The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-01-02
The canal Convention.

The convention just held at Rock leland
was one Of the most important gatherings, in
some respects, ever held in the northwest
Il % = sort of aumming MP of the various Of.
forts having for thsir object tbs compilation of
the pteliminAries necessary to making mate
ri.l inprovsmsnss already possessed by Illi
AS nearly All our readers know, the design
Of the Rock Island convention was to take the
necessary preliminary steps to the extension
OF the Illinois and Michigan canal to the Mis-
sissippi river. As contemplated, this canal,
running nearly west from Chicago, will con-
meet the Mississippi at Rock Island with Lake
Michigan al Chicago. In a geographical
sense, is not unlike the Erie canal in New
York. which connects Lake Erie with the Hud
son river. The chief difference between the
two 10, that the Erie canal is an outlet from
lake to river, while the othsr canal will be an
inlet from river to Lake.
From the very full report of surveys and
stmade to the convention, we find that the
entire work includes the building of about
100 miles or canal. Of this, about two-thirds
would constitute the canal proper, and the re-
naming third o feeder rendered necessary by
q ridge that crosses the proposed route Of the
new excavation.
With reference to the expease,it was stated
"a, OOO,O and that this entire amount could
be saved in q very short time from the differ
encs in freights between railroads and these
OF the proposed canal 1t was further said
that the amount necessary TO build ID would
be very easily raised by the state, and thar
the revenue which would ac;rue from the
completed work would make the investment q
most lucrative one.
The logic and action of the convention with
In the limits which we have mentioned are
nnsxceptionable. The practicebility of the
work, Its necessity. the cost of building TO- and
the profitable revenue which would accrue 10
the state from the possession of the work,
were all set forth by the convention, and as
thus stated, are substantially true. The CON-
pletion of this canal would doubtless afford
an outlet for the greater portion of the pro-
duce of the upper Mississippi. Grain could
be placed In barges in bulk, and it would not
be broken between Winona, St. Paul, La
Crosse, Dubuque, and New York city, save at
Chicago and Buffalo. The saving in freights
would be enormous, and the quality of pro
duce now coming to Chicago wouli be trebled
almost at once.
The Rock Island convention could not re-
main satisfied with these fattering and sub.
stsnrial promises. Intoxicated with the Wis.
ions Ofweslth and progress which grew from
the probable extension of the Illinois and
Michigan canal TO the Mississippi river, they
proceeded to perform, with all the unwisdom
peculiar to men inebriatsd either with hope
or something stronger. In their sxhiieration
over what tbs completed canal would accom-
plish, they proposed to attempt the impossi-
BILE. In fine, In connection with the extension
of a canal to the Misiissippi,t they recommend
ed the improvement, for canal purposes, OF
Rock and Illinois rivers.
We do not propose to argue, at this point,
either the practoa blitv or the necessity Of the
Improvement Of these rivers but il must be
apparent to every one that the attempt is ex
ceedingly unwise TO embody Ii one effort the
extension of she Illinois and Michigan canal
and the improvement of Rock and Illinois
rivers. II ia precisely one Of those cases IN
which gun, zsalously overloaded with a
view to extraordinary slaughter, does nothin Q
when fired cave to kick over the holder. This
project of Improvement is a gun which will
do execution If charged only with the canal
extension; out if, upon the top of this, we
ram two other great charges, the explosion
will simply burst the proieetile and will do
no execution unless among those handling il.
The Times was urgent last year in endesv-
oring to secure the accomplishment of one
thing at a time. While the people of Illinois
may be brought 20 = willingness to undertake
the extension OF one canal, We are quite GER
tain that they will lot be able to see the ne
cessity of undertaking, at the same moment
the improvement of every trout stream in the
state. In fact, being called upon to do go
much at once, they may become dismayed at
the magnitude of the task and may be fright
spsa s az Et Sg tc
those who dwell upon the banks of Rock and
Illinois rivers and along the Illinois and
Michigan canal. In fact, the great body of
the people of Illinois live outside any bene
fits which would accrue from these improve
ments and hence they may not unressonabiy
be expected to object to undertaking so vast
a work, and which is limited to the territory
of only small part of the state Chicago
Times.