, 1875-04-02

by repetition Of tho libols in moro scnntla-
lous antl aggravated form.
....---..-.--
THE CopPEHAs CREEK DAM AND LOCK.
Tho defeat Of tho appropriation Of :570,UU0
for the completion Of the lock- anl dam ut
Copperas Creek il Just ono of those stupid
nets which Legislative bodies sometimes co.n-
init, md the like OF which my member would
DO ashamed If committed in his private lusi-
ness. The whole cost of tho Coppcras Creek
liam will not exceed :ae3,OOo. Of this sum,
in nldition to fiji expenditure by tho United
States and the receipts Of the canal. the
State Is only asked to contribute $4,000. If
TINT sum Ind been appropriated, the work
would be completed by Jan. /, 1876. Tho
failure to appropriate that sum will compel
| tho suspension of tho work for year, or
perhaps two years, leaving tho unfinished
structure exposed to lamngo md injury. In
order 10 protect it in its unfinished
state. tho Commissioners will havo to
rxpcud SIC, COO OR $4,000 ont Of the means
at their command. This ss1m is ut the ratc
Of 15 per cent on the sum needed. That
mich money having been expended for the
protection Of the work againRt tho elements
Hoods md ice-instead Of being expended
on tho WORK 1t self, will increase the deficiency,
aud must bo made good out of the revenues.
It is IN Get mi wnste Of TINT much money.
aud IN incrc tse Of tile ultimate cost of the
work in that sum.
The earnings of the lock when completed
will exceed 4,oo0 year, md tho postpone
ment Of tho work two years will be loss Of
revenue ut that lock Of $4,000. Tho COM
plotion of the Copperas Creek lock will at1d
to the earnings Of the lock at Horny aud on
the canal $4,000 to $50, 600 n year, and tho
postponemcnt Of tho work will be an imme-
1iato loss to tho same amount.
At present, the navigation Of the caunl Is
extended to peoria by tho river only during
the few weeks OF high water in tho spring.
Since tho deepening of the caual, tie capac-
.ity Of the boats is onlargcl. Thus, n boat
con carry in feet inches OF wator one
third moro weight than 1t can in 1 feet Of
water; and hence, with the deeper water,
the boats carry not only increased values OF
freight, but their profits arc increased, and
the canal revenues cn1argcd. Tho compile
ton Of tho lock and dan, at Copper.s Crock
would give co additional miles Of deep water
in tho river. This will furnish continuous
deep water to Peoria, tho second city in tho
State in commerce and population, during
eight months in the year, Instead Of tie Fifty
or sixty days of high water M ut present.
This lock anl dun will givo continuous deep
water navigation through tho whole soason to
tho Cities ct Lacon, Peoria, and pckin, and
to Chilllcothe and mnny other towns, and ex-
tond its advantages to Ill the country tributa-
| ry to these places. A look at tho map ex-
poses tho fact That tho completion OF tho
Copperas Creek dam nnl lock will furnish
deep-water navigation to the exports aud i'm
ports Of tho Counties OF 1Iarsl!all, Stark,
peorin, Woodfort, Tazowell, Fulton, and
considerable part of Mason,-chearoniug
their cost of transportation, increasing thoir
profits, decreasing their expenses, mud add
| ing to the taxable value OF their property,
mud consequently to the State royonuos.
Tho refusal to appropriate this SIC, 1000 to
complete this work iu 1876 Ia rs stupid and
foolish az for man to build costly house
md 1envo It without roof, doors, or windows
for couple Of years., 10 DO injured aud dam
aged, instead Of completing 1t, and receiving
tho rental upon tho money invested.
At Kingston, on the Illinois River, ucro
arc largo coal mines having m abundance OF
good coal. Kingston III between Peoria md
Coppcras Greek; but, for the want Of tlia
dam and lock, it might almost as woll be In
Now Moxico or Canada. Except during tho
few weeks Of high water, boating.is cut OF.