Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1847-09-10

TALL Will be done in season for the
OF produce before the close of navigation but it is
expected that every thing will be in readiness for
the spring trade of 1647. This intelligence must
be OF deep interest to the bond holders of tho State
and TO every citizen of Illinois 1t is to open COM
muncation between the great Lakes and the Mis-
sisslpPI, and must afford good market for
that portion of the state which has heretofore been
SO much under the control of Southern SPECTATORS
Surely brighter day is coming for Illinois:
ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL.
The Illinois &. Michigan Canal extends
rom Chicago, on Lake Michigan. to La
Sale, at the head of steamboat navigation
on the Illinois river, a distance of 1Ol
miles. The canals constructed the same
size as the proposed enlargement of the
Erie Canal of New York-the water be-
ing feet in depth and sixty feet wide at
Its surface.-The locks are 10 feet long
between the gates, and 18 feet wide, ad
hitting the passage of boats conveying
so tons burden. Upon the original plan
this canal was to be supplied with water
drawn directly from Lake Michigan. 1t
is now constructed with a summit level
raised eight feet above the surface of the
lake; and the supply of water is obtained,
in part, through a feeder about seventeen
miles long, from the Calumet river, and
in part by introducing the Des PLANES
river, which runs for a considerable dis
tancc along side of the canal, and the
surface of which is on a level with the
water in the canal at the summit. These
two sources will supply, in all ordinary
seasons, & sufficient quantity of water for
a maximum trade on the canal, but in
seasons of extreme drough, there will be
deficiency of $500 cubic feet per min
ute; and 10 supply this periodical def
cheney, two steam engines of l63 horse
power each, are in the course of erection,
at the juncti of the canal with the Chi
cago river, 5 miles south Of the city of
Chicago. The power of these engines is
TO be applied in part to cast iron cylinder
pumps of l-2 inches in diameter, and in
part to wheel with float boards, working
in tight chamber, to raise the water
from the river, (Which is here on level
with the lake, eight feet in height upon
the summit level. The surplus power
above that which may be required to work
these pumps, &c, as we'll as when the
pumps are not required, it is proposed to
apply to some kind of manufactures.
The canal occupies the channel Of the
Chicago river for miles from the lake :;
it then rises by lock of feet lift, to the
summit level thence to the fist lock at
the south end Of the summit, is 81 miles
or 3 miles above Lockport. From this
point the canal descends along the valleys
of the Des PLANES and Illinois rivers, by
Is locks, overcoming a fall of l4O feet.
At the distance of "a miles from Chicago,
the extensive rock excavation commences,
and extends miles in length, varying in
the depth from to 20 feet making an
average depth of Is feet. The excavation
of this amount of rock has cost an I'M
mense sum, but by raising the summit
level feet a very great additional amount
of rock excavation has been avoided.
As soon as the canal is completed, he
immense piles of rock, which now line
the canal banks will be made available
for the people of Chicago to macadarnize
their streets, and pave their sidewalks,
and for building purposes in general.
This canal has very few mechanical
lotIuCAuiSS III Piopoi''oAA ~ 40 'iA'
There are but 4 acqueducts, and only 10
stone arch culverts of to 20 feet span,
and two stone dams, one across the Des
PLANES, and one across the Du Page rIv-
ers. The whole of the canal has been
constructed in the most thorough and
permanent manner, 81 reflects great credit
upon the skill, and scientific requirements
of the Engineer-in Chief, William Good
ing, Esq.
One important feature of this canal,
and of canals in general, over other modes
of communication, is the water power
which they create for manufacturing pur-
poses-The effects of which Is to increase
directly the amount Of business on the
canal, by the transportation of the raw
materials and of the manufactured pro-
ducts, but it has fur Their effect In its in
huence upon the more speedy settlement
of the country, and the development OF
the agricultural and mineral resources OF
the country adjacent to these lines of I'M
lprovement.
1t is estimated that above the town o.
Juliet. there will be ga runs of stones, or
a fall of so feet; and below that place
Al runs, of stones. This quantity o
power NAV be increased, by using The
whole steam power, TO raise the water
Goet b;oh from the Chicago river, anC