Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-05-30
The Canal.

We have been censuFed for the course
we have taken in regard to the conduct of.
certain. officers on the canal. To show
our readers how these matters are view.
ed abroad, we give below an extract from
the New York Herald, on the subject
Az far as ourselves have been concerned
in the difficulties between the State Trus-
tee and the Chief Engineer, we must say
that we have conscientiously done what
we believed to be our duty. We had no
desire. wrongfully, to iniure any one. Our
course has been governed by what we
believed to be for The interest of the state.
The following is the extract:
"The Illinois and Michigan Canal is
in the full tide of successful experiment.
Boats arrive a. and depart from Chicago,
with regularity and despatch; and produce
from the interior of Illinois is rapidly pour
ing into that port, on its way to the sea-
board markets. There is no doubt but
that large business will be done OH the
canal this season, and that the revenue
will be full as large as anticipated. The
crops in that section of country are in a
very promising condition, and the opening
of this canal will give great stimulus TO
the production of spring grain. The
growth of illinois, henceioEth, will be most
rapid, and her financial condition must
improve.
"Governor French has. we understand.
removed Mr.. Gooding, the chiefengineer,
on this work, upon satisfactory evidence,
il is supposed. of the correctness of the
charges brought against the engineer by
Colonel Oakley, the State trustee, at q
meeting of the bond holders, in this city.
in October last. The engineer, it will be
remembered, is appointed by the trustees
ofthe canal, but with authority in the gov
ernor to remove him for cause.
'In this late action of the Governor, on
a subject which has excited so much and
such general feeling, we think we discov-
er a prudence and regard for the interests
of the State and of her creditors, which is
entitled to the highest commentator.
We think we have reason to know. and
to say confidently, that he has been con-
scious that great imposition has been prac.
tised on the State of Illinois, by the bond
holder trustees, and some of the officers
under them but, anxious that so impor.
tant work should not have the excuse
made by the trustees, ofbeing retarded in
its completion by any act of his, he has
preferred to delay the legal remedies of
the law, till the passage through the Ca
nal was consummated.
"We have equal reason to believe that
he will now endeagor to put stop to the
gross imposition which has been practised
by charging the State with exorbitant and
unheard Of salaries by the bond holder
trustees-salaries which. they take from
the fund in their charge by their own vote,
on the ground and pretexts Of its being
authorized by the Boston agents Of the
foreign bond holders; and salaries which
one of the Boston agents has acknowledg
ed were more than one ofthe appointees
asked of them. This with the low rate of
interest allowed on the fund; the non.
credit of interest for several months, whilst
the fund was in his possession; the with
holding ofthe profits of exchange from his
annual accounts, all we think will receive
the same close attention from the Cover
nor as has the censurabIe course of the
chief engineer.
"Governor French has received the al
most unanimous nomination of the demo-
cratic convention at Springfield, for the
next election of Governor and this oc.
curing after the removal of the chief en-
gineer, is q strong endorsement ofhis acts.
The proceedings of the Governor, and his
nomination, we consider, a compliment,
also, to the integrity and zeal OF Col. Oak
ley. the State trustee, to whom we think
the State and her creditors are more in.
debted than to any other individual. for
the happy relations which now exist be-
tween Ihem."