The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-11-30
From the Chicago Tribun
The Rock Island Canal.

steamboat canal connecting Lake Michi-
gan and Cairo by way of the Illinois and
Mississippi rivers, and the Illinois river at
La Sale with the upper Mississippi st Rock
Island, while it would furnish additional ia
cilties of transportation would have the of.
feet of serving ss a Wholesale regulator upon
railroad freights. Had we that canal in op-
Grafton, the existing extortion of which there
is so much complaints would not exist.
This work can all be done for sum less
than twelve millions of dollars that ia to
say, the canal TO the Mississippi river. and
the feeder for Sd 100000, and the enlarge
ment OF the Illinois and Michigan Canal and
improvement of the Illinois river for 81 000-
uoO. How ls this sum OF money to be raised :?
The constitution provides that the state shall
contract no debt exceeding $50, 900, without
submitting the law creating that debt to the
people to be voted upon at the next general
election. To provide in that way for the
means to construct these works is to post
pone any action until after the election in
November, 1868. But there is another, q
better. more expeditions way and that is
the assessment and collection of tax of two
mills annually upon the taxable property of
the state, the proceeds of this tax TO be ap-
piled exclusively to this work Had the
state of Illinois, as all other states have, a
board for the equalization OF taxes, our sys.
tenn of revenue would be much more COM
plese Counties that now escape with light
taxation, and counties where the valuation is
excessive would then share in proper proper
tons the taxation of the state. In round
| numbers the taxables of Illinois, under q
fair system of valuation would reach $780,.
OO0.00O, and two-mill tax would produce
| annually one million of dollars. The lepis
lature can impose this tax and appropriate
the proceeds, first for the enlargement of tn,
| Illinois and Michigan canal, and improve
ment of the Illinois river; and secondly, fol-
the construction of the canal to the Mlssis
sippi river.
The moment these canals are In operation
and as long as they remain the property OF
the state, end the rates of toll are regulated
| by law. the railroad monopoly of which Their,
is such an universal complaint from all partl
of the state, will be broken up. With thes.
canals IN operation, the man at DunlsIth car
ship to Chicago or to Cairo, by rail or by
water, as may be the cheapest. The man q
Dsvenpors or Clinton can do the same. HI
can then expect to be treated oivilly when h.
asks for transportation, and ii the price BY
one route does not suit him, he can take The
other. The man at Peoria, Davenport Dun
lelth, Rock Island, or Chicago, who wshe.
to send merchandise to Pittsburgh, or to have
1t from there. need submit to no extortion by
the railroads, as long as be can send by cana
and river. -
| The people of Illinois, during the last three
years, have paid to the railroads, in the shape
of excessive charges upon treights, more
than enough money to build these canal i'm
provements. We put the question directly
to these people-will you pay annually 9
| direct tax of from three to five millions Of
| dollars. bounty for inadequate railroad ia
cilities. or will you pay one million per an
mum for q few years to construct these works
which will be to you and your posterity an
enduring protection from railroad combina
| tions and monopolies Let the people of the
state think over this matter let them esti
mate the tax they now pay without any re-
| turns,to the railroads, and compare that with
! the tax of two mills upon their taxables for
a few years. Let them calculate which il
the most oppressive which will take more
money from them. Lst them remember tia,
the tax they now pay to the railroads 10 one
that increases every year; and will be per
petual. The other will be for a few wears
only, and will then put an end to the railroad
extortion. Let them figure out these things
and instruct their representatives in the lee
islature accordingly.