The national Republican., 1862-06-24
ENLAR0naRnr or TIln, RasE AND
lLLsnOls CANAas.

lLLlaOIs OAMAGs.
Jefferson Ma, whea ths1ass York ouAal W
being und6tAks4 that hkas Zoo - BY !
csntsry. - sskssqssrt - tAst = hiu-
self was century bshisd hh own tinss. 10
December, 1911, Nsssra Cllston and Morris
were appointed deputatlon nom The State os
New York 10 Washington 70 procure sssislascs
from the national Government 70 build the Erie
canal President Madison, On the asa Of thst
month, made special message 10 Congress,
from which We extract ~ follows. "I com.
munlcsts 70 Congress copies of,sn cot Of The
Legislsturs Of New YoGk, rslasine 70 . canal
from the great lakes 10 Hudson river The
particular undertaking contemplated By the
State Of New York, which marin On honorshle
spirit Of enterprise and coaprisss objects Of
national q well % more limited Importance.
viii recall he attention Of Congress 10 the sie
nal advantages 70 b derived 10 he United
States from general system q interusl Som.
"un'oation and Conveyance, and suggests to
sbeir consideration whatever steps may bs
proper on their part towards IL introds sctioo
and accomplishment, As some Of there I'd.
vantsses have an intimate connection with the
arrangements and exsrtions for the general
security, ith al prind calling for these that
The merits Of such system will be seen 10 the
strongest lights" 49,. ~.
About the amo time, 1911, the canal com.
mlssloners Of New York sent circular 10 other
States for aid and the influence Of their re-
apcctive representatives. In Congress. 70 this
there was approving response from Tennessee,
Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut Vermont, Mas
sachusetis and the Governor Of Mlchissu Ter
ritory. The Legislature Of New Jersey ssy.
I" We anticipate the time when the vast plans Of
extending canal navigation will be carried into
effact, 20 As 70 form chaia Of communication
from The waten Of The Hudson river 70 The
great lakes, aud from the lakes TO the Missls.
dppL"
In the HOUSE, In 1919, special committee Of
sixteen, one from each State, was raised, from
which sub-committee drew up bill setting
spsrt for road and canals to the several ststes
all the unappropriated lands Of The Tsrrisorics
of Michigan and Indiana north Of the 4oth parsL
lsl Of north latitude. It provided for sevsrai
States therein named ,s00, 900 acres, 10 aid The
construction Of certain canals within their re
spectivc limits. TO the State of New York
va located tract Of land extending across Ia
diana, bounded north BY the north line of that
Territory, Of 4,500, 900 scrss-of which 4, 400.
600 acres were TO aid that State In the con.
ssruction Of the Erie and ChamplaIn canals, and
100000 acres on the west side Of that tract To
enable that State ALEC to construct canal con.
meeting Lake Michigan with the Illinois rivef,
Although these great tracts In Michigan and
Indiana lay osassls The limit, Of land district,
the bill was never reported but 10 their r.
port In March, 1872, the committee say that The
state Of our foreign relations precludss am
appropriation Of landa" In June, the war wi6
Great Britain commenced. s--l
New York, unalded, construc,sd her cansl.
She has just completed the enlargement ren.
dered necessary BY the great pressure Of bud
nees, st cost, In all, Of S43,575,l67. MillIo,s
'f acres Of public lands hat skirtsd the lake,
! vast solitude Of both land and wsser when ne |
New York canal was being constructed, hate /
'ince been sold 10 Tho bsse6t Of The Fedsnl
Treasury, and their Immense harvest nelds have
'ent forth their precious srgosies of bread |
rhis esaVry Of tho Northwest ssnt through
be lakes last season lO0, 1000, 900 bushels Of
'rrea''. say 100000 tons the transportation
o tiSe water costing $40, ,o00, 900. Vast popa,-
alton OF Europe and Of the islands of Tn rea |
lave been furnished bread at diminished oost,
New York journal hss ssid that I" the large
xport Of brsadstuG. to foreIg Countries tie
ast year kept the balance Of trade In cur favor
'od saved US from na'ional bankruptcy But
Or this work" the Erie canal, "the rebellion
'ou'd have proved success All this 10 a.
alpable - the po,o- day suu." |
Half a century has elapsed and the President
ends message to Congress covering another
memorial from the State Of New York respect.
ng her canal, asking $500, 900 (beiug s Der
ent. on the whole cosD 70 make second On.
arsement Of the locks, 20 that ships Of war ljhe
hs Monitor can pasi from tho seab,sri to The
Ak ss, Tor The protection Of the national eraniry
nd for that Of .hs great, and for over twelve
months past ths ouly, avenue leading tberefrom:
hat avenue bsing for one thousand miles alor q.
ide Of the dominious Of . strong naval Powsr;I
Is whole coast, With large cities, exposed snd
lnshielded from sudden attack. /
In 1882, at the time Of the Black Hawk war.
United States troops were moved from the
>hesapsske to Albany, thence by the Erie
ANAL to Buffalo. and by steamers 10 Chicago,
q the space Of Is days. In 1914, heavy can.
ION were drawn by ox.tesms from a poin. on
be Hudson river, forty miles below Alb,
there they had been frcz IN In, TO Sackstt's
isrbor. These same cannon were placed with
there along the banks Of the Ede canal, and
'layea their part 10 the famous telegraphic
annonade which celebrated the completion of
hat work, In 1928.
The present memorial from New York refers
the propoted military ship canal Of Illinois
. enlargement BY Congress for the passage
lso Of ships Of var from the Mississippi 10 the
Akes. Hsrewe are reminded Of the provisions
ontemplsted In the bill before referred to 10
BIZ. II Is also 10 be noted that J. @. Calhoun. ,
ocratarv IF War In he ,noa.k A. |