Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1868-12-02
Improvement Of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers.

the Lancaster IeTQtd OF last week. The
author, Mr. COVER assures his readers is
"a gentleman who knows and dares
what be writes, and whose integrity and
right intentions entitle his statements to
the very highestrespect by the public
Just now the. e is a great clamor for the
expenditure by the General Government
of some millions of dollars 10 widen and
deepen the Fox and Wisconsin river
canal, and to imprcTe the ma igation
OF these streams 50 as 10 open a perfect
communication by this means between the
LAKES and the mississippi river,
The project Off practicable at any rea-
sonabIe cost would afford the Government
an inter communication in time Of war.
otherwise not possible t. be obtained and
FOR seven or eight months II the year. would
be Of consider abla commercial ser ice to
this section Of the state, and TO a large ex-
tent OF country lying 10 the north and
west Of Us. In successful operation, it
would materially cheaper freights either
way, and therefore confer double benefit
on all 70 whom it might be tributary
Then, OF course, say the crowd we must
all 20 IN for it. Wait a bit some i'm
portant questions arise, which NAV not
properly be overlooked and which demand
a satisfactory answer before we can ioin
in the popular cry. Self-interest is all
ways potent monitor, but, for conscious
able people, 1t Is not always trustworthy
one.
First then: Gen. Warren, the engineer
l.. charge Of the Government survey. re-
ports the project feasible by the expendi.
ture OF one and a quarter million dollars,
which all who know how public works are
constructed, understand TO mean really.
about fire millions, possibly ten millions.
W hat his plans and specifications are Is
unknown 10 US, but he Is supposed to be
FULLY qualified to pass upon all these mat
tiers We know the Wisconsin river very
well. and 1t does seem to Us that the OBJ
Stacles II presents 10 successful navigation
/ III Its lowest stage Of water are insur-
mOuntable, unless bv the iudicious eXpen~
dlture Of many times the sum named -
I Tins low stage OF water covers some three
or four of the late summer and fall
months, and these added to the winter
months, when the ice has possession, leaves
/ bat four months OF the year OF unques>
toned ma igation. Bus LAYING aside all
I conjecture, and admitting ali tlat the en-
/ 9necr claims, the question occurs: Is this
I Il proper time TO depiete tie TreaS11y for
+ any such purp0seg Should we not rather
/ exunguIsh our enormous public debt or
/ be approaching somewhat near that desi-
/ raJle cOnsumation, before venturinu upon
/ any new outlay not absolutely demanded
4 by public necessity We cannot helm
/ taxing this view of the case
This is no time to eat hellebore and
run wild over visionary, or even possible
/ schemes OF internal greatness or Of exter.
nal expanSion-G la .Selcard-when the
means are to be supplied TO the prejudice
OF those whom we owe. The section OF
. the Union ciamoring for this appropria-
ton, Is only Il small fraction Of the whole.
and each particular part has a project OF
who esaie depletion, which, granting this
cannot well be withheld from the others
and, were al 10 tie conciiiated, the Secre
tary OF the Treasury would need the
power OF Midas to satisfy the demands up
on his exchequer
Ben. Hopkins has made the State Jo,g.
nal and all Madison vociferous in hi.
praise, by securing large appropriations
by Congress for the construction of a MAJ
nifcent building in that city, and if in hi.
lnordinate desire for popularity and pow.
er, he shall persuade Congress TO pour on
largesses OF corn and wine into the lap,
of his constituents, he shall be met in tri
umPhai procession everywhere through.
out his district with music and banners
Perhaps he contemplates doing this, bu
he surely shall better serve the ends O
: justice 10y keeping in elegance all Jobs o
the kind tili our burden of debt is relieved
and by keeping to the strictest line 0
economy in all matters of legislation.
Second If a first class canal is to J.
built where the sham one now Is, fed b.
, the Wisconsin river, it most of course. a
= low water, draw off material part of il
volume at that point. There Is not drol
to spare. On the contrary, it will be ne
ces~ary 10 compress and economic til
: water TO the cry best advantage in orde
TO tide over the low water months On
writer / see. recommends the construction
Of reservoirs Of immense capacity, b
daninC the headwater tributaries a
l this river and the Mississippi. to fee
t these rivers at their lowest stage Thi
: would answer the purpose. but look at th
I resulting damage by overflow, to be set
tied for-iook at the cost. Yet am No
! sure that the end desired can be reache
in any other way, unless Moses were t
come again and >mite the Dells and rock
/ promiscuouSIy all the way up Withou
some such help. it looks as thou ii. b
% / drawing of water where the quantity
confcSsedly insufficient that the ~inipr0re
nleHt men would defeat the very end
they seek to accomplish.
r Third The Fox and Wisconsin rive
u canal is in the hands Of private corpo
ration, having power TO collect tolls. a,
This company vas chartered many wear
ago and granted several thousand acre
= of land, for which it agreed to omen
first class canal connecting the Fox AN
Wisconsin rivers at point where the
: nearly touch each other 1t has don
T. SOME work in that direg ton, but it Is IN
: derstood to be of verJ little practical va
o. ne, Boats Of small draft pass. Leliey
r in high water, but the work utterly fail
). 70 answer the purpose for which the graz
/ was made The Canal Company n.ak
some fine promises TO the legislature froi
{ year 10 wear, but really accomplish Iitti
g Now. is j evident that all the money e.;
u pended on this job 10y the general Govern
ment must in the end inure to the bcnei
: Of the Fox and Wisconsin improvement
} Company. This accounts for the gre
ID activity and decided earneStness of m
n leading members of that Company in ur.
. inE forward tHIs scheme Doubtless ii
m value of their stock has been considerab
enhanced by the efforts already made.ar
"a / the influence for the measure already :,
,- cured Il would seem, then. that rczai
D. for the welfare of the General Govern
T. ment ia time Of war, Is not the ONLY Al
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