, 1861-12-04


cral Government. And why should 1t not
be made by the Government, as it would
directly benefit the whole country, and con-
tlguous States would derive nearly as great
advantages from it as the State Of Illinois,
through which it would pass? The nu~
mcrous river steamers which now navigate
the mississippi and its tributaries, {solnc
15,0lQ or 10000 miles Of navigation in
fourteen different Statcs.) could, without
tra'lshipnenl, exchange cargocs with the
vessels navigating our inland seas. tneeds
no argument to show the vast advantages
10 commerce, to manufactures, to producers
ard consumers, which would ultimately
result from this, and tho strong bond Of
union which it would form.
In order to secure any immediate action
Of Congress on i matter Of such vital In
tercst, it may be proper to give, as
near as may be from available data, the
approximate cost Of such an improvement
rs the Government should construct, if it is
to be made Of the greatest possible benefit
to the nation. No survey with direct refer
enee 10 work Of such magnitude has been
made, and consequently no estimate can
bc given in detail. But the construction
Of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and a
survey Of the Illinois river with reference
to the improvement Of its navigation by
locks and dams, have furnished data for q
rough approximation to the cost. The size
OF the canal estimated, where an indepcn-
dent canal would be required, is 160 feet
aide on the bottom, 1853 feet at the surface
Of tie aea1er, and feet deep at tie o'oest
Stage Of Lake Michigan; !; the ocss 10 feet
aide and $50 feet long. This width is as
sunled, because nothing less would give
ample room for large side-wheel river
steamers to pass each other at all points;
and the depth, because the Mississippi
river Itself, between the mouth Of the
Missouri and Cairo, has no more than 6
feet of wafer in the channel at low stage;
and in the changing quicksands that form
its bed, probably no greater depth could be
secured. The difference Of level between
Lake Michigan and the mississippi at the
mouth Of the Illinois, is about ITO feet
only rs feet Of this being The fall in the
Illinois river from the western terminus
Of the canal at LaSalle, to its mouth, dis
t;,nce Of about 220 miles.
The estimate Of the canal in earth excl-
vation includes substantial dry stone walls
on both sides, Of 10 feet in height, 5115 feet
thick at tllc base, and feet at top. The
whole length Of independent canal which
would be necessary, would be about fifty
miles, Thirty-seven miles Of this distance
would be between Chicago river and Lake
Joliet ian expansion Of tho Dcs PLANES
river) about eleven miles Immediately
above Ottawa; and the balance in short
canals around the dams On the Des PLANES
and Illinois rivers, in connection with the
locks. Rock foundations could be secured
for all the dams above LaSallc, and below
this, should the river be improved by tht
| construction of locks and dams 0hc NOS
certain mode Of securing depth Of wate1
! of 6 feet at Ill tinles,) there would be NJ
t difficulty in making the dams secure, though
| rock foundations could not be obtained
| The dams should be so low as not to rais'
the water enough to overflow even the Low
bottom lands to any extent The plan o
the canal and the river improvement pro
posed, as it will be observed, is adapted II
the navigation of 4 very large class ofr5re,
steamboats,, but not to ships. It is PROPOSED
to give as great a depth Of water in tht
canal as can be depended upon in tho riv
crs, and more than this would be of M
practical advantage.
There have been such various opinions
given 10 tile public in relation to the cos
Of the Summit division Of tho canal, iron
Chicago to Lockdort,} that it may be prop
CT TO give the approximate quantities which
would have to be cxcavated to make a ca
nal 1G0 feet wide. The present line of cana,
| would be adopted from the Sag to Lock
port, through the rock work, and the mos
Of the way where the canal is in the val
Icy of the Des PLANES. From tile Dc
PLANES to Chicago river, it is somewha
doubtful whether it would be better to ad
here to the present line, or adopt new on
thorough what was once Mud Lake. Th'
difference in quantity and cost, taking int.
consideration the amount Of excavatio,
which would be saycd by adopting the pres
| cnt line, would not bc great
/ Excavation, Cost per Total
cub. ydS, cub, yd. cost,
from Chicago riverto
r15s DS5PaiRs5; aRa;f fiSs{ i. s92S 20 @ s19s9Ss
earta e1esyatiqa::: s1aooo s.5o 7ao,oa
From the Sag to First
Lock rock cxcaF'n,
exclusive Of amt al
ready cxcavatcd.-. ;244s,ooo 20 a,o1s7l
Earth excavation and
removal Of rock cx-
| cavated.- .-.-...-....- kO,o00 .15 147N
Totalcost from Chicagot TO Lockport. s7,eaa, Il
Cost Of II miles Of findependcnt caualbe-
| low Iockport. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 211500(
Dams and locks for The improvement Of
the Des PLANES and Illinois 1iyers---. 1920
Superintendent and contingencies. 657,
Total cost Of improvement. ..-.......S SIS ooo,o ,o'
} Notwithstanding the imperfect data ro1
which the above estimate is made, it is b
lieved not to be very far from the truth
and the cost would be more hkelyto fl
short Of fifteen millions Of dollars than
exceed that sum. It is expected, Of cours
that economy will be exercised in the CO..
| struction of the work, and no margin ha
consequently, been left for steakngs.
these cannot be prevented in army co!
: tracts, they certainly could be here by Il
: exercise of proper vigilance. 1t is true. til
s15,000, 600 is a large sum, but where on Il
! surface of the whole earth, would an equ
amount accomplish an object Of equal II
: portance?
. military Troubles in Michigan.
The Chandlcr Horse Guards, a battalion
$50 mcn under Major William C. Hushe
T. in Michigan, has been mustered out Of t
: service by Capt. Miner, U. s. A, after hayn
Il cost the Government $50, 900. The reason
n this was that Major Hughes, finding he con
h not continue in command, 20 mystifed t
\ rolls that It was impossible to get out of
entanglemcnt in any other way than by d