The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-17
Considerable Noise but nc
Blood, The River now Sep
arates the Belligerents.

The city meeting in the interest of
the Hennepin canal project was held last
evening in the parlors of the Harper
house. There were present from Daven
port, Messrs Edward Russell, secretary of
the Hennepin Canal Commission; George
H. Parker, d. n. RichKsson, NJ V. Gan
non, A. P McQuirk, Fricke and Williams.
From Moline. Chas. II Deere and F. o.
Dean. From Rock Island. ex>Mayor Hen
ry Carse, Col Curtis, Major Connolly, W
II. Lundy, J. r. Johnston, DIR. Stewart,
Capt T j. Robinson, Oliver Olsen, Ar
thur Burial. f. II. Guyer, ], F. Robin
son. DR.. Mckee, W. H. Gest, VIM Jack.
son, Major Beardsley, B. d. Buford, Nor
ris Rosenfield and others.
The meeting was opened by Secretary
Russell. who called the meeting to order,
saying that AS the duty devolved upon
some one and that as he had called the
meeting he felt it his duty to call the same
to order A motion was made that Capt.
T. J. Robinson act as chairman, and it
was unanimously carried. Mr.. E. Fl.
Guyer was made secretary by a unani-
nous vote. The chairman announced
that AS the meeting had heea organized
its object was open for discussion
Mr. Russell arose and said that at the
meeting of the commission in Chicago in
November, it had been resolved that at
tenti0n SHOULD now he given to congress
that new maps should be printed. as the
supply of the map called the Waterway
had been exhausted; that attention should
be given to the press of the country to do
its best efforts in behalf of the Hennepin
canal, butmOre particularly should efforts
be made to reach the members of congress
who were indifferent to the canal interests
The commission had been hanpered in its
efforts in this direction for some time on
account of lack of funds. Davenport
had recently raised the sum of 81, 800,
and Morris, H., had raised 800 for the
furtherance of this great project The
interests of the tri cities were the same and
there should be a concentrated effort
The large cities such as New York and
Chicago, had not done much in the mat
ter. Chicago. with three congressman
had not exerted any great amount of in
| flnence in behalf of the CANA. Therefore
this meeting was called for the purpose OF
| raising funds in the best manner the mem
bers might decide to advance the interests
| of the canal.
The chairman, Capt. Robinson, thought
the prospects today for the canal were
brighter than ever before. The question
now was how to keep this effort conCen,
trated so that the efforts in the future
would prove most beneficial. Mr.. J. l..
Swits, of Schenectady, n Y. formerly
of Davenport, and member of the Ten,
nepin canal commission, being present
was called upon. Mr.. Swits said he would
| try to make himself heard, though hi
was laboring under very severe cold
which caused him to be somewhat hOarse
New York, so far as he had been able tC
learn, was heartily in favor of the Hen
nepin canal, The people generally think il
desirable, and are in hopes that the great
waterway will be built. The speaker fell
happy over the interest taken in the mat
ter here The masses should be thor
Oughly educated in regard to this grea
project This could not be accomplished
in better manner than through the eff
forts of a central committee Of the Fri
cities This committee should seeurt
funds by subscription for the benefit o
the project, and work in harmony for th,
canal. The speaker hoped this would b.
done, Mr. Ficke, Of Davenport, stated tina
a committee in his city had raised 81, 30(
! for the canal interests. If Rock Island
Moline and Milan would join hands will
Davenport the latter would furnish sun
equal to that raised on this side of tn
river to be used for the canal benefit
Mr.. Oliver Olsen desired to ask som
questions relative to the career of tn
Hennepin canal bill in the first session 0
the present congress.
Mr.. Edward Russell replied by Stain!
that the appropriation of 5000, 600 ha,
been lost by majority of only As.
The opposition to the measure hat
come mainly from the east and the extrem
south. The vote was 102 for to IA
against, after passing the committee o
the whole. This appropriation bill wa
passed in the committee of the whole Of
one day and rushed into congress the mex
day. The main reason of its defeat wa
the fact Of being hurried. The rules 0
the house contemplate nothing in the riv
er and harbor bill, Gin which this appro
priation clause was incorporateO no
specifically sanctioned by congress
Therefore if the appropriation had passed
it would have established a dangerous
precedent.
However, the appropriation developer
remarkable strength which greatly en-
couraged its friends. tits now No. 20 o.
the calendar, and can be taken up on
suspension of the rules on the first or thir
Monday of the session. Capt. Robinso
thought it could be reached in the regula
course of business. Mr.. Russell though
not. Mr.. Robinson made a few remark