, 1873-04-10

mnnu, HUI WeIe S1uubol3 MILL o&saoc 0S ~~'ooOS
$40 for poor to choice. There was fair de-
rnand tor beef cnttlo at unchanged prices.
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j.. ILLINOIS RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
The House of Representatives of the Illinois
Legislature haa voted against making an ap2ro-
priation out Of tho State Treasury for the con-
struction OF q second dam On the Illinois River.
This action is to be regretted. The Illinois d
Michigan Canal Was designed to establish con-
tinuous navigation from the Mississippi River to
Like Michigan. In course Of time, tho river
ceased to be na7igable to the foot Of the canal
during the greater part Of the season, thereby
cutting of large portion OF the business Of the
canal This condition Of things grewworse from
year to year, until it became question whether
the ce1lal should be abandoned OF tho river
so improved that it's navigation could bo united
with that Of the canal. In the meantime the
State was paying of the canal debt, and obtain
ing its 1elease from the foreign bond-ho1dors.
Tho Legislature finally appropriated $4,000 to
build a dam on the Illinois River at Henry, and
the work Inns been completed honestly and eco
uomically, under the direction Of the Commits
sioners in whose hands the canal has boen since
it's surrender to the State. The construction OF
this dam had an immediate effect On the nayiga-
tion Of the river and the business Of tho canal.
It was practical extension Of the canal, secur-
ing to it continuous navigation to
Peoria There is now needed, as has
been known from the first, another dam
at Copperas Creek, which, il con-
structed, would extend the business Of the canal
at all Seasons to the mouth Of the river, and
would secure steamboat navigation at all seasons
up to junction with thecan One branch OF the
Legislaturehas refused tomake the appropriations
needed for this purpose, and tho friends Of the
work hive now proposed bill appropriating the
surplus earnings Of the canal for this purpose.
Even this is strenuously opposed, some gontlo-
men declaring that it is prohibited by tho Consti
tuition. The constitutional provision on this sub
ject reads thus: -.. >
Tho Illinois Michigan Canal shan never be sold or
leased until the specific proposition for the sale or
lease thereof shall first have been submitted to vote
Of the people Of the stato at general election, and
have been approved by a majority Of all tho votes
polled at such election. The General Assembly shall
loan the credit OF tho State, make appropria
lions from the Treasury thereof in aidof railroads
canals: Provided, that any surplus earnings Of any
canal may ba appropriated for its enlargement
Tension.
: Some OF those who opposed the appropriation
of $500, 900 from the Treasury to build the dam
insisted that it Was t'in aid" Of canal, and
therefore unconstitutional and the Same per-
SONS now insist that The appropriation Of the
surplus earnings of the canal is for improving
the navigation Of the ,iuer, and is therefore un-
constitutional !! :. The canal, to be Of any value,
must connect with q through water route. Just
at the season when canal business is at its
height the river is too low for business, ,-nasiga-
ton On the river ceasing few years ago as early
as June. ANY improvement Of the river,
butespecially by locks and dams is aa clearly an
extension Of the canal as il it were dug out for
that purpose. It is, however, not the less an inn
| proyement Of the river. The dams at oopperaa
Creek and at Henry are Indispensable to the
navigation Of the river, and there is no more
constitutional difficulty in appropriating money
for that purpose than there is to appropriate
money for any purpose not prohibited by the
| Constitution, But it the river be not made nav
igable, then to extend the canal navigation
by the construction Of locks md dams, at
such points as may be- necessary to ena-
ble boats to proceed x down the river,
and coming up to reach the canal,
is an extension Of the canal, and an appropria-
tion for that purpose of the surplus earnings Of
| the canal is entirely legitimate, and authorized
by The letter as well as spirit Of tho Constitu-
ton. The Legislature might, indeed, go fur
ther, and NIGH. appropriate whateyor sum was
needed to construct this dam, and provide that
it bo replaced in the Treasury rs fast rs received
from the surplus earnings OF the canal.
Up to the 90th OF November, 1872. the surplus
canal revenue then in the Treasury was 9259, 1000,
and WAS used to discharge the lien of the City
Of Chicago on the canal, and the Au-
| ditor estimates the receipts for 1873 at
| SITE, 600. The Legislature might anticipate
tho revenue for this and future years,
and appropriate it for the dam,-tho revenue rs
collected being palc into tho Treasury. It
seems to u.s. however, that if the Legislature
appropriate the surplus revenue for tie dam, to
bo paid out as it is collected, it would DO suf6-
'cient,, to pay the cost OF the work as it pro-
| greeses. e =: ::::~ -.
The propriety Of making this dam at Copporas
Creek .! is SO obvious that we cannot believe tho
7erig afnre 1xif, dicnrn .o;tbn,,4 rnol,;rx ,-o
vision for it in some way. That dam will secure
continuous navigation on the canal and river
It may be that some years hence smother dam
further down will bo required; but this may not
be. for many years, and in tho. meantime the
canal will have refunded the State all it's ex-
penditures for work done on the proposed extern
sion. Let us have the appropriation for this
work now, unless the canal is to be left with one
end blocked up.
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f6E CREDIT EoBn1ER SYSTEM OF RAIL-