, that if
this property should be sacrificed the state will
have no means of payment. for long time to
come whereas, If the canal progresses to compile
ton. the lands, and lots and water power will be
quadrupled in value, and the tolls alone would, in
short time, pay interest on all the debt contract
ed for its construction.
In this view of the subject, it is maniiestly for
the interest of the people well as creditors,
that the work should progress to completion, If
possible, before any of the canal lands or other
property shall be sold, aud it is equally the inte
rest of all that the work shoultfnot be abandoned
but prosecuted with all the energy and reasonable
means in our powers, as one of the surest and
speedcst measures tending to the extinguishmeat
of our debt.
The sum of S4 100000. or thereabouts, has al
ready been expended on this work, in It's construc-
ton and in the payment of interest, S150,o3O ~
of which has been raised by sale OF lands, lots,
timber, and stone. l0,5S0 acres Of laud were sold
in 1880 for Sl4 20l ST; also at the same time,
l26 lots in Chicago and 9 lots in Ottawa, were
sold FOR Sl,59i. Since 1896, 1925 more have
been sold Tor 1902 2iS 40; and about lS9 lots in
La Sale. Ottawa, and Lockport, for sT,793;
stone and timber to the amount of S9,659. Aud
sales were made in Ottawa and Chicago IN 1886
for which cash has been received to the amount or
S5ilO74 81; and there is now due the canal fund
on account of sales the sum of S207 ,6S2 80.
In addition to this balance, the property belong
ing to the canal fund is as follows: $50, 467 acres
of land, $40 lots i'll Chicago, GIG in Lockport, ga
in Ottpwa, 1928 in Lasallc other town property
to be laid out III Juliet, Dupage, and other places
, and the water power on the entire line of the ca
nal the whole valued by the acting canal conf
missioner, from whom these statistics were derv-
cd, at the sum of S5,O500O0. 1t is, however, due
to the subject to state, that this valuation is ped
Gated upon the hypothesis that the canal Is to be
completed, or in sure prospect thereof.
|, This work has progressed nearly Lve-elghths
, towards completion, even according 10 the plan
hitherto pursued of an enlarged canal, the deep
cut throu ;h the summit level, mostly rock, and
using the lake as a feeder. One OF my predeces-
sors, in his message of December 1884, recon-
menled that commencement should be made of
a steamboat canal, and to use the waters Of the
. lake a feeder, thereby to Improve the navigation
OF The Illinois river and, by increasing lis current,
probably render It's shores more healthy. The eX-
ample of New ori was relied on to show that
we. like her il we commenced and finished q ca
nal OF a smaller size, In the first instance, would
soon be compelled to enlarge 1t; 1t does not, how
cxer, appear to have occurred to the statesmen OF
that day, that the smaller canal was more suitable
to our resources, and that, If New York had pro-
ceeded to make her enlarged work IN the first IN
stance, III the infancy OF her means, very probably
her effort would have been as aborve as many
persons fear ours has been. One thing is pretty
certain, which is that enough has already been
expended To have finished canal of moderate size,
and Sufficient for all the wants af the people for
many years 10 come. Blu, such magnificent ideas
had seized upon our imaginations, that moderation
IN anything was out of the question. The pro-
ject Of a steamboat canal, Of improving the navi-
CATION OF the Illinois river and rendering its shores
more healthy, is alluded to only for the purpose OF
showing the Inflated and bombastic notions pre-
vaIiing at the time, which, by bowiiderlng and de-
PRAYING the public intellect, finally led to the ex-
ravagances subsequently, committed, in the way
VI rail- ROADS anu OtIlCT llttIldi
Of all the internal improvements authorized by
former legislation, the canal was perhaps the on
ly one which ought, at the time, to have been un-
derlaken. The congress Of the United States had
made a most munIicent grant Of lands, which we
held in trust for this express purpose. Therefore,
in prosecuting this enlorprize, we had means in
dependent of taxes; SO that our predecessors could
not have been charged with eXtravagance of de-
sign, il their ciiJrts had been confined to this one
work.
1t is confidently believed tina, the residue of the
work on this great enterptzc can be completed,
on plan of Il small high level canal, amply sulll-
Gent for the purpose of trade for years to come,
and at cost OF one half less than the estimates for
the plan heretofore pursued.
The cost OF completing IT, according to the orr
glnol plan, is estimated at about Sj,0OO,OOO;
whereas il one of more moderate size, upon the
high level plan, using the Desplaines and CaIimic
rivers as feeders should be adopted, the highest
, estimate would not exceed 81 100000.
II is freely conceded that the more magnificent
plan hitherto pursued is entirely the most capt-
waiting, and would be altogether preferred if our
resources would be adequate thereto. But it is
the present, or eaty, use OF the canal which is
most desired by the people Providence bounti-
fully crowns their labor with the greatest album
dance; but the greater portion OF them are re-
stvict,d to single and inadequate market. This
: communication would open another and better
market for three-iourths of the people of this state
e and large portion Of Missouri and Iowa; and by
Withdrawing them from the southern mart, the re-
sduc of the produce which is obliged to go there,
K would put formidable rival out OF its way. This
J. is consideration which ought to weigh heavily
with that portion of the state which, from geogra-
rhical position, least interested in the work
The early completion Of the canal is also greatly
= to be desired as the only present means OF paying
s interest on the debt already incurred.
g therefore respectfully recommend TO the gene
raj assembly, that the further measures to be adOp-
ted for the prosecution OF the work. should be up