Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-03-25
The Ship Canal.

We cannot advise our readers as to the
probability of the success of this PROPOSES
ton. The matter il before Congress, and
the committee. to whom the. subject was
referred, reported favorably and rec,mmeu
ded that the enterprise be taken hold Of by
government and prosecuted to completion
Yet, as all are aware, Der natic nal expenses
are immense and the prospect is that ere
nous national debt, and hence the Difficult
ties in she way Of inducing the govern
mont to engage in a project which will re-
quire an additional expenditure, unless it
can oe shown that the outlay is indispen-
salla to our public safety.
Both our Senators, and all the Congress-
men from this State, and especially Messrs.
L,vejny a nd Arnold, are laboring manfnlly
in favor Of the enlargement of the canal
They are urging it upon Congress as mat
ter of abs Lutte military necessity.
The peoYls of the whole West, and es-
pecially these or the route of the proposed
improvement are awaiting the action Of
Congress on the measure with intense in,
terest. And New York and the East is
almost equally as deeIly interested in the
connection Of the navigable waters of the
Mississippi with those of the lakes, as are
those who live Immediately in the neigh
btrh0od Of the improvement which is
urged.
The people Of Chicago and Joliet and
other cities on the route have sent repre-
sentatives to Washington to labor in behalf
of the work amongst members of Congress
Hon. j. o. Norton has been sert by the
Common Council Of this city-snd we have
faith that the mission and efforts Of Mr..
Narton will not be without effect Mr..
Norton has been member of our natii nal
council four years, and is personally &C
quHinted with most of the members Of both
branches Of Congress This will enable
him to do more than any other man who
could have been sent from this section
He is deeply enlisted in favor Of the sue
cess of the proposition before Congress,
| and. we doubt not, will exert himself to his
/ utmost to secure its passage. VS. have
/ faith that his visit to Washington will
/ have most sanitary ir1u.nce in awaken
iug members Of oar national legislature ia
the Importance If the PROPOSED thorough
/ fare.
Tho prc7oHt int tine war. and our re-
! lntions with Great Britain, has awakened
the country in regard to the great impor
| tsn"e Of constructing a ship canal connect.
( ing the navigahle waters Of our Western
/ rivers with the great North western lake..
I This pr jGc' has been urged at various
times since the settlement Of the country.
bns the cost Of carrying it through to com
{ pletion has heretofore prevented anything
more than preliminary surveys and esti-
mates Of cost to be made. But the block
| aGc Of the Mississippi from the line Of the
! State Of Tennessee to its mouth, mas fas-
! tened the conviction upon the public mind
/ that the work can De delayed no longer
( Hence, in accordance with the public ne
cessities and feeling on the subject, the
matter has been brought before Congress
and the bill which we have already pub
lished is row under consideration. Con
gress IS beginning to realize that, indepen,
dent of the general comuerciel advar-
tages Of such a thorough:are in a military
point Of view, it is indispensable.
Therefore, there can be no objections to
the work on the grounds Of constitutiunall-
tyA As much as we are opposed to a gen
eraf system of expenditures for internal
improvements by the national government,
we believe the proposed ship canal q work
that should be delayed no longer. 1t is
required MS a means Of national safety and
defence, add as a saving in the cost Of
transmitting government munitions and
stores. 1t comes az legitimateIy within the
scope of Con gressional action as do the con
struction Of forts, the building of ships Of
war, or the opening Of military roads.
We trust that the Western members Of
our national council will act as unit on
this measure. If they 90 this. and present
its benefits and advantages in their true
light, it can hardly fail of accom- liehment