The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-11-13
THE HENNEP1N CANAL SURVEY.

| AS dt present. IHeTe are Dut lew SuU
| jects in which our people are as greatly
| interested, since election, as in that of the
| Hennepin canal, the ARGUS presents the
! following from the Inter Ocean of Satur
| day without comment, simply to warn the
people of the three cities and the contigu
Gus country, that if they would secure the
| western terminus they must be as ener-
getic and wide awake as their adversaries
To the Editor of the Inter ocean:
Probably by the time these lines reach
you MIR. Herr, the engineer-in- chief, will
have finished his survey and will have re-
turned to Chicago, and is likely now en-
gagged in the arduous labor of preparing a
report and estimate for congressional use
hereafter. The route adopted I under
stand, begins mile or more above Henne-
pin, and thereby saves something like two
miles in the distance to Chicago, very
much, of course, to the disgust of that
town, but also very much to the advan-
tage of all shippers to Chicago by a saving
of distance. On the western end of the
route the engineer, Mr. Herr, has effected
a saving of over thirty miles by not going
via Rock Island. The act requiring him
to locate at or near Hennepin, and at or
above Rock Island. Since this canal is
flor the great Northwest" it is the proper
thing to accommodate that same North
west and the
ADVANTAGES OF THE ROUTE
chosen over the route via Rock Island were
too numerous and too weighty to be over
looked, and it is quite as easy and as de-
sirable that Rock Island should freight by
the Mississippi up the canal. as that the
whole northwest should be compelled
to go around, via Rock Island, SO much
further.
Again, by adopting more northerly
route, there is saving of three locks at
$50, 900 each, and, besides being a more
level route, the material will make a much
better canal, as it has a continuous strata
of clay, while the route down Green river,
via Geneseo and Rock Island, is through
miles of shifting sand, where the entire
canal must be built of stone and cement
ana the whole way coffer-dammed to build
it, or else, as neighboring farmer put it,
eff they go down Green river they viii
have to clean out the canal every morning
to let the boats pass"
Besides all this the route chosen has no
rock excavation whatever, while at Rock
Island it is all rock, and the way into the
is through the rapids, with 81
to feet of water only during a. good part
OF the busiest season of the year. while the
canal, it is understood, is to draw feet of
water.
The route chosen at or above New Alba
ny-somewhere near the Meridocia slough
gives full seven feet of water at all times
of the year.
Again, another advantage gained is in
avoiding the Rock Island railroad. By the
route adopted there will be but one cross
inc CT +l,,
other way; and besides all the advantages
the route chosen is through com
paratively poor country,
AVOIDING VALUABLE FARMING LANDS
for the most part, seeking not only a bet |
ter material for the bed of the canal, but
also choosing route the right of way of |
which will cost but trlfie as compared |
with the route via Rock Island
These considerations are commended to |
the thoughtful at Chicago. Rock Island |
will kick. So will Davenport and Moline |
Ii Chicago knows her own interests and |
welfare she viii not only advocate the |
short route and the cheap route. too, and |
provide men and money to properly show |
t up, but she will see to it that this canal |
S dug even though she alone has to do it, |
and she will attend to her delegation |
n congress now at the present SEES
slOu, anu see TO ID mat no con- /
siderations of relationship Or money shall |
induce any one of that delegation to ad- |
vocate an undesirable route as against the |
one practicable way. We shall await the
report of the engineer with much interest
The chief, Mr. Herr, and his purity have
0ne and all been most faithful in this la
Dor and deserve the commentator of all. |
for having in the progress of |
.heir labors, avoided the small, one horse |
politicians that incumber the ground from
5eneseo to Rock Island; and, by the way,
Mr.. Editor will not Chicago heed the adj
vice of that New York correspondent who |
'aid: Chicago will perhaps learn that if
he ever gets the Hennepin canal it will be
necessary for her to send men of known
standing and character to advocate the en-
erprise at Washington"
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
10 following even in his own locality,
4eneseo.
Head up and brace up with strong men
t you expect to succeed don't pick men of
doubtful standing or of odious antecedents
n their own localities.
FL. III. HAAFF.