Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1864-01-20
Tae ship Canal Movement

| After oil there seems 10 % gsOu oest VI
/ in.eres. mvnifested smoog cur citizens 10 The
| proposed Na,iensl Ship Canal tLs: at come To-
ture day 10 to connect the Mis.is.ippi River
With tha great lakes anI With the A.lAotic see.
board. Tns meeting called at LIE Claire Hall
last evening for the purpose Of hearing from
Mr.. X. b Hill and others something concern
| log the prActicabiiity OF q canal scross the
country iron L. Sale to this point, vas well
attended BY ci;i..cs. of various eallings and
occu pations
The meeting was organized by calling Geo
II. Fssneh, E.q. to the chair and appointing
L Russell and u. N. Kishardson, Secrstariss
The meeting then called upon Mr.. Hill. Who
took the stand, and addressed the people for
an hour or more, giving q history OF the earIy
efforts Of the Northwest to secure the action
OF Congress Ia the matter OF establishing .
water route of sufficient capacity for the nav
Igation of gunooate from the Mississippi to the
Atlantic coast. the great advantage TO be
gained by such en- impt ovement, the isasibiliy
Of the routes pro posed, e,c. Regarding the
route there vas 70 difference OF opinion in the
pu0 mind that the proposed canal should
follow the line Of the BOW existing Illinois and
Michigan canal from Chicago to L. Sale; but
having got ttus far, the question arisen
whether il is beet for the country at large TO
improve the chanosl Of the Illinois river, 90
a. to make it navigAbls for gunbosu during
the summer season. or to leave La Sale 10
westerly di. tetion and strike the Aiesiesippi
River near Rock Island. One objection 10 the
former route was The imprac.icabili,y of main
tanning a nayigabls chanael in so sluggish
. stream as the Illinois River.
Il well known that its channel Ia one OF
tho most uncertain and irsacherous known to
steambostmen. Another objection s that this
route strises the Mississippi It point 50 far
South ~ 10 make i. entirely impraetiosbls for
the purpose Of transporting the products OF
the States Of lows. Minnesota aud North weet-
ern l,iucis--in short, tie location Of the canal
on lhst route would rot subserys the interests
Of The many. even though there were no other
objection. The other sn d moro direct route
seems to be practicable ss far as is now known
and strikes the Mississippi at pcnt which is
very nearly tbs csntar oi the producing reeicn
Of the grea. Northwest. This is precisely what
is wanted, ana nothing short Of this will give
rats, action to IT, great valley Of ths North
west.
A general discussion foiowe as to the 5 erits
of the two routes, and the necessary eo. ion to
bs taken by the friends Of The shcrt route, IN
order 70 fnr.n or its interests, and the best way
to bring the matter to the attention Of the
members Of Congress. % motion It was d.
cidsl to appciat committee wfose duty 1t
should 20 10 II smofaiizs the State Legislature
to make an appropriation to defray the ex-
pease. Of a survej OF the rroposed Short route,
d 50 to collect subscriptions arnany citizens for
the came purpose in case the Lsgsla.ure
should withhold its aid.
The chair appointed ss raid committee
Me..rs. A. G Fulton Il d. Hill. Judge Dillon.
q l.. Davenport aud Royal Mack.
The following sutscrip; ops were at oncs
pledged
II. B. Hill, A. C. Fulton, French 4 Davies
II DArlagtcn. q. L. Davenport, g. Nsw-
combe, Gao. Davenport and IL. Conahue, $25
each l. Perrin, "a; I P Coates, z. y. Hard
ing. O. W. skinner, b. 3 Woodwsrd, Judge
Dillon. D H'gsins, J. J. Humphrey and W. G.
Wads~orth, $40 each; John Hume. r. d
Cons Gvn. D. MeKown and l. w. Harrison and
others. an uniting in all 10 1850.
large number had r., red from the meet.
ing bsfor. this subscription was taken. bu. the
figures SHOW that there is deep interest ta-
ken in the matter, and there can be but little
doub. that the work thus started will lie push
si ahead vigorously.
THE PEAK FAMnx.-Tbis popular
troupe was greeted for the second time ct
Metripolilan Hal, last evening, by a crow 1ed
audience, ainost every seat was occupied
This evening, Re it remembered, 10 the last
chance that will he afforded tie pubic for
witnessing the perform ances Of this renowned
company. Many wh6 have been before will
very naturally want to see them once more,
and those who have not yet been 10 should
not fail to go and be astcnished ths evening.