The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-01-05
G.a..,l Convention as z. ISLAND.

Tie Canal Contention : ,2.-'' bland, on
T!.nr.iay Of las. week, was attended bg full
delegations from all courties on the proposed
line Of Canal from Chicago to Rock Island
aud from Dixon 70 Is Sale, as " II a. dele
gates from St Louis, Dubuque, d. Judge
Udey. Of Dixon, was called 70 the Chair, and
Gel. Beatty, Of Chicago, with three assistants
acted as Secretary.
Col. Hrdnctt presei ted a report Ct his
survey Of tic route of the pr7ro.el canal
from Rock Island TO the Illinois river. The
work WAS commenced at Dixon, and II wa.
soon shown tia. the water Of Rock River
could be taken by canal 10 the summit Of
tie canal from Rock Island to La Sale
The necessary! length of thq canal from Rock
Island to The Il!inais river was e miles. and
from Dixon to the Summit 80 mi,ts total
l22 niles and could bs built st cos, Of
$+,G02,0Go. The survey also sLows tic
feasibility Of deepening and charging the
Illinois river. These Improvements the com
nittes assert, you'd increase the business Of
lhe I.linois river tcnfyld The distance from
Roc Island, b. the new c5urse. 20 the Hi
uois river and thence down jhis stream to
81. Ions is lss. than til. di,taac from Rock
Island DOM the Mississippi TO St. Loui,.
The Rock liver improvement will afford a
cheap outlet to the extensive coal fields Of
Illinois. The cost Of the entire work, t'eY
say. will not exceed the amou.t row raid
annually in excessive treights, which they
would remove.
In reference TO improving the navigation
Of the Illinois river, Gen Wilson, i tailed by
the War Department to surerintend the sur
vey efthe Illinois and Mississippi rivers with
a view to their imprc vemcnt, also made some
interesting remarks. The following Is his
conclusion. That, in order to insure feet OF
vs'er in the Illinois river at all seasons, six
locks viii be required Lock No. 4: Chilli
coihe it sill haze $40 feet lift. tho dam
q feet high, and length Of pond about =
mirs. Lock No . aboat . mies below Cop
per,-s creek tit feet dam IS feet high;
pond II miles Lock No. , AZ Frederick
u; , e feet; dam ID feet high pond -
miles. Lock No. at Naples, : feet lift, dam
u feet, pond y miles. Lock y 5 at Easi>
port, near Apple Greek :; feet lif,, cam -
feet, poad Is miles. Lock No 6 at Six Nile
Island; lft feet, dam II feet. pond 70
miles Cost of locks and dams &2,f77, 2Gi
cost of dredging $l,tO3,5ls.
Interastin, remarks vera aIro rnaiA n
Alderman Holden, of Chicago; by Col. Wor>
raj. and others, giving important statistical
information Illustrating The feasibility and
importance, not only OF the proposed canal
from Roci; Island to La Sale, but is con,
necIiOn with the Improvement of the Rapids
in tie MississiPP; river, OF the proposed canal
from Green Bay to the head of Rock river
in Wisconsin, sc.
The following resolutions were adopted:
Resoired, That we hail With the highest
satisfaction the report Of the survey from the
Illinois river to tie Mississippi. which report
demonstrates beyond question that The route
is eminensY feasible for constructing a fist
class canal.
Re;oIced, That the construction of this
canal, with a navi.abie fesder TO Sterling and
Dixon, together @iih the improvement of the
Illinois asd RosS rivers opening np 2 grand
system OF internal navigation, and complies
Jag the connection By water between the
Mississippi an , the lakes, on the line of the
greatest continental commerce. arc works Of
immediate and lasting Importance required
By the agricultural and commsrcIal interest
ci the whole ccuntrr; aud are, enterprises