The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-06-15
J. S. GILMORE.
THE CANAL.

The Cleveland Herald contains the fol-
lowing about the Hennepin Canal:
The Board of Trade on Friday discussed
the Hennepin Canal scheme. The -presi-
dent, D. Martin, introduced Major n. c..
Connolly, of Rock Island, who is in the
city in the interests of the canal. This
gentlemen stated that the plan was to build
canal from Hennepin, on the Illinois
river, to Rock Island or above, on the Mis-
sissippi, distance of sixty-fve miles 1t
has been estimated that this will cost 3d.
100000. He stated that bill in the
House of Representatives had been report
ed favorably by the Committee on Rail
ways and Canals. An effort had been
made last Monday to bring the matter up
our of its regular order, and lacked four
votes from being carried, the vote standing
1877 to SO. This, the speaker thought,
showed that the bill had merits.
Mr.. George II. Ely next addressed the
board. He believed the plan was a good
one. 1t would make competition with
the railroad companies for the transporta-
ton of grain from the Northwest, and thus
cheaper transportation. The lake traffic
would gain by this, as more would go by
way of the lakes to the sea than formerly.
The railroad companies have control of
the carrying trade now, and take good
care that they keep it on their lines to the
sea. Coal and iron could also be trans
ported to the Northwest cheaper Mr..
Ely offered the following preamble and
resolutions, and moved their adoption:
WHEREAS, A bill for the construction
been introduced into the House of Repre-
sentatives, referred to committee and
favorably report edupon, and
WHEREAS, The construction of the
work, estimated by Government engineers
to cost less than 30, 600, 900, will connect
directly the upper waters of the Mississippi
River system with the lake system and the
Erie Canal to the Atlantic seaboard, thus
securing to a very large agricultural area
OF the Northwest the great advantages of
unbroken water transportation eastward -
advantages which, owing to natural OBJ
structions, can never be fully secured to it
by either the Fox and Wisconsin river i'm
provement of the Illinois river
fCeSOtUed, mat TINS Board OF trade mere
by records its estimate of the great value
aid importance of this work, and in
the interest of cheap transportation
which can only be permanently secured
between the Northwest and the Atlantic
seaboard by the maintenance of direct and
perpetual competition between water and
rail carriage; and upon the ground, also,
of the national character of this work,
hereby urges the passage of the bill above
mentioned, providing for its construction.
RESOLVED, That a copy of this action
be forwarded to our representative, Hon.
Amos Townsend.
Mr.. George w Gardner seconded the
motion, and moved that the rules be sus-
pended, and the matter be voted ON with
out postponement
Mr.. A Wiener did not see ANYTHING to
oppose the project. but suggested that it
would be good idea to delay action for
few days, that the members may post
themselves in this matter and thus cast an
intelligent vote The rules were finally
suspended and action deferred until Sat
urday.
On Saturday the resolutions were lost by
vote of seven to eight.