Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-03-28
For the Signal.

1t is to be regretted that the State Trus'
tee of the Illinois and Michigan canal had
not laid the charges preferred by him a.
gainst the Chief Engineer SD as to have
had full and thorough investigation of
the official conduct of that officer. The
interest Of the State not only demanded
such an examination. but justice required
that the chic anery practiced by Mr.. Good.
ing in conjunction with other official spec.
uators should be presented to the people
in its true light.
1t would be unjust to hold the Chief
Engineer responsible for the populations
Of others, but when others plumber the
State aud use him as willing tool to Oh,
tain that plunder, then be becomes more
contemplate than those whom he designs
to abet, aud ought to receive a caStigation
at the hands of the Ibtic. When an in
dvidual is appointed to ill an otficiaI sta
ton with such responsibilities as those
that appertain to the duties of chief engi
neer of the illinois and Michigan canal
he must he either a sIInpleton or supreme
iy base to compromise shat trust "fur a
mess Of puitagr." But will not say that
the Chief Engineer has intentionally or
with malice atoreihoughl turned recreani
10 the interest of the Stale hut that he
has acted in subserviency of the mandate
"Soe cuation," more effeciually is beyond
question. The leuari,y with which Mr.
Gooding embraced the project OF the
Deep Cut," and a continuation OF the line
to Peru. in cOntraventiOn TO the opinions
ofengineers Of acknowledged ability, pIa
ces his probiiv ip a very questionable
light. and this alone, to say nothing Of the
famous report written by General Thorn
ton aud signed by him as Chief Engineer,
is enough to Justify the "diSttnguished'
contractor, Isaac Hardy, in sayi g tina,
he was unworthy TO fill any public station
whatever.
When the question first arose of con
Meeting Lake Michigan with the naviga
BILE waters Of the Illinois River-the i'm
provement Of the river, by dams and locks
to Lake Joliet. seems to have been re-.
ceived by the Engineers entrusted to the
surveys as the most feasible plan. and
Messrs. Post, GUion, Paul, Bucklin, and
Hurd, severally made estimates, and after
adding fifty per cent. to the highest esti
mate of these gentlemen. it was found to
be less than one half Of the estimate OF
Mr.. Gooding for the construction of the
canal from the east side of Fox river to it's
termination at Peru. Yet with all these
facts before him, the Chief Engineer
when called upon by the committee of the
Legislature of 1867, on Canals. studi
ously refused to give any information
touching the slack water project, white the
continuation project gained strength by
the aid Of his fruitful Imagination in con
nection with other official wheedlers. But
it may be asked why should Mr.. Goodlng
favor the continuation Of the Canal to re
ru, instead of the slackwafer project =
The answer is evident. Speculation bid
higher than duty dictated.
When Col. Archer at Peru told the
honorable James Walker, representa-
tive from Will county. that the State might
Nxpend millions at that point with impuni
fAr,hat her real estate would render her
resources inexhaustable--do you suppose
that Mr.. Gooding stood unpledged. and
the unsophis,ica.ed Chief Engineer II
ia well known that Captain Walker
,ook a determined stand against the deep
cu,', project, and advocated the steam
NAVIGATION or slackwa,er plan. and the
...ha,low cut" And il is also well known
tha, The Chief Engineer assailed mos,
hreal thai invaluable member OF the
legislature. who had served his country ir
many a hard fought battle, and who was
empha.icalIy enc Of the chief pioneers Of