Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1846-09-29
JOLIET SIGN Al.
JOLIET, Ill.
Tuesday, September %. Tsl'
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS,

According to the doctrine practically
settled by the recent action of the Federal
Government, and also the theory of some
distinguished men ofthe nation, all hope
of aid from that government in improving
the Illinois River must be extinguished.
The veto message of President Polk would
entirely cut off; the votes of Congress
from tune to time (for the effort has been
made would exclude it; and there seems
to be noprospect left that the different
Legislative branches of the government
will unite in favorably considering so
small stream as the principal river of
our State. Mr.. Calhoun's doctrine would
forever exclude it from the view of the
general government. 1t is his opinion
that to render appropriations for a River
constitutional, that Rivers must flow
through two or more States; that then it
becomes national in its character, for the
reason that it is not within the jurisdic-
lion Of any one State, and two or more
States cannot enter into con:pacts for its
improvement. But so long as it is con.
fined to a single State in its rneanderings,
it must look to that State for its improve
ment. the general government having no
constitutional right, in such case, to in.
terfere. If the Illinois had CHANGED to be
called the East Branch ofthe great river,
or by some ether name which would in
dictate that 1t was part of that stream,
then government could dig out its bars,
for it would flow through more than one
State and it would not be the province Of
a single State to do that work. However
refined these distinctions may appear,
they still seem to prevail, and our River
is thrown back upon poor State for all
the improvement that may be anticipated
in its navigation. 1t is, then, certain,
that whilst the powers of the general
government are regarded rs they now
are, there is no possible chance for ap-
preparations for the Illinois River in any
form. It has its sonrse and termination
in our own State.
The cost of improving the River IS
far as Peru, if we recollect ar'ght, was
estimated by Mr.. Mowry at half q
million of dollars. This sum is small
when compared with the Importance and
magnitude of the object, and if the State
has the exclusive control ofthe stream
may charge tolls, &c.--it is infinitely
better for her to make the improvements
herself than trust them to the general
government. The profits on the capital
invested would be enormous. If requir-
ed the stock would be readily taken.
And if the general government, SO nice
in its distinctions about navigable waters,
will yield the point that our State has ex-
elusive control of the River and may i'm
pose restrictions on its navigation, we
think it matter worthy of consideration
whether more would not thus be gained
than in any other manner.
Upon the completion ofthe Canal the
Improvement of the river vii. be of the
greatest consequence. The business of
the latter will greatly affected it, and
suspen sion of navigation then for months,
as has been the case, on account of low
water, viii materially injure the business
/ ofthe whole route. 1t is at present. and
might continue with a little Improvement,
| the great thoroughfare for the thousands
who yearly leave the south to spend a
few months in more genial climate, but
with the present uncertainties about the
navigation of that stream, a new route
will be permanently fixed upon, and not
only the river but the canal lose the
!. hene fit ofthe transit of so many persons.
With good navigation on the Illinois
River, we venture to predict that no
work viii surPass the Illinois and Mich.
igan Canal in the transaction Of business.
but without good navigation in the River,
it viii be of comparatively small conse-
quence- Since, then, tho general gov.
eminent has entirely, and apparently for
ever, cut off all chance for that and sim.
liar streams. it becomes important to con-
slider in what way lis navigation may be
so improved thatwben a dry season over.
takes Us. there need not be suspension
of all business on the route during two