The Ottawa free trader., 1879-02-22
THE CANAL.


Innate enlargement OF the ILLINOIS, ana Ml'hl
\ can canal NEE, ut the Opera House at 2P. NJ
of Thursday, A. many It's 800 gentlemen
were present, including delegates from aImoN
Ill the counties located upon the canal an'
river from Chicago to Peoria, and members
Of the press all along the line,
ON motion of Mayor Lynch of Ottawa
Mayor Ellwood of Joliet was called To the
chair He returned thanks for the honor an'
said it was unfortunate that the western train
was delayed, but he hoped the delegates from
below would arrive in time Ia take part IN Tho
deliberations,
On motion of l.. b. Ray Of Grundy, VIM
Cullen, Of the Ottawa Rpujiirm, L. b
| Fletcher of the Morris HcyI'd, and r. G. os
man of the FREE TRADER, were made Sccrc'
taricS
On motion of the same, a committee of five
was appointed on resolutions. The chair ap
pointed L. B. Ray, Morris; y, Lynch, Otta
wa; W. T. Stackpole, Fairbury; Mr. CASTOR
Lacon, and Mr. Nabe~, LocKport, said com
mittcc
Mayor Ellwood said he desired to state tha,
the call of the convention had in view the
ultimate completion of cham Of water com
Imunication between the lakes and the MlSsis.
sippi This is therefore the object of the
meeting Conventions have been hcld in
cities along the canal and river, and they have
all united in looking TO this ultimate end; and
it is one Of the purposes OF tins convention To
cnunciatc with concerted voice plan to that
end We shall find opponents even IN oul
own counties; and there are those who look
upon this improvement simply aS local
matter SO long as il remains local QuCs
ton will we be unable To unite our forces &c
accomplish the work. OF the II delegates
from Illinois in congress only or are hear
uly in sympathy with this movement. We
must cement them into unit-makc them Il.
one man in demanding this Improvement
and when we shall make the people believe il
to be of national interest, and make them &c
see The good OF thu, improvement, 50 soon
shall we be able TO progress. II is necessary
that action should be taken towards di,posing
of the canal and we should ask the Legislature
to allow us to ccdc 1t under guarantees that
the general government will carry on the
work. And if sufficient guarantees are given
there is no doubt the people will ccde their
rghts-not that We may get rid of it, but that
il may be made grandcr than it is now. To
day we should state shortly and concscly ouI
wishes and our duty is done We don't come
here to impale the railroads or to try the canal
commissioners, but simply to ask for the com
pletlon OF this great Improvement
j. ;. Arm strong presented petition asking
the Legislature to mcmorialiZc congress to i'm
prove the canal and river Referred to com
mlttee on eso.utions.
.. b. Gallagher, Of Grundy, said he thought
the object Of the canal movement was as stated
by the chair. Still at present it was better to
confne our efforts ton single point which is
to save the present canal If we scatter our
fire we may lose what we most want. If
were working, he said, Tor the railroads |
should want this matter referred to congress
There the solution would require great length
of time III which my object would be accom-.
plished; and if congress should suspect we
could not keep the canal open it is hardly they
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