The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-02-03
ron THE ILLINOIS FREE TRADER.
CaMnl Comnlissiomer Morris report.

erS oil the ILLINOIS ana Micnlgan conai mas AT his'
reached us-a, least the report Of Mr. Morris, Gen.
Fry refusing to subscribe to the doctrines therein
set forth
1t is indeed humiliaing when we reflect upon
the absence Of all unity of action which, during
the last year, has been the great and leading cha
.racteristic of this board.
In reading over the report submitted by Mr..
Morris, l find many passages in which, 1t iorcibly
strikes me, he abours to produce false Impressions,
and which will, no doubt. have the desired elect
among the members of the legislature who are not
personally acquainted with the facts.
cannot but consider the course pursued by Mr..
Norris in his administration of affairs on the ca
nal, as tending to the destruction and overthrow
of all discipline and standardization in the corps OF
engineers in his employ, shall presently en-
deavor 10 show Besides, his treatment of Mr..
Cooling and his opinions, when nc has OCCASION
to refer to them is, to say the least, ungentleman-
", and brcathes low and malignant disposition
to undermine and destroy the professional reputa-
ton and character Of man whose capacity none
has ever doubted
labor to produce the impressions that a general
suspension of the work did not take place until af-
ter the organization of the board
am not aware that "general' suspension did
at all take place in the spring of 1871. 1t is
true, contractors had, in many instances, ceased
operations on the old lettings before March 1871,
nor did they resume again after the organization
Of the new board. If operations increased ON the
canal under the new board. it on that portion
of it extending from Dresden to Marseiiles, which
was let in the fall of 1871. Contractors were
anxious to take this portion of the work. as they
considered the terms of payment, viz, state bonds
at par, more advantageous than scrip bearing no
Interest. If men were found willing to embark
their whole means and capital in contracts on that
part of the line, they were induced to do so.by
misrepresentation they were inveisled into It by
promises that the new board were unable to fulfil.
That the idea of payment in state bonds was
held out to them, there can be no doubt. They
were shown contracts which they expected to
sign, containing clause to that effect, and, when
they afterwards came forward to sign their con-
tracts, they were told they could do SO if they
would dispense with the clause guaranteeing to
them payment in state bonds. The consequence
was, that some who were not too deeply engaged,
at once ceased operations.
That the number of contractors on the line was
increased after the organization of the new board,
If it will satisfy Mr. Morris. we will concede; but
as to the means that were resorted to to induce
them to embark in canal contracts, tho less said,
perhaps, the better. But none have greater cause
TO regret his ability to boast Of this increase, than
those contractors themselves. Mr.. Morris says he
is willing to concede to Mr.. Goodlng's opinion, as
regards the nsut!ceucy Of water 10 be drawn lro n
he Dupage and Des PLANES rivers for the supply
Of the canal from Juliet to its western termination,
aud that probabiy said rivers, during dry sea-
son, would not afford water for constsnt nayisa-
ton. Mr.. Gouding, believe, has always enter
tanned that opinion, aud has, all occasions, cx-
pressed himself to tina, effect, not only to Mr. Nor
ris, bat 10 Gov. Carin and others, and has ox-
pressed his Willingness TO stake his reputation on
that opinion. When, pray, did MIR. Morris con-
descend to concele this point Was it since last
wintcr-sncc Gov. CarIln passed along the line
of canal Because he then seemed TO on,crtau
the idea that there was suiliciency of water N
,huse rivers to supply the lower portion of the ca
nal, and, when Gov. Carn intima;ed that MIR
Gooding had expressed an opinion to him tina
there was not suiliciency of water, Morris an
swered that, to himself Gooding had expressed
different Extraordinarily casting a foul asper
oh for am
veracity, which all who know him must indig
nantly rejec,.---I hope | shall be pardoned 70
using (unauthorizcd) the names of Mr.. Goodinl
and Gov. Carn. and now, with this part Of IN
subject have done.
must notice another passage in Mr.. Morris
report, which strikes me as being unprecedented
This bitter and vindictve man seems to hav
dipped his pen in gall. when referring TO Nj
\ Gooding's report. wish it to be understood tina
am M, taking up the cudsel for Mr.. Cooling
he is at all times able to defend himself, if occa
sion should require i'll have said above, tina
Mr.. Morris course, besides being in the extrem
ungen,lemany towards Mr.. Gooding, was subve
sive Of all and every thing like discipline in tn
engineer corps. That degree Of subordinate
and discipline is principle of the frs, importanc
in tho organization of corps of engineers, an
that al organization, governed by correct prime
pies, is absolutely necessary to ensure the safet
and well-being Of the work entrusted to the
charge, no ore will deny. 1t is the duty of II
resident having the general supervision of Il
work, which is under the particular control of II
Junior assistants, to report to the chief enginec
and he to the commissioners, who. lastly, repo
to the governor. 1t would, most assurcdiy,