The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-12-27
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.


Uessrs Editors-W Would 1t not be good idea
to agitatc the improvement of the Illinois rivei
in connection with the enlargement Of the II
lnois IL Michigan canal in the columns of the
FREE TRADER, 1t does really seem t.
me that this allimportant link Of wa
ter communication, connecting the Father
Of Waters iNlississippD with the great
northern chain Of lakes, thus creating one OF
the longest nayigable inland routes IN the
world is worth millions In aCOmmcrcial point
Of view, to the inhabitants of the East, West
| North and South Of the United States, and OF
incstlmablc value to our government III time
of war. Nature has almost done the work, -
why then not ask congress TO complete it? In
fact it is the most feasible route; or, rather,
the only really practicable route connecting
the lakes with the Mississippi, for the water
Of Lake Michigan is already running down
the Illinois river INTO the Mississippi, with u
fall of l40 feet from Lake Michigan to low
water mark in the Illinois river at La Sale,
the terminus of the Illinois x Michigan canal
II congress would give Us as much rs it has
donated to Fox river IN Wisconsin-and
1t has scarce made a beginning thcre-towards
connecting the lakes with the Mississippi
(undcr which pretcxt the appropriations were
made--thc highest altitude between Fox and
Wisconsin rivers is 3l5 feet above Lake Mich
lgan) we would have an unobstructed Illinois
river, with our canal enlarged, so that river
steamers could pass readily through.
In the summer of 1867 Gen. j. L. Wilson
made personal survey OF this route, and IN
his report it is expressly stated, not only that
this Is the "most direct route that can be
found" but that it is the best" and the
" cheapest" And so must congress have I'M
derslood it, or it would never have made the
state Of Illinois four donations at four differ
cnt times tor this purpose. First in 1922, an
act was passed authorizing the state to survey
a route over government lands, and gave the
state 80 feet on either side; and, again, when
the line was established congress, in 1927, gave
the state every alternate section within five
miles of either side; and in 1912 there was a
grant of s, 760 acres in lieu of land sold by the
government within the limits OF the grant;
and IN 1854 congress made another grant, for
the same object amounting to over $4,000
acres.
Thus the government has at different times
by her acts acknowledged the importance of
his great information water communication,
and now shall we sit here idly and not make
IN effort to have congress help to enlarge and
make this route first-clats one? | tell you, |
while the waters are being troubled Is The |
line to make our wants known, or other |
places of vastly less importance will get the |
ions share, and we will be left out in the cold |
Why is it that Chicago does not move
n this mater--is she afraid of st. Louis
You will rccollect that she took no part in the
anal meetings held year ago, either here or
It Peoria; nor was she represented IN the
River improvement convention that was held
It Quincy Ill.,, IN October last Does she be-
ong to the railroads. In the Quincy con.
'cntion the following resolution was passed
With others, viz;
Rcsoiped, That the president of this conven-
ION select an executive committee Of nine to.
tcthcr with the president of this conventlon)
whose duty 1t shall bc to prepare u memorial
q congress- setting forth more IN detail the
'iews of this convention upon the subject of
he improvement of the channel of the Mssis-
lppi river and its navIgabe tributaries; to
all further conventions If they deem ii expe.
Ilent to do SO; TO collect and publish statistics
earring on the subject for the information of
he people and the government; and to use all
urher means to procure early and favorable
cton upon this subject by congress.
| received letter a few days ago from ex
iov. T.. o. Stansrd, of ST. LOUIS stating that
he above committee had been appointed, and
we're as follows: j. II. Davidson, ST. Paul;
i. Y. Johnson, Gaena, ILL.,; Charles Seymour, t
n Crosse; Il. f. Reno, Kcokuk j. A. Scad {
en- and John N. Boilingcr ST. LOUIS; =. f. |,
,ovington, Cincinnati; j. ii. Oglcsby, New =
orleans. | did hope that we would get a +,
nember of that committee from the Illinois
lver, but II seems that we are left out But +,
ill say that Mr. NJ. Y Johnson is a gentle. h
IAN Of fine talent and qualifications well y
daptcd to serve upon that committee, and any u
,atlstics that may be forwarded to him will
e freely presented in said memorial, rs he
Did me that he was in full sympathy with the b
Illinois river imI rovement Any communica. y
on that is to be made should be made imme \
lately, as Hon. Stanard wrote me that the n
were preparing the memorial and -
ould he glad 10 hear from those interested n,
ny time. hope that more able pen than a
ine will take hold OF this subject, l..
j. r. SHAVER.
In 1871, when Springfield asked the legisla. fl
ire to appropriate 100000 TO complete the n