The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-11-18
THE HENNEPIN CANAL.


duty was assigned have completed their
survey OF the Hennepin canal and are now
engaged 10 making their estimates OF its
cost, and preparing their report for sub
mission to congress in December. They
A.yo made very importan. changes IN the
route heretofore PROPOSED for the canal,
shortening 1t by over thirty miles. Mr..
HaaH thus writes to the Inter Ocean on the
subject:
The route adopted begins mile or more
above Hennepin, and thereby saves some
thing like two miles IN the distance to Chi.
|caso, very much, OF course, to the disgust
Of that town, bat also very much TO the ad
vantage of all shippers to Chicago by a
saving of distance. On the western end OF
TIE route the engineer, Dir. Herr, has etiec-
led q saving Of over thirty miles by mol go
ang VIA Rock Island The sct requiring
h'm 10 locate at or near Hennepin, and at
or above Rock Island. Since this canal is
for the great Northwest" Il is the proper
cling 10 accuuiu,vuo.o that same North
wca'. pad tho
ADVANTAGES OF THE ROUTE
chosen over the route via Rock Island
we're too numerous and too weighty TO be
overlooked, and II Is quite as easy and as
desirable that Rock Island should freight
by the Mississippi up the canal, as that the
whole Northwest should he compelled to
go around, via Rock Island, so much fur
thor.
Again, by adopting more noftherly
route, there Is saving Of three locks at
10000 each, aud, besides beirg more
level route, the material viii make much
better canal, as 1t has a continuous strata
of clay, while tho route down Green River,
via Geneseo and Rock Island, 10 through
miles OF shifting sand, where the entire
canal must be built Of stone and cement,
and the whole way Golfer damned TO build
II, or eliza, as neighboring farmer put II,
"if tley 20 Gown lower Green River they
will have to clean out the canal every
merning to let the boats pass."
Besides oil this the route chosen has no
rock excavation whatever, while d Rock
Island IL ID al rock, and the wSy into The
Mississippi isthrough the rapids. with 81
TO feet OF water only during good part
Of the busiest season Of the year, while the
canal, It is understood, IL 10 draw seven
feet of wstcr,fy Eiu lIQ.fB
The route chosen al q above New AL.
bany--somewhere near the HeridOcia
full seven feet Of water at
al tunes OF Vhe year. M GA kssA fsTs|
Again, spotheA IadysnA u gained Is in|
avoiding tie Rock Island fsilHJat BY the
route adop ted there will ba but one croSs-
Ing, as against at least four crossings the
''hor way; and besides sii the advantages
named the route chosen il through COM
paratlyc.y poor country.
AVOIDING VALUABLE FARMING LANDS
tor the most part, seeking not only a better
material for the bed of the canal, but also
will cost but trifle az compared with the
way via Rock Island. #....
These considerations are commended to
the thoughtful at Chicago. Rock Island
will kick. SO will Davenport and Moline.
If Chicago knows her own interests and
welfare she will not only advocate the
short route and the cheap route, too, and
provide men and money to properly show
1t up, but she will see TO 1t that this canal
is dug, even though she alone has to do II,
and she will attend to her delegation in
Congress now at the present session and
see to 1t that no considerations Of relation
ship or money shall induce any one Of that
delegation to advocate an undesirable
route IA against the one practicable way.
We shall await the report OF the engineer
with much interest The chief, Mr.. Herr.
and his party, have one and all been most
faithful In this labor and deserve the COM
Rendation Of all, especially Tor having, IN
the progress of their labors, avoided the
small, one horse politicians that Incumber
the ground from Geneseo to Rock Island ;
and, by the way, Mr. Editor, will not Chi
cago heed the advice Of that New York
correspondent who said: "Chicago will
perhaps learn that if she ever gets the Hen
nepln canal ii will be necessary for her to
send men of known standing and eharsc-
ter
TO ADVOCATE THE ENTERPRISE AT WASH
INGToN.
Beginning at the head Of their so-called
board they have comparatively obscure
individual for President A man OF no
public reputation whatever, and man of
no following even in his own locality,
Geneseo.
Head up and brace up with strong men.
II you expect TO succeed don't pick men OF
doubtful standing or Of odious antecedents
in their own localities.
III. III. HAAFF.