The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-05-25
MEETING OF THE CANAL, COMMIT
TEE,


MEETING OF THE CANAL COMMIT
TEE.
There was meeting of the committee on
the La Sale and Rock Island Canal, in this
city, yesterday.
The object of the meeting was to hear the
reports of subcommittee appointed at the
Chicago meeting in March last, and to take
such farther steps toward carrying out this
great project as were found practicable
Hon. John l.. Davies, of Davenport, took the
chair. In the absence of the secretary of the
committee, B. F. Shaw of Dixon was chosen
to record the proceedings. The following
members of the committee were present.
Hon. John L. Davies and W. c. Wadsworth,
of Scott county, Iowa; G. A. Bitsenbanner,
j. IL. Wilson, DR.. c. Truesdsle, Capt. 7. j.
Robinson and Chas. Atkinson, Of Rock Island
county, Ills.; Major James Allan, Henry
county, Ills. B. N. Stevens and w. NJ.
Whipple of Bureau Co., Ills. Geo. L. Schulz
or and b. f. Shaw were admitted as men,
bers from Lee county, HIS. the people of
that county being anxious to be represented
in this movement.
Mr.. Stevens reported that he had CORES
pended with some of the most experienced
engineers, east and west, relatlye to the cost
ofsurveying the route of the proposed canal,
and inviting them to submit proposals for
conducting the same. letters from these
competent engineers showed willingness
to proceed at once to the work at reasonable
compensation.
Maj. Allan submitted
REPORT.
10 John L. DIARIES, Chairman of the Conn
mittse on Surrey OF The Canal from La Sal
le to Rock Island.
The undersigned appointed at the meeting
of your committee, held In DavenpOr on the
2Sth of Februry, 1866, to memorialize the
board OF trade of the city of Chicago, for aid
in the contemplated survey of said canal
route, respectfully report that they have pre-
sented the matter of the construction OF the
canal to the said board Of trade both by writ
ten memorial and by personal application,
and are much pleased to be able ID report
that the said board OF trade seemed highly
gratlfed with the prospect of an extension
OF the canal to the Mississippi River, and are
fully sensible of the last Importance TO the
northwest of its construction, and ere pledg-
ed to do their part in defraYing necessary ex-
penses.
A committee to petition congress for aid
in building this canal was appointed by said
board, and also a committee on finances. The
board of real estate brokers, of Chicago have
heretofore taken deep interest in this sub
.iect, and indeed the people of Chicago, so far
as we have he'd opportunity OF aseertainlng
their views and feelings, are alive 10 the
great Importance of securing this direct and
cheap water communication with the Missis
sippi.
Your committee also visited Peru, La
Sale, Ottawa aud Dixon, in the interest of
this enterprise and find very general inter
est in the construction of this canal The
people are clamorous for cheaper facilities Of
transportion and are well satisfied that with
out great Improvements upon the present
system, the west must suffer and be greatly
crippled IN the future. Your committee,
therefore most respectfully recommend that
steps be taken without delay to survey the
proposed route for canal from La Sale to
Rock Island and from Dixon to It's summit
JAS. ALLAN.
Mr. Allan moved the following resolution
ReSOLced, That committee Of three be
appointed for the purpose and with full
power TO employ suitable engineers to survey
the said canal routes and make necessary es-
Inmates of cost, and that said committee have
authority to draw upon the counties towns,
cities, boards Of trade, party or parties SUBJ
scribing funds for this purpose for such am-
cunt, pro rata, as may be necessary to detray
expenses.
Which was adopted with the following am
endments proposed by Capt Robinson:
Resolced, That committee of Ways and
Means be appointed, consisting of one from
each county, and such commercial centres as
al tod
tion of q canal connecting the Mississippi
river at Rock Island with the lakes at Chi
cago, via the Illinois and Michigan canal
with navigable feeder from Rock river at
or near Dixon to the summit near Sheffield
and that they be requested to collect funds
for the purpose of aiding In the survey and
report the same to the commi ttee on said sur
vey. Also,
Res0Ired That as soon as the committee on
survey are advised that sufficient funds are
provided to cover the expenses of the survey,
they are hereby authorized to enter upon
their duties, and to 90 forward with the sur
vey of said canal and branch.
The following committee were then consti-
tured:
On tSuruey-B. N. Stevens, of Bureau Co.,
G. A. Bitten banner, of Rock Island Co., Jas.
NJ. Allan, of Henry Co.
On Subscriptions-Cap Robinson, of Rock
Island county, Hon. John L. Davies, of Scott
county. Iowa, James L. Comb, OF Lee coun-
ty, w. M. Whipple, of Bureau county, I. D.
Brewster, of LaSslle county, and Mr.. Powers
of Cook county. .
The meeting was entlraly harmonious, and
feeling of confidence in the success of tn i
grand project seemed to pervade the mindso
thesmembers. Maj. Allan stated that he had
a conversation recently. with VIM. A. Good
ing, Efq., the engineer of the Michigan canal,
who gave it as his opinion, after a very careful
consideration, that a complete survey of the
canal route could be made for less than S.
00O. More than this amount has already
been pledged, as was stated by Mr.. Stevens.
These facts considered as accomplished. it
only remains now for the-survey to be made,
and made at once. II is useless to talk any
more about the Importance or necessity of this
great work to the interests of the people of II
linois. Iowa, Minnesota and adjoining states
that there must be cheaper mode OF
-. e.. -our Droducts and of lngress Tor