, 1862-02-28
&if.5(M,l;l{l

Estimate for q ship and steamboat canal from I
Lake Michigan to the Illinois river, 1G0 feet |
vide; also for the improvement OF the llli- |
nois river to the Mississippi riTcr. TIC |
canal and river locks to he $50 feet long and |
70 feet wide, with depth Of water at ill |
times to paSs steamboats, and vessels from |
the lake to the Mississippi river, drawing + |
feet. The canal to be supplied with water
from the Calumet, Des Plaines and Du Page
rivers; any deficiency tt, be supplied BY
pumping engines and wheels from Lake
Michigan.
Chicago to Loclport, a9 miles:
The estimated cost for excavation OF
eaEtE and rcck to enlarge the present
canal to 16O feet wide on bnttu,n; re-
moving spoil banks; hnilding walls
Oh both sidcs for two etiMzuit locks,
and enlarcfpg the present hydraulic
works for supplying all DEFICIENCIES Of
wafer on the summit level, is $685. :3s0
Lcckport to Lasalle. G. miles;
The estimated cost Of canal to Lake Jol-
let AID short canals at l6loclss+ walled
ou 10th sides: OF 6 stone dams, $50
feet lang, II crib and Ei7er locks.
esch $50 feet long md 20 feet wide: in
and m L. Lasai!e, s s os.".sl ~ 4,osl leea
LaSallc to the Mississippi river o20 miles:
The estimated cost Of tree and crib
Ga1i1e :tstI feet long, with stone abrt-
mcnts, the cribs to. be filed With
| stc4c: fozf stone locks. each $50 feet
| leDs and 20 feet wide, insuIing depth
| of water Oh all bars to pass the lsrg-
| est Steamers and vessels from the
lakes .te mississippi drawing 6
feet ol wafer. Is s---.-..-----.---.-- 111,Vuo
way. SC ..s..,.,...--,.-+.-.... ~ 47so3a
| Total .a1...........:.... s. e.lpa, III
| Statement Of comparative cost Of summit leTel
| from Chicago to 1ockport On the three
plans proposed. the cost Of canal and river
Improvement from Lockport to the Missi5-
EIppi river being the same on each.
| First plan for canal 100 feet wide. sup
| Piled With water from Lake Mich
sesapd plan for canei Loo fsst vide, '.''S''''
| with r1cesscs giving 1E0 feet width.
supplied with watcr from Lake MIeh-
ThFrd pian ior = canal on present Level, ' 0'~
bE en1argins present canal to 16o feet. 3.13s3so
Entire cost Of first plan for estimates. 133165s
EItire cost Of second plan estimates 1t-sQooo0
Entire cost Of third plan for 9etluatcs.- 9,x
Whichever Of these plans the Government
may think proper to adopt may, we believe, be
carried into effect without material charge up
| on the Treasury, for the revenue derived from
tolls will, when the work shall be completed,
be sufficient not only to keep it in repair, but
a1so to provide 4 sinking fund for the gradual
liquidation Of the principal. 1t is difficult to
base reliable estimates Of the revenue to be de-
rived from such work on those Of The pres
great part OF the season, is at so low stage OF
water rs in effect almost to close navigation
below Lasalle. To show ho wfar these causes
operate it may be stated that the tolls re.
| Et13cQ .kf 4klI1liE LII ttG A1uAtu& u A1Al@A aA4
April, 1850, when the water in the river was
from three and . half to six and q half feet in
depth, WIGS S15,a84, while in October and No
yembc- Of the same year, more favorable to
business, when the water was from eighteen
. | totvc1fy-nine inches in depth, there were but
s. $40 received from the same sources.
Another fact beatiDg on the same point /:
, ! tie amount OF corn received from points OF
tie canal and on the river. In 1851. L. .433 OK
bushels Of corn were transported on the clnal
OF this full g. (CD, Geo bushels came from point;
OF its hanks, while less than Sex, 600 buShel;
: caUc froE, the whole length OF tho river, q re
| gfon morc than twice as extensive and mucf
: more favorable to the growth Of coFn-
3. It is therefore evident that If the work Is Il
( ho done with view to economy anu income
tie Improvement Of the river is the part Ealc!
!. should be finished first. The cost Of this, &C
l corcipg to the estimate herein submitted. vii
Le 81 ,G45, ,eC1 the interest On WHICH, at six Pc
{ ccpt., is SOS. TO-
e The 1evc.ue of the pTcscut canal fer th
J. year 1861 was J218, ,0C0, and tbs expenses q
= ordinary repairs and collections OF tolls aoou
c | $500.
/. TO construct this part Of the EofE ecoaom
Il | ca!l7 and substantially would require tn
: ycsis. From The ti,2c Of the completion {
q 1le river Improvement, it is believed that til
e busir.ss OF tie canal E'oz1aI be doubl11, Will
+ that On the river will be as great, in propo
y tiou 10 its length, that OIL tn canal. and tt
:. completion Of the entirr work. and its bei7
" opened for 6:camhoass, sGll further inc7cas
y n.ay be safely calculated upon In order, hos
J. evtr to insure this increase, it is probat1a th
id | \ reduction Of the present rate Of tolls wou
c. be required, corresponding ia degree t. T.