, 1874-04-18
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS IN ILLINOIS.

10 the Editor At The Chicago Tribune:
SIN: ln The Tribune Of the 18th inat., Mr..
q. Eastman, under the caption OF ~ Internal Im-
provomonts," writes worry glibly on tho subject,
aud with his pen so "sharp aet" tLat lo has
stated several attors as truths in rotation to tho
subject ii this State, which arc not exactly rs
he auppo8os. I do not intend to comment upcn
tho general character of hia article, which is, in
many respects, obnoxious to criticism; but +
ehnll conAno mysolt to What is in 1t relating to
this State.
think It will bo found, on examination, that
tho project Of constructing tho Illinois l. Micli-
gan Canal was first called to public attention by
Mr. Calhoun, in 1910, who, iu his report to Con-
gross,-ho being then Secretary Of War,-al-
vlsed that body to make grant Of land to aid
In Its construction, which was donc. Therd was
no aclomlng connected with the grant Of land
rs tho result shows. Tho project was tho con.
co7tton Of statesman who. believe. neyo1
was iu tho Stato.
Tho canal was not In my wise, dependent
upon. nor connected with. tie general system OF
railroads projected by tho bill upon which A1r.
Eastman comments Tho canal was dtsconnect-
cd from thom BY much effort on tho part OF in
t|lviduals who foroHaw Tint Tho railroads could
not bo completed for q lang ti;no, II oyor. Tho
canal had its land-grant us 4 bass for tho cnBt
Of its construction; whtIe tho railroads could
oL4f uo uu4t by t4aoAoJ bo!Aonots w st+ons loA
which tho Legislature would not provide lnoaua
either for their redemption or tho payment OF
interest accruinS upon tho1n.
THO goneral Byston, OF railways. as proposed
by the bill OF 1896, WAS wild one. It bears OIL
its face tho marks Of logrolling. X hlr. Eaatman
will more carefully atudy tho law, he will nee
that ho l,aa falon futo many 1n!stakes in refer
enco to the extent of 1t and itB requirements.
Tho Construction Commissioners, Us llo catlB
them, Ind not tho authority to oxpeud tho
money intrl1Btod to thom OH any one Of tho pub
lio works placed undor their management. but
woro compelled by the laws to bxpond it by bo-
ginning work at oil tho principal towns, rivera,
etc., namod in tho bill, mud work each way from
tloln. Tho Construction Commissioners often
spoke an1 ronortea against this policy. With
them 1t WIS not no much ulattor OF ques10n as
to how thu money should best b0 spent, as it was
Of authority. 1Ionoo tho ftitolles and wastod
expenditure OF which h1r Eastlnnu 10 properly
complains; but he Is not ontttlod to pstone for
the discovery.
Neither Nlr. William B. ogdon, J.Y. soammon,
nor Mr. j. II. Colits had anything to do with
''ongineorlng" tho special charter Tor the Gnlon.
4 Chicago Union 1lallroad through tho Logisla-
tllro; nor 10 belioyo they had any knowledge
whnteyor that Bn1h 4 ohaltor vas thought Ut,
until aftor 1t Ind beon granted.
If Dir. Eastman will examine tlle bue-ooyored
book which contains tho "IntorHal Improve.
mont laws with such care aa would DO nroDcr
III ono WHO attomptA to enlig|lton the publio
In mattora OF history, I think te will tud
tint $500, 900 waH to DO divided among Huch
''nnfortunata p" counties az would not have
railroad ar other Improvement within lhor bor-
dera, and that that sum Vas not to bo given ia
each OF auoh counties. IKoa1A.