Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-02-10
e q Nj Nj l. MIC A II T. d.
GENEVA, JANUARY 3O.h 1915.


Mr.. SHoLEs:- While so many are in
dulging in vague speculation respecting the
proper disposition Of 1.-The canal question"
would beg leave to offer suggestion. In
the year 33 Congress appropriated large
.raci of land in aid of a project to construct
canal in the territory called the IN lwau-
kie and Rock r yer Canal" 1t is now gen
orally conceded that the prime motive its
projectors was simply 10 secure to Mlwau-
k'e the advantages Of Water Power. As
proof of this no ether evidence need be ad-
duccd than the f.ct that said canal was to
commence at Milwaukee aud terminate NO.
where, or whit Was cqu.yalen', at point
Which was un:nhsbilcd, which was discon-
neoted with avigaLIe waters, and which
could III no way Send 10 deyelepe our min
eial, agricultural or o,her resources:-to
which might be added the other fact that
the Grand Work was commenced at Mil
waukie and prosecuted JUS, 70 far as would
secure to the projectors The objects they
sought TO accomplish.
With all of this find no fult. II was
master stroke Of diplomacy nd evinced a f.
nancial talent worthy of those golden days
But the question ROW is, how shall the Gu
nal lands be disposed of? and how shall the
people OF tho territory be enabled to derive
beneflt from Their proceeds? My PROPOSE
'ion is thls:-Let the Pcatonica BIO SO i'm
proFed, 10y removing artificial obs.ructions)
as to be navigable with canal boats from its
source to its confluence with Rock River
thence proceed up the river thee miles TO
belon; improve Turtle creek by construct
ing some three or four locks and tow nath
TO Delavan; let lock be constructed to adj
init canal boats into Swan Lake-be,ween
this lake and Geneva Lake make an axc,-
vatlon Of three miles and lock down into
Geneva Lake-,hcnce proceed by slackwa.
ter navigation TO Burlngton--,henc up the
Fox 10 Rochester, thence info Muskeag lake,
thence by short excavation into Root Riv-
er or the kinn!kin!ck or both, thence TO Ra-
cine or Milwaukee. Thus, with an exca-
Walton not exceeding ten miles in length, a
water communication navigable with canal
boats, could be had, connecting The Lakes
with the mineral regions. if not with the
MISSES ppl and running through the best
agricultural portion OF the Territory. This
measure would tend in greater degree
than any other project Of internal improve
mcnts to allay sectional jealous;os. The
route have marked is the main channel. i,s
eastern terminus may be both Racine and
Milwaukee so that neither conld derive any
advantage from il over the other. Burling-
ton is dvsrging point from whence, with
a comparatively trifl;ng outlay, the Fox river
may be assembled considerable distance to
the north and as far south as may be desired,
nor need Southport be omitted in the dis
pensation of lis benefits. The project Of
connecting the Fox with the Lake al South
port is by no means new TO many Of the bold
spirits OF that place. From Beloit canal
boats may ascend 10 the very sources ofthe
Rock and its tributaries foot of exca-
WALTON beyond wha, have estimated will be
necessary to open communication be
Madison and the lake ports. 1t has been
SAID that the streams in Wsconsin run on
their edges-that is, their depth is greater
than their width. However this may be, it
is certain that there are hundreds Of streams
and outlets of small lakes all over the coun-
try SO connected with this main channel az
that in time small outlay Of individual en-
terprIse would literally bring canal to al
most every mans door. viii instance the
Sugar and the Honey creeks both emptyins
al or near Burlington. am told that
channel could be cut between the head wa
ters otthe P.catonca and Fever River which
would connect us with the Mss;ssippi.-l
profess no personal knowledge on this point.
The Erie Canal canno: be navigated with
steam for the reason that il washes its banks
This difficulty does not obtain here for tho
reason that the banks, with the slight e.
ception nave named are natural, and mos.
ly the banks oflakes and large rivers, SO thai
small steamboat may tow several canal
boats without doing damage. Now Mr.. Ed
lter, are these suggestions speculative arc
they chlmercal or delusiyc? If not. le,
measures be adopted TO save the rcmaan. Oh