The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-04-25
EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, THURSDAY, APRIL aa, lsn
WABASH N ERIE CANAL.

Mr.. JOHN w. DAVIS, from the minority of
the Committee on Public Lands, made the
following
REPORT:
The undersigned, of the minority o fthe Com
mittee on Public Lands, to whom were re-
ferred the petitions and memorials Of seq
~eralhousands Of citizens of Indiana, &c.
praying a grant of certain lands for the
extension of the Wabash and Erie canal
to EransoiHe, on the Ohio rirer, submitted
The following report:
That, in deciding against the prayer of the
memorlalists, the majority of the committee,
it is respectfully submitted, have mistaken
the merits of the question, and have moi al
lowed due weight to the considerations
which ought to have influenced their decis-
ion.
/. 1t is agreed on all hands that it is of
the highest importance, not only TO the State
of Indiana, but 10. whole northeastern and
southwestern States of the Union, that a per-
manent channel of navigation should be
opened, from Lake Erie, through the Maui
NEE and Wabash valleys, so as 10 render the
intercommunication between the two great
regions mentioned, perfect and free from
any other distractions than the ice, which
closes up both the rivers and canals of the
north during the winter season.
This necessityis strongly set forth in a re-
port made during the present session ofCon-
gress, by the Committee on Roads and ca
mails. (See document of the House o fRep-
resentatives, No. 222.) 1t is not intended
again TO 60 into that argument. Ii is a sub
lect on which there can be but one opinion
in the State overwhelmingly, Tennessee,
Mississippi, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,
New York, and the New England States ;and
it may be added, that, when considered in
Iconnexion with the interests Of the trade of
the States generally, an enlightened judy
ment will be, that, whilst it harmonizes with
so many interests, it is the rival Of none.
2. It is not doubted by impartial men that
the proposed work would furnish such a
t~horoughfare. In support of this position,
however, IT is deemed proper to exhibit The
evidence which is at hand, to remove all
doubt On the subject.
The proposed extension formed a part Of
the system o internal improvements establish
ed by the State of Indiana in the Year 1886
Ia system which has resulted in great EN-
barrassment TO the State; but the embafrass-
ment has not arisen from the impracticabili
lty of the works, but from prose cutting sc
many of them simultaneously, without the
means of completion. Whatever may be
said of the extravaganza ofthe scheme, it is
not to be presumed that the Legislature oil
Indiana would have provided by law for The
constitution of one of the most important o
the works, without possessing herself com
potent information. Whether the worl
which is the subject of these petitions, me
MORALS, and legislative resolutions, is practi
cable, will appear from the reports of com
petent engineers, inthe employ ofthe Stat
of Indiana. The principal engineer submit
ted a detailed report on the 9th of Decem
Der, 1887, which is full and explicit on thi
point-both as TO location and supply DIVA
5 ter, not only sufficient for the canal, but 70
extensive hydraulic purposes. The volumI
embracing the above report and other pub
lie documents ofthe State for lS37-'3S, will
be deposited in the library of the House Q
e Representatives, for the use of members.-
e The same expression is found in his repor
of lS37-'39, a volume containing which i
II likewise deposited. 1t is deemed unneces
sary to cucumber this report with extract
from them. A recent. letter from Jesse I
Williams, formerly principal engineer c
the State, is hereunto annexed marked A.
In conformity with the act of the Genera
Assembly ~ofIndiana passed in 1886, and &C
cording TO the reports of her engineers, th
board of internal Improvements proceeded
prosec cute the work between Terre Haul
and Evansville, and also another part of th
: work connecting with this, and extending u
e White river, past the capital of the State
Large expenditures were incurred; repor
made from year to year, having the sanctic
of the Legislature and the country; until,
1889, this, with all the other works of II
C4ota mara c,oDondod