The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-01-25
CONGRESSIONAL.

The Credit Mobilier investigation still
goes on in Congress without adding much
that is of interest to what has already been
published. Mr. Alcorn presented a bill in
the Senate on Tuesday, proposing an ap-
preparation of $50, 0O0 600 for constructing
levees on the Mississippi, for the reclama-
ton of 90, 600, 900 acres of waste land, en-
bracng 1000, 600 acres of corn land of un-
surpassed fertility, 100000 adapted to
sugar and 100000 of the best cotton land
in the world.
Other gigantic projects of internal i'm
provement are reported in progress and
soon to be presented to Congress. The
three first in Importance is the Niagara Ship
Canal bill, the James river and Kanawha
Canal bill, and the bill for canal to con-
meet the waters of the tennessee and
Savannah rivers by way of the Coosa river,
in Georgia.
The Niagara bill provides that the Gov
eminent shall construct a canal around the
Falls by direct appropriation from the
Treasury, and that no tolls shall be levied
upon vessels, except such as may be neces-
sary to pay the operating expenses and
keep the canal in good order. The esti-
mated cost of this work is 81, 100000.
The James river and Kanawha Canal bill
creates Board of Commissioners-one to
be appointed by the President, and one by
- A. 80
DIS, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio,
West Virginia, and Maryland, who are to
construct and control a canal from Rich
mond to the Ohio river by the way of the
James, Jackson, Greenbrier, New, and
Kanawha rivers.
Government aid is to furnished to the
extent of IS, 600, 900 in bonds.
The third bill proposes similar Govern
ment loan for the construction Of the At
lantic and Great Western Canal, to con-
meet the waters of the Tennessee river with
those of the Savannah, and thus make a
great water highway, navigable for steam
boats from St. Louis and the North West,
to the Atlantic Ocean at Savannah. The
estimated cost of this work is $50, 900, 900
which it is proposed the Government shall
advance, controlling the canal by commits
sioners, and receiving the tolls until entire
" reimbursed for it's expenditure.
In addition to these gigantic schemes,
there are others of scarcely less magnitude.
There are two plans for connecting the
waters of Lake Michigan with those of the
Mississippi river-one by way of the Him
OILS river, and one by way Of the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers. Another projected en-
terprise is to make short route from New
Orleans to the Gulf, to avoid the bars at
the mouth of the Mississippi.
Money is said to be wanted for the Canal
around the falls of the Ohio; and there is a
project for making ship channel of the
Erie Canal, and another for cutting canal
across Florida.
A sharp investigation has been going on
for sometime in the case of Mr.. Caldwell,
Senator from Kansas, whose election it is
pretty clearly proven was obtained entirely
Dy DrlOefy. SIo,Oou are reported aS having
been spent by him to obtain the coveted
honor. In the investigation it was stated
that he said he would spend S250,00O if
necessary to secure his election. 1t is very
evident that Mr.. Caldwell has more money
than brains, and his choice was a very poor
acquisition to the country.
petition has been presented in the Sen
ate of Wendell Phillips and others praying
Congress to appoint commission to in
vestigate the liquor trade.
In the House bill repeating the Bank
rupt law was passed on Monday.
The war sloop bill and the measure abol-
ishlng the franking privileges, were both
passed by the Senate on Wednesday.