The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-05-28
ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL.
Remarks 0f Hon. S.eOrge ~. Davis,
Of Illinois, i'm the National s1Ousc Of
Representatives.

Representatives.
Mr.. Davis spoke 10 this effect on the follow
ing resolution with view to the improve
ment of the water communication between the
Nj ssssppi river and Lake Michigan by the Hi
nois river, Illinois and Michigan canal and
Chicago river,
''Be IL resOlred by tie House Of representa-
tees one Senate cOnc,y7ing). That committee,
consisting of two Senators and three members
of the House. be appointed, authorized and
empowered to ascertain upon what terms the
State of Illinois will relinquish and transfer to
the United States all and singular its property
and rights of property in and to the line of
water communication known as the Illinois and
Michigan canal between Chicago, ILL.,. and the
Illinois river, nj La Sale ILL.,, including It's
locks and dams, canal franchises and rights of
way or so much of the same az shall in the
Judgment of the said committee be needed for
such purpose and report its findings To this
Congress on or before the LIST day OF February,
1881"
The importance of a ship canal or deep-water
navigation connecting the st. Lawrence and the
lake system with that of the Mississippi and the
gulf, by direct practical and feasible route,
received early consideration by the National
Government, and It's construction has been
hopefully looked for by the Government and by
the people residing IN the great Mississippi val
ley for more than half century,
After decades of investigation, of surveys,
and OF experiments, ii is clearly demonstrable
ana Is so found by our most experienced en-
gineers that the only practicable and feasible
route for deep-watcr communication between
the lakes and the gulf is by the route indicated
III the preamble of this resolution.
The French traders. with limited portage,
passed their boats by this route from the north
ern lakes 10 the gulf more than 300 years ago.
Ii is altogether probable that formerly in
centuries past. the waters of the northern lakes
had natural outlet to the gulf 10y this routc.
Iln.al Co..
tentlon, and the importance Of route of this
character for military purposes was urged upon
the National Government as early ms 1912. and
II formed an important topic in the message of
the President OF the United States TO Congress
in 1914. At this early date ii was reported upon
10y select committee of Congress as the
great work of the age for military and CONNER
cla purposes.
During the session of Congress in 1917 this
subject reported upon to Congress by an
eminent engineer (who had under authority
made a careful examination, as follows:
- That Il canal uniting the waters of the Hi
nois river with those of Lake Michigan may be
considered the first in importance of any III
this section of the country, and the cOnstluc-
ton would be attended with very little eX-
pense compared with the magnitude of the OBJ
ject.
Mr.. Calhoun, Secretary of War. III 1919
called the attention of Congress to tins mn
provcmcnt on account OF its great Importance
for military purposes.
1t is seen that from the earliest days of the
republic the Importance of this connecting link.
uniting the st. Lawrence and the lake system
with that of the Mississippi and gulf, has been
regarded rs of great consequence. national IN
its character, and urgently required for both
commercial prosperity and national defense.
The State of Illinois Immediately subsequent
to admission into the Union, mindful OF the
great benefits To DC secured from IA route OF this
character, urged upon Congress through her
representatives the necessity Tor action. ana
during the year 1922 Congress granted to the
State the right to lay ont and survey through
the public lands route for a canal.
In 1927 Congress, by act of March 2. gave To
the State TO ala in the construction OF the canal.
alternate sections OF land on either side for five
miles. its entire length, winch were sub6equcht-
" ascortained TO contain 200, 9l5 acres.
Upon securing the right Of way granted III
the act of 1922. and the subsequent donation
of land under act of 1927. the state under
took the enterprise of constructing Il canal. IL
was not until 1886 that arrangements were per-
fcctcd and the necessary mems provided for
vigorous prosecution of the work. From this
time forward for period of twelve years the
Improvement, despite political controversies,
. was pushed forward by the State with great
energy. SulmOunting ana overcoming all OBJ
stacles. furnishing the required means secured
by the issue of bonds pledging the credit and
faith Of the State and 10y the sale of lands, I'M
til finally. i'll 1913, the stupendous work to be
undertaken by a State SO young and OF 80 hnl-
tied population was completed, and it stands
to-day rs monument to the industry, patience
and characteristic pluck OF her citizens
Ii was not contemplated ~ originally de-
signed. or a. a ship-canGl, but for II short dis
lance the original plan changed from
deep to a snallow-cut plan, the ddtum-llnc on
the summit being twelve feet above the level OF
Lake Michigan. On this level from Chicago to
Lockport the water was supplied by pumping
from the Chicago river.
This level was cut down under authority of an
act of the Legislature of 1868, supplemented 10y
the act of 1867. which gave 10 the city OF Chi
cagO the right TO deepen tnat portion of the
canal known as the summit level. and tins work
was completed at All expense of nearly s3,O0O,-
600 during The ycIr 1870. The state subsc-
quenty assumed TINS charge and paid this
Indebtedness, relieving thc canal of all liens
upon its income.
The canal is nincty-sX and Il half miles long
surface width. sixty feet six feet III depth, and
has seventeen locks. 1t connects at LA Sale,
ILL.,, directly with the Illinois river, and Is
open on an average eight months of the year.
The aggregate cost of the Improvement to date
of opening in 1913 was So. 400 500 the APP
praised value of the land granted by the Govern
ment at the time of grant was :s2,l26,355, but
the state realized n kindergarten sum.
/ The canal and the lands granted by the Gov
eminent were by an act OF The Legislature
placed in the hands of Board OF Trustees, and
/ this board III August. 1871 after serving a
period of twenty-five years. turned over the
canal to the State with the original cost, inter-
est. and entire debt tinciuding subsequent inn
provcments made by them paid with surplus
of go. 900.
The improvement by deepening the summit
level by the city of Chicago was ut an eXpend-
iture of nearly -. 000. 900, and the subsequent
permanent improvements aggregate Il cost of
something like >3.000.O00 in addition, making
tho cost of the canal aggregate some 9l2.000,-
O0O The tolls collected upon this canal from
date of opening in 1S4S to the close of last sea
son amounted to the sum of c5,5i2, 74S. The
ordinary expenses and repairs during the same
period amount to the sum of 7l,373, 1897.
The receipts and shipments at Chicago by
this route for 1879 were az follows: 1854. 359
bushels of grain, 40G6S,000 feet of lumber,
! 22. S91 900 shingles 1866 barrels flour. salt,
etc. 43, 200 cubic yards Of stone, and 200. 900
tons of miscellaneous freight. Though com
pleted. IA / have shown, it only answers III
certain measure the immediate wants of the
people. providing cheap and easy transporta-
ton for the products of the surrounding coun-
try and limited through traffic from Chicago to
the Mississippi and vice versa yet the question
of the enlargement of the canal to the dimen-
4 IL. 4.