Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-11-14
1nR CANAL PRoJICf.
SDeeftn9 Or Ctet1tooo ~ lie
VIOtsee DOoe.


There was iAir astsndases 1t LeClairs
Hall last evening, 70 listen 70 the report Of
Df. Parry, Who, ler several weeks past, has
been making preliminary surveys to ascef
tain the most feasible route fos an artifica
water conaunicaeion between this point
and Chicago. The Hon. Jno. I. Dillon was
called 70 preside, and Geo. H. Parker, ksq..
was chosen secretary.
With The aid Of maps, charts and tspo-
graphical sketches. Dr.. Parry presented to
ths usssisg very satisfactory and instruc-
tive rspsst, showing that vatse communi-
cation between this point and the lakes BY
more than one route u - far from being
among Tie impossibiIitiss, - to b perfectly
feasible. Il 10 . we'll known fact 10
this locality that the great bugbea in the
minds efths psople relative to canal con
Meeting this point With the Illinois and
Michigas easal at Lasalls, has bssn the
summit" The dividing range between
the Illinois riysr and Resk river Wa %
high ~ to be quite. .insurnountable y any
engiossring skin known in the present age
that If the canal was built, the summit
level" could not b supplied with water, etc.
Dr.. Parry was Of the opinion, after due in.
vsstigasion, that this high range VA not It
al impassable, but that the " summit lsver'
could be abundantly supplied with feeder
from Rock river, at Rockpors, which place
has . greater altitude than the aforesaid
summit" True, the distance between
Rockport and the point where the feeder
would intersect the proposed canal, il forty
miles. but the feeder itself gould be q canal
also, which would afford NE upper Rock
River Valley interests most desirable water
communication with the lakes, and also furn
ish abundant water power all along its line.
Az above stated, DR.. Parry has perfect con.
6dence in the perfect feasibility Of this route:
the probable cost Of the enterprise remains
to be estimatsd by . competent corps Of
civil engineers.
On motion Of J. L. Swits, Esq, the meet
ing voted its thanks to Dr.. Parry for the ex-
csllsnt repert he had made, and requested
him to prepare synopsis Of the report for
publication in the city papers. This request
will bs ct once complied with therefore We
defer further accounts Of the details given
BY DR.. P.
A general discussion then followed 10
which r. B. Hill, Esq, Mayor Davies,
@. H. Parker, J. L. Swits, and others tosk
part.
On motion Of E. Russell, it vas then
Rssolsed, That the Board Of Commission
ere appointed At the meeting Of citizens held
Sept. 9Th. for the purpose Of procuring
survey Of the proposed canal route, be and
are hereby requested to take immediate
measures to secure complete survey Of the
direct route 10 or near La Sale, found BY
the preliminary examination Of DR. Parry
70 Be entirely feasible; and to obtain esti-
mates, &C., for the construction Of canal
on said route, and press the facts thus se-
cured upon the attention Of Congress at its
session.
Alter an address from Judge Dillon
Nsesrs. J. L. Swits and E. Russell from
the Finance Committee. reported The follow
ing subscriptions ~ already sbtained toward
the expense ofsrrvey:
Judge Dillon, r. B. Hill, n. Price, 8. p.
Bryant, E. g. Odiorne, J. B. Leske. J. L.
Swits. J. J. Humphrey, R. Krause, D. Hig.
gins, g. n. French, ]. H. Fasrand, w. @.
Wsdsworth, j. Burr, and +. Russell, 126
zach D. +. Newcombe $50; J. Hume go;
J. N. Rogers, 80; G. Wosber 110, and O.
n. Childs go.
Tho following additional subscriptions
we're then made: L. O. Dsssaint, ass; Kel
y / Wood 1S5; I. ". Harrison, go; J. s.
Altman, go.
After some further discussion The ussting
adjourned.
The next step TO b taken 10 to raiss funds
Duhlcisnt to dsfray the expenses sfs survey
This may cost two Of three thousand dol
lars. The State has pledged one thousand
dollars to aid in making . survey, and The
public spirited citizens Of Davenport must
furnish the balance. The best engineering
talent in the country should ~ secured and
the survey completed at - early . day -
possible, in srder that the result nay be
placed hofOro COnarona earlv in The cnminS