The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-09-03
THE HENNEPIN CANAL.
Speech of Hon. W. ii. Niece in its Fa.
vOr on Monday, June 9Th.


nepin canal while in congress, and they
have been especially positive that he
maze no speech on the subject. In case
the persons circulating this story are not
aware that they are making false utter
auces, we will correct them so that they
will be better able 10 talk intelligently on
the subject, by republishing Mr. Neeces
speech in favor of the canal, which was
delivered on June 9th, and published in the
ARGUS soon after. Here it is:
The house being in committee of the
whole house on the state of the union,
and having under consideration the bill
III. r. 7012) making appropriations for
the construction, repair and preservation
of certain public works on rivers and har'
bors, and for other purposes
Mr.. Niece said:
Mr.. Chairman: did not expect to say
word in reference to this, and should
not now detain the committee but for the
remarks of the gentleman from New York
[Mr. Potter with reference to the Hem
nepin canal project embraced in this bill.
| Now, sir. this is no new project. 1t is
one that has been discussed for many
years in the northwest; and the mistake
of the gentleman from New York is that
he seems to regard this as manner sole
| " interesting to the people of Illinois.
| Now, gentlemen of the committee, per
nit me to say that this is grand mistake.
If you will only examine the map and see
the territory interested in this canal you
will see that Wisconsin, Michigan, Mime
soto, Iowa, and in fact the entire north
West-every northwestern state and terri>
tory-have the same interest in the canal
that Illinois has. 1t is true Illinois has a
great interest in this enterprise, but Mr..
Chairman, it seems to me quite strange
that opposition should come from New
York 1t does seem to me that the eastern
states have, or ought to have, the same
interest in the Heunepin canal that llli>
nois has.
The gentleman from New York Mr.
Potter, saws it is an improvement wholly
within the state of Illinois, and therefore
it ought to be built by that state. The
gentleman certainly will not claim that a
project that connects the waters of the
Mississippi with the great lakes of the
northwest is matter that only effects The
state where it happens that the work has
to be done Certainly every state in the
union has an interest IN the improvement
of the Mississippi. Millions of money
have been spent by this governmcst tC
improve the Mississippi. This has beer
done to extend and to facilitate the com
merce of the entire United States. 1t is
2 no longer question as to the right OF
S congress to improve the Mississippi
Now, here is proposition not only tt
improve the Mississippi, to extend he!
commercial benefit into the-great lakes o
: the north and east, and to give us an out
e let for our commerce by water Transports
ton to the sea, but the benefits and adyan
tages arising from this project will bt
realized as much or more IN the state o
i New York, with her canals and grea
: commercial cities, as any other state il
I this union We are all inclined to TAX
too narrow veiw of Improvements o
= this kind. Some men can not see tn
n advantage of any improvement except
o be a line of railroad leading to his city
without even providing an outlet for it
usefulness; while others veiw it as an en-
terprise in opposition to railroad trans
portation.
J. In my judgement its effect will not b
to destroy or ipiure railroad transporta
ton: it will have effect to prevent extor
e ton, which is proper and right. But thu
= great effect of the Hennepin canal will b
is to develop the resources of the west an
, northwest, and TO greatly increase on
commerce, which will result in beneti
> to the railroad interests the same as
a will to any other legitimate business.
Is is time railroad interest in the lutte
y States began to see the great importanc
of cheapening transportation and extend
u ing the commence of this country OF thei
e own advantage and 10 maintain their ow
- existence. Look ut the grand opportun
10 tiles the railroads leading from the cas-
to the the west have lost by the suicidf
'o policy of this government in eXcludin
T, trade and commerce of foreign nation
l. with this country in her socalled protect
d tive policy. In twenty years we hav
succeeded in destroying our commerC
} with foreign nations and in driving on
g own merchant marine from the high sea!
D, Our unfriendly laws and hungering fo
/ bread have induced foreign nations
look to other countries for the bread
- India instead of the United States is ful
; nishing England with bread, to the gref
k injury Of railroads, farmers, laborers an
" to the prosperity of the United State
- Look, if you will, TO the price of whei
in Chicago; in the last three months it hs
III reached a lower point than at any tim
BIT within the past twenty years. Foreigne
in have withdrawn from our markets an
h gone where trade is not hampered. 4
to the terminus of the Hennepin canal {
/ Rock Island, there are the three cities I
Rock Island, Moline and Davenpor
aggregating $1,000 inhabitants, Wi
~ their varied manufactures and industrie
Without Boosting, will say for prosper
w ty, enterprise and usefulness, those citi
us are not excelled in the United States. Al
air the Rock Island arsenal, that ought to
Il, the pride of every citizen in this conntr
will be given a direct water connectit
~ with the lakes of the north and east TIL
tie arsenal, in case this government shou
IRIS have occasion to create an army, will
able to manufacture the arms, equipa
and entire outfit for $500 soldiers P
ed day, which is no small item to be consi
Xix cred in determining the terminus for tt
d. canal. wish every member in this co
vac gress could visit Rock Island and see t
= government works upon that island, a
u the three cities that are grouped togeth
1er it would make an impression upon yo
his minds never to be forgotten. You wou
I'd not entertain for a moment the thong
mo of having the terminus of the canal at
other point
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