The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-03-03
THE HENNEpIN CANAL.


has come up again for consideration in thu
present congress, and more active efforts
are being made now, 1t appears, than eve
before. II is proposed to connect the Mis-
sissippi with the waters of the great lake.
and thus with the Atlantic through the
eastern states. The New York people are
much interested in the scheme and particu
larry the New York board OF trade ano
transportation CHAIRMAN MILLER, OF the
committee on canal transportation, Tor the
above named board, addressed the house
committee on railways and canals in Wash
ington the other day in advocacy ofgovern-
mental action looking to the construction
of the Hennepin canal and after review OF
canal routes generally said in conclusion;
"As chairman of the committee on canals
of the New York board of trade and trans
portatiOn, have the honor to appear be
fore you TO advocate the construction by
the government of the projected llennepln
canal, connecting the great lakes with the
Mississippi river at maximum cost estl-
mated by the United States engineers, of
$5,0O0,0OO. The great advantages to be de-
rived by the country through the cOnstruc-
ton Of this comparatively short canal, is so
small an expenditure, it is so fully set forth
in the pamphlet and accompanying map
prepared by the Illinois & Missis-
sippi river and canal improvement commits
sion that it would be Il work of superero-
CATION on my part to further occupy your
time in rehearsing it. | will simply say
that the subject has been before the board
| represent several years, and has received
its careful consideration and unqualified in
dorsement. The board considers the work
entirely national in its character, and in no
sense local, and that the government emu
lating the spirit that characterized the
state OF New York in connecting the waters
OF the Atlantic ocean with the great west
ern lakes, should, in the interest of the COM
merce of the republic, continue the extern
sion by uniting the waters of Lake Michi-
gan with the Mississippi river, thereby Civ
ing continuous water navigation from the
Atlantic ocean, through the numerous
tributaries of that father of rivers, To
almost every state of the union"
Since the late growing disposition of the
grain trade to seek an outlet by water trans
portaton to Europe through the Mississippi
river and New Orleans the Hennepin canal
looms up as almost necessity to the cities
OF the eastern seabeard if they would retain
this tremendous item of commerce. II is
not sound ''old democratic doctrine in.
deed, that government should project and
itself construct such character of internal
improvements except for purely govern.
ment purposes, and while national bene.
Tits might cnsue largely, still it would be
principally the eastern seaports which
would fully enjoy the fruits of this
soughtior action on the part of the general
government, Mr.. Miller, it is true, insists
that the measure sis in no sense local, a." but
he must know full well that his people
alone, those OF New York, the middle
states and the northwest, could anticipate
nationally or ever utilize the supposed adj
vantagcs that would follow to commerce
within the republic. And on the Other
hand il is more than probable that if tn,
Henneipn canal scheme should receive tn,
support of members of the southwest ant
south, greaband irreparable injury might
be done our own now flourish
ing and gnlf ports, so rapidly
receiving recognition as shippin,
points with peculiar attractions and promis
ing futures. While, therefore, we are cx
tremely in doubt rs to the propriety an,
justice OF government interference in tn,
direction indicated, if canals must be bull
let us have them within our own unques
TONED domain rather than in-remotc quar-
tiers where, as indications now seem to point
the American flag aud the American
merchantmen and shipping would be scel
only at rate intervals. Boards of trade ar,
generally wide awake to their interests
but It is meet that government should b,
equally faithful to its legitimate function
only,