The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-10-23


gain and again demonstrated--ihat the actu-
al loss to the people of the Wabash. each
wear. exceeds the cost of the improvement
desired; and hence it is seifevident, that no
means should be left untied, that every ex-
pedient should be adopted, that may tend to
the consummation of this great and vital OBJ
iect in the shortest possible time. The people
lose each gear more than the total cost ofheI
cork. Individual enterprise, properly en-
couraged and directed, will often accomplish
tasks which at first view seem impracticable.
The committee is persuaded, that if the fea-
sibiIity ofthe project is fairly presentedto the
public, that hopelessness of the undertaking.,
which seems hitherto TO have depressed the
energies of our citizens, will vanish;-nay,
the committee thinks it has vanished; and
that a resolution has gone forth amongst the
people of The Wabash valley that the improve
ment of lis river navigation shall be accom-
pIished. If a favorable charter can be obtain
ed, (and of this The committee has not the
least dOubt,) it is now conceded, by all &C
quainted with the subject, that the stock will
be readily taken. The estimates heretofore
made of the cost of the work were generally
so enormous, that those who felt the deepest
interest in it, almost despaired of effecting it
without public aid. But the experience IN
works OF this character made within a few
years, concluSiveIy shows that those estimates
were 100 great by one half. The more re-
cent estimates are, that the Grand Rapids
may be oVercoInem by a lock and dam at
The moderate expense of SIC, 000--at most
noi more Than $4,000: and that the chan
mel OF The river may be improved at The cost
Of an equal sum; so that at the costof $780,,
600, including dam, lock and channel, a
permanent navigation may be secured Tor
steamboats, Of light draft from the mouth of
5 he liver 10 Lafayette. And The committee
is assured that the proper expenditure of that
] sum will secure, at low water, a greater depth
Of water in ihe Wabash than can be had in
( the Ohio above The mouth of the Wabash
and that in fact, the channel ofthe Wabash
is more capable of permanent improvement.
than the channel of The Ohio. The commit.
tee isIconident that the stock, 10 an amount
sufficient for the work, under a proper char
ter, will be readily taken.
u And also, it seems 10 The committee proper
and expedient 10 prosecute both their appll
cations 10 Congress for a joint charter, at the
d same time. The people lose more than the
cost ofthe improvement each year. Notimt
O therefore should be lost. If the people trus
10 a grant ofland by Congress, that grantma,
|. not be made the first or second year; and i
d made on The FIST application, at the next ses
sion of Congress, the action of the Legisla
lures of he States will be necessary 10 provid'
for and regulate the sales, and thus 1916 ant
1917 will be disposed of without any improve
r ment made; and then the lands are TO be sol
how many years will be consumed, before
r. sum, sufficient TO authorize the undertaken,
of be work, is raised by the sale of the land
Of the committee cannot determine, c%ertalnl,
Dt more than one, or two, or three years;-an'
TO thus at least three years, and most probabl
more than four or live years, must pass befOr'
the improvement can be made under a Con
gressional grant of land. But each of thes
re t9vuTo VIM cbSI ru0 PUUPrO rnUTU uIdn the COS
sr of The work. Nevertheless, the grant oflan,
l. is wanted. If the work is accom-
plished by a joint stock company, III
navigation of the river will not be Tree;
IS will be subject TO tolls; and these, howeve
IN light, are burthensome. Hence it is not pre-
a. bable that a charter could be procured--in
deed, one should not be granted without
J. provision in it for the redemption of the stoc
by the States of Indiana and Illinois on PROF
or terms whenever the States had the none
to redeem with,-a long period must pass be
ID fore The States could spare this money fron
their own resources. And it may be wei
Ie questioned whether these States should b
expected TO make a free navigation at thei
o own expense. Such a work would be nat
onal; if made by the States, the States shout
a. charge a toll equal 10 all annual repairs an
expenses, and TO the interest of the cost;
IN made al the expense of the nation, it Shout
be sustained by the nation aud flee from toll
a Although then 1t will be a great saving &
Ia time in all probability, and consequently
tx great saving of money TO the people, TO &C
complish the work by a company, and there
fore a charter should be procured; never
theless, the grant of land would be n~ecessar
s. if the stock could not be taken; and if tn
stock was taken and the work was accom-
plished, the grant would yet be necessary II
enable The States TO form a fund with whicI
TO redeem the stock, keep the work in re
,e pair, and thus 10 ensure a free naVigatiun.-
In conclusion, then, the committee respect
fully recommend that proper measures b.
e. taken to procure a Joint charter OF incorpora
ton from the States of Indiana and Illinois
with such provisions as will secure the sub
l~scription of the stock, and the certain ant
speedy completion Of the work, and as will
On authorize the States after a reasonable perio(
he and on reasonable terms to redeem the stool
he and to make the navigation free. The com
mittee further recommend, that at the same
ne time proper measures be taken 10 Obtain
of from Congress7a grant of land to the State.