Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-11-07
THE ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL.

THE ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL. |
Those who are interested in the progress Of this
Canal will be gratiied to learn that, notwithsand
ing the partial interruption Of the work, in conse-
quence of the sickness which has prevailed during
the past season among the laborers and engineers,
it is likely to be completed within the period named
on the revival Of the enterprise upon its present
footing II is likely also to be completed at cost
within the estimates on which the new arrangement
was based, and the amount which has been obtain
ed by loan, and placed in the hands Of trustees for
the purpose.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE BOSTON DAILY ADyERTIsER
Some statements having appeared of late in the
newspapers IN reference the Illinois and Michigan Canal
and the arrangements which nude for the supply
OF water for the summit level you will confer favor your
correspondent by inserting the following the Advertiser
In the original plan Of the work, the summit level Of the
canal was intended to BIO supplied with by of
thorough cut from Lake Michigan the main Eastern branch
Of the illinois river, Des Paines) distance Of about 80
miles Although the depth Of the cut did any point
exceed 70 feet still for great portion Of the distance, the
subsstaum composed of exceedingly hard material,
known as cemened clay, cemented gravel &c, and for the
distance Of about miles the entire cut through
magnetism limestone, ranging in depth from to 10 feet An
idea may be conveyed Of the formidable character Of this
thorough cut when is stated that the entire canal Of 100
miles in LENGTH with lis Is locks overcoming 40 feet
OF ockage together with all the other accessory works. was
summit level, thorough cut, alone nearly
Sc, 100000
When the State Of Illinois, in ls43 found itself unable
for the of MEANS complete the canal upon which
about $4,000 900 had then been expended modification Of
the original plan proposed by which it made APP
that $780, dollars might be saved in the cost Of
construction thereby reducing the Of completing the
work. according to carefully revised estimates sum less
than 81, 100000
It this period that the holders Of canal bonds and
other evidences Of Indebtedness Of the Sae both in Europe
and in this country, invited to make loan the State
oil O00 to complete the canal and security for the
payment Of this oan the State offered convey the canal
its lands some $780, 900 acres and other property to three
trustees two to be appointed by the subscribers the loa
and one by the State.
The proposed modification of the original plan consisted in
this to abandon the thorough cut which there remained
to be excayasd 900 cubic yards cemented clay
hardpan and about cubic yards rock 10 raise
the entire summit level eight feet or one lock in height and
thereby avoid about 100000 cubic yards Of the cemened
clay and 600 cubic yards Of conduct the waters
of the Des Paines the Calumet the Du Page to the sum-
NIT level thus deriving the supply Of water from the adjacent
streams and abandoning the plan of drawing from the lake.
This by the estimates, be effected at cost Of about
thereby saving some $3.50 900 in the of con-
struction.
At the request of the European bondhoders to whom ap
Pcaon had been made for loan by the State of Illinois
complete the canal upon the modified pay the Hon. John
Davis and Captain W. II. Swift OF the army visited Illinois
and examined the canal, the plans estimates &C. in IS43
and in March, 1874 These gentlemen after having spent
several weeks their examinations made full report
to the agents of the bondhoders in Europe Messs Barring
Brothers Co. and Messrs Magniac, Jardne q Coz In
this report among other conclusions which they had arrv
ed they stated the opinion that the could be completed
according to the plan proposed by the of Illinois for the
sum named to the bondhode wit Sl6cO O0O and that
the work could be accomplished within period of three years
They further stated that they considered necessary for
trade upon the canal that greater supply Of
for the summit level should be introduced than that which the
State had deemed adequate to effect this object they stated
that the sum OF 900 would their opinion, be
sary In this they contemplated uniting the waters Of
the Fox to those of the Du Page and to lead the COM
bined streams upon the summit.
During the spring of S45 the negotiations which resulted
in the loan of 81 900 completed In May and June
the trustees elected, and the board fully organized
engineers appointed, and for large portion
the work made prior to Goth July of the same year.
subsequently, further examinations and minute
veys were made with the object of asceaning the minimum
cost of leading the Fox river across the summit
he results did not differ essentially from those which were
furnished BY the less detailed surveys made in S43 at the
suggestion OF Governor Davis and Captain Swift to wit some
S350000.
II was known 5y repeated measurements made of the CAL
umet Des Panes and Du Page rivers lowest stages
that they would afford ample supply of water for maxi
mum trade excepting the dry Of the year. embracing
ordinarily period Of three four months The question
which then presented itself for consideration was this Whe
ther would be better to conduct the additional quantity Of
water which the canal would require for these three or four
moahs from the Fox river expense $3.50 O0O or to
elevate the same quantity BY pumping engine from the lake.
In the s case the construction of about thyfour miles
navgabe feeder. with nearly forty Of ockage would be
necessary in the second case engine of sufficient
capacity to raise thousand cubic feet OF water eight feet
high per minute would be required The cost Of the feeder
land damages water rights repairs and superintendent and
interest upon the original outlay being presented on one hand
while on the other to be embraced the engines
each capable OF pumping the required buildings ex
pense OF running engine four months REPAIRS and inter
est upon the outlay Of engines, pumps, and buildings. 1t is
to be stated however, that abundance of coal found
the lower districts through which the canal passes and on the
Illinois river, near Short that il be delivered the
engines at cost of two cents per bushel less
The general results proved that while the annual expenses
including interest the original outlay both cases. would
for the FEEDER amount to about the expenses for
the engines would not exceed S13, 900 per annum.
Pumping engines have accordingly been contracted for
two being considered necessary, although but will be
CURED to be at work ordinarily One of the engines is in
tended to work four cylinder lifting pumps of yfour inches
diameter and TO the other is designed apply wheel Of
twentyour feet diameter working in pit Of masonry nearly
water tight the water being raised by the float boards in
similar to the wheels used in draining the ens in Lin
conshe England the m in both being about the same
In the Civil Engineer and Architects Journal volume
will be found report by Joseph Gynn, G. E., upon the
performance of several Of these wheels At Pode Hole from
1880 TO 1885, inclusive Wheel working about four months
in each year. the quantity of raised "a feet amounted
10 163S cuh feet per minute, and this for period Of
eight hundred and sxyeght days. o twelve hours EACH
Or the whole time that the engine at work The engine
was OF eighty horsepower and consumed about pounds
Newcastle coal per horsepower for each hour was in
operation.
The work upon the canal has been advancing steadily since
The contracts were entered into, say August ls45 and al