The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-04-22
Illinois River Improvement

had taken as enlightened view as this of the
great importance of the Illinois nver improve
ment, both a. a state and national work, it
would not now be languishing for want of
legislative action to 60 on with the work
Csasing to be an actor upon questions of pub
lilo policy, am reluctant to take part in their
pnblic discussion; nor would depart from thi.
rule now, but for the interest feel IN a partic-
ular measure pending in the legislature. refer
to the improvement of the navigation of the
Illinois river, as part of a more comprehensive
scheme have long advocated
fear not that the legislature will act hastily
or unwisely upon this subject. On the contrary,
have the fullest confidence in their intelligence
public spirit and patriotism. My only impulse
and aim in what presently propose is forward
ing worthy and noble enterprise 20 successful
contamination, Such i esteem the project of
connecting the lakes and the Mississippi by
navigaole channel adapted to the passage of
steam and war vessels, and of improving the navi-
CATION OF the Illinois river and Of its extension,
the Illinois and Michigan canal, as the most
available. efeetual and reliable means in order
tt that end. This project was early embraced by
me as one material 10 the full deyelopement OF
the prosperity and grandeur of Illinois. 1t is
the first important measure | ever espoused, or
ever, IN any degree became prominently denti.
tied with. | advocated it IA far back as 1885,
in the legislature of Illinois, and as far back a,
le41-6. in the congress OF the United States and
would be proud to think that it was not without
some measure of success 1 am still, in a more
humble way, its advocate.
Trained in the political school which regarded
not only our own state, but the whole nation as
unit, have ever held and acted upon the opin.
ion, that whatever concerned a part of either
concerned the whole of it; and l trust this will
be the view taken of this measure by the honor
able members of our general assembly. trust
no sectional or local difference or jealousy will
be permitted TO stand in the way, either as a
passive active obstacle to its success but tina.
all will Judge of it by its intrinsic merits, and
dea! with il accordingly.
The project was conceived by some Of the earl.
lest and most distinguished American statesmen:
and moreover, is locally auspicated by some OF
the most eminent OF Illinois sons. Among thu
latter may particularly mention the late Dan.
el 2. Cook, who, when a representa- in con.
gresS from this state, procured the passage Of an
act appropriating a large and valuable quantity
of the national domain in aid of the construction
OF the Illinois & Michigan canal
A committee of the house of representatives. in
congress, reporting upon the subject, in 1915,
says: ITO commend such project to public ia.
vor it would seem to be enough to state in gen.
eral terms, that its object is to add link which
will complete great central chain of inland
navigation, connecting the northwestern lakes
with the Gull OF Mexico on the south, aud the
Gulf OF St. Lawrence On the north thus contri.
buting in various ways to facilitate commerce
and travel to harmonic public sentiment and
TO strengthen the ties which bind the states to.
gether as political union
With a view, in part, TO the same results JEFF.
terson framed, and the congress of the old COZ.
federation enacted, the memorable ordinance of
1877, which declares, among other things, it to be
forever binding ION the original states and the
people and states in said territory" that "the
navigable waters leading in o the Mississippi and
st. Lawrence, and the carrying places between
the same, shall be common highways and forever
free, as we'll to the inhabitants of said territory
as to the citizens OF the United States and those
OF any other states that may be admitted into
the confederacy, without any tax, import or
duty therefor"
With the SINE view the war department. az
early as 1877, caused Major Stephen H. Long to
make survey for the purpose of ascertalning
whether it was practicable TO connect the waters
of Lake Michigan and the Mississippi river by
an adequate and reliable channel of navigation.
and to report his opinion upon the same. He
made report recommending the entire feasible
ity Of the project.
Messrs. Phillips and Graham, two intelligent
citizens and functionaries of Illinois also en-.
dorsed lis feasibility In an official correspondence
in 1919, with John c. Calhoun. then secretary of
war, who, afterwards, in the same year, in the
course Of comprehensive and able official report,
pro ecting system of roads and canals for mill
tary and either purposes, said : "If we add road
from Detroit to Ohio, which has already been
commenced, aud canal from the Illinois river
to Lake Michigan, which the growing population
of the state renders very important, puch would
be effected towards providing the facilities
whereby to carry on military operations in time
Of war. and the transportation of the munitions
of war for the western portions of our northern
frontier.
In 1927 congress made the donation OF lands,
already mentioned, in aid Of the Illinois 4 Micri.
gan canal
In lS44, the house committee, taking up the
subject again, as above mentioned, elaborated it
in its commercial and military aspects, They
argue that it is both local and national in its
character. Describing the lake region, they say
ut is vast in extent, fertile, healthy and dlstn.
guished for its diversified capabilities to support
a rich and increasing commerce." that "the ra-
pidity of its increase of trade and population is
without parallel in the experience of commune
ties They recall the fact that in 1917, pro-
vious to the navigation of the Mississippi BY
steam power, the whole tonnage of its valley was
estimated at 65OO tons, consisting Of thirty bar.
yes and 100 keelbouts: whereas, the waters of
the same valley, in 1915 were navgated by some
400 steamers, carrying about 10000 tons, valued
ut SI,OOn0U0; exclusively of 100000 tons, being
the capacity of 1000 fiat boats then annually
descending the Mississippi and its tributaries.
They also recall the fact that in 1919 there was
but one steamer on the lakes that the first
steamboat that ever navigatsd Lake Michigan
was in 1927, and that it was not until the Black
Hawk war, in 1882 that one reached Ch;cayo