Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-04-11
A GREAT WESTERN PROJECT.
Steam Canal from Lake Michigan
to the Mississippi River.

The present attitude of Louisiana towards
the states lying northward upon the MisSis-
sippi river has attracted attention to pro-
| iect considerably discussed a few years since.
She now claims to belong to q foreign soser-
eighty. Within her territory lie the mouths
of the Mississippi, and she now holds with
her troops the forts which command them
1t /. true Her legislature has declared that she
intends its commerce shall be free, but snch
an assurance from a government which deems
il honest to lay hands upon tile money, mnts,
vessels and furtresses of the United States,
with no excuse except that President it
does not like has been consttutionally cleo
ted and recreant to honor traitor deeply dyed
in perjury, cannot be relied upon to keep its
faith a moment longer than its passion or
self-interest may dictate. Its honor is poor
reliance to men educated to regard oaths and
obligations as OF some force, and the West
will be reluctant to hazard its produce and
merchandise, which have hitherto passed to
and from the ocean BY the way Of New Or
leans, 10 the risk of seizure by the same oiii-
cials who deem it honorable to rob, steal aud
patronize treason generally.
The project referred TO is the connecting
Lake Michigan with the Illinois river by
steamboat navigation. 1t was seriously con-
sdered at the West several years since, but
the want of means to carry it INTO effect has
for some time prevented any active efforts In
its behalf Capitalists prefer making invest
ment in enterprises winch promise return
in the shane OF semi-annual dividends. They
are slow in expanding money upon works
II in, a..
tricts Of country. may not return to them an
interest on the outlay. y steamboat navl-
CATION between the Mississippi and the great
lakes might not at once produce suiti-
Gent to afford the capitalist his interest, while
it would add untold millions to the value OF
the West, aud multiply the commerce oI her
cities aud the city OF New York. lfpoSaible,
it should he as lightly encountered with char
res AS possible The value of such nayiga-
ton can hardly be ovcrcstmated.
Fn, about twelve years there has been a
canal connecting Chicago, with the Illinois
river. Its capacity is only sufficient for the
canal boats which were originally used upon
the Erie Its summit level is supplied with
water by pumps. Such a canal with the
canal, with the necessity Of having the pro-
perty carried upon it transhipped at each
terminus, anu oo''''e'u9 WV" Wv, .no i'''''o'"
r''er' wh'ch' uurl,s P'.''oLS v. 'nu %u'',;''s'
season Is 100 ~" 'o' o'e"'''oU.' nav 80:
can never co''''"li" Wei eN nv i :."l'e'
other affair. 1t contcmplatcs navisable
channel for the steamboats, which are used
ON the Mississippi and the propelcrs which
navigate tic lakes, and supply OF water to
'he l''''o's NV, ~ " "' ';'In ni ';It nsat
cut VI '"c !''"''' ''N. I II - ~.
deep 'ro'i t"c I''e', t".'o ''',I" ',"'' .t 10
moutll, III Tue Guy W S,,t'"E'' '''''"1n .i'I
IVi"lilS r'uSe u '"e i.'''"' ~, "o|''
IRA" from '"o I''Ne Steam 9",''''I =. w.
these purposes az '''e I'' a'"'D"' =. 10 20
t''iatc" l''"' Su''' . '''''''' ', an ~ ~
LOT i"ur H',''"" o''''''' " Wv ''"', .'''
nay 'S"'''E 'ne ""'''S W VIZ -, ,i;',L
'a''ey ''u'" ''c" ''I! P"'' nv i'',. ai.
gan III '"''S'' """ 49, -
,li3 "H." Ut o'''e' 'p''o" -. " wv
New o,h e"t","' n"''"'o an" vs." ~
"e =, ~ ~ ~. ~, D.,
rs;rrooIs Cnc,,,r,,i Iouis ,,IIo =,
I mis- and Cbicngo. are within A few hours
'"' 'I. ,,,I,a. i,''I, !. ,Io co,,ro of =
i ,U I;,tr;c, fsr,in ,rI nro,i(r as any in
IT,, TO- % ,.,rIJ Lrn,,,,It -. i, yare IN its avn
'"trrLs. IN. 1,wi,hstoudinr the facilities
~ ,",,,,,,,,,;'.,, u.I.;',h ra;Ir,n1. L,v,' ,on-
GarroJ ,I,,nn ooch ,hn,a arc many nf the oy-
.;ari,,,aI nrnJn,s If thn western valley
u.L;"h rco,,;rn =, cbo,nsr mcthnL If transit
,L,,, r,;lrn,I. furnish Hilbert, thrse have
c'm',.aa ,l,,. ,,,,,rI ch,rraIs If tLo western
.;'. , anJ c,mnJ ,hn;r market At Now Or.