The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-01-18

lisve IN giving il up 30. In 1864, when We
we're still it the midst of . war, the end of
which no one could determine, Mr.. Arnold
succeeded In getting . bill passed in the
ouse appropriating Sc, 600. 900 towards the
of tho Illinois and Michigan
canal and improvement Of the Ilinois river.
The bill was not pressed in the senate, and,
had it been, would proba oly have been defsat-.
ed, because many of the senator's who were IN
favor OF the measure, and under other circum-
stancs would have voted for it. were unwill-
ing then to use the resources of tho country
for any other purpose than putting down the
rebellion. But tho circumstances OF the
country are now entirely different. we are
at peace with all the world, but have an I'M
mense national debt upon our shoulders, ana
30 paw that or make il least burdensome to
our people our resources must De developed.
IL il not palpabls that the expenditure of So
900 900 bv the government would come back
to il ten-fold within few years sitter the
completion Of the improvements upon which
the money would be expended? The gov
eminent could not make an investment of an
equal amount within its limits that would
pay a. we'll in dollars and cents, to say moth
ing Of other advantages.
But, to get congress to act promptly, no
time should be lost in bringing every lsgit,-
mate influence to bear on thu embers.-
There are those who are posted in these mat
tiers; am not. Let those who know how,
commence action at oncs, nor cease their efforts
until the obiecs be accomplished. I have
no doubt that the city of Chicago would read
lily issue it's bonds for 100000 to secure
such drain as have mentioned, wit -
| 100 feet wide ON the bottom and feet below
| standard low water in Lake Michigan. The
thorough cleansing OF Chicago river would
| be accomplished by such an improvement
The very life of the city depends upon {
| thorough drainage, and this ''deep cut" II
| unqsstionably the best mode of doing it.
congress will make liberal appropriation t.
| the state for the purpose of improving the L!
| linois river, enlsrging our canal, and con
structing yours, / have NO doubt about tn
act on of the city of Chicago. But this gov
| eminent appropriation is really the most I'm
portant matter, because the other funds to b
obtained from the state, CITY, &C., depend w
| on that.
1t appears to me that the construction O
your canal will greatly aid in securing an az
| preparation by congress, and this is an add
tlonal argument In favor of the donation. |
really ought to be Sl0,000,000 instead c
| 100000.
l have not embraced the enlarged improve
ment bstwesn here and LsSalle in my pres
emit calculation, because l thought that
could wait until the other improvements sug
gested were completed. A little improve
msnt of our present canal would enable US
| meet the wants of commerce for few years
This part of the work, to adapt it to larg
steam boat navigation, would-cost, cay, 81 ,O0(
900 or 81, 500, 900.
/ am aware that the suggestions made ar
| liable to some, perhaps to many. objectiont
My object has been, not 80 much TO poir
out any particular plan, as 10 give hints of
general character and. if they will be {
any service Whatever in shaping your plan
of operation to raise the wind | shall b
highly grstifed. If have failed to max
the right kind of suggestions, it has not bee
through neglect to give the subject props
| consideration, but from the difficulties whic
surround it. | think of these matters contil
ually but you and your associates must nj
be contentsd to theorize, but act, and tbs
promptly.
Very Truly Yours,
WIN. COOLING.