The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-18
THE HENNEPIN CANAL.
Speech OF Hon. W. H. NeeGe in its
Favor on Monday, June 9Th.

The house being in committee of the
whole house on the state of the union,
aud having under consideration the bill
Oh. r, lOl2) making appropriations for
the construction, repair and preservation
Of certain public works on rivers and
harbors and for other purposes
Mr. Neece said.
Mr. Chairman: | did not expect to say
Il word in reference to this bill, and should
not now detain the committee but for the
remarks of the gentleman from New York
Dir. Potter with reference to the Hen
nepin canal project embraced in this bill.
Now, sir. this is no new project. 1t is
one that has been discussed for many
years 10 the northwest; ard the mistake
of the gentleman from New York is that
he seems to regard this as matter solely
interesting to the people of Illinois.
Now. gentlemen of the committee. per
init me to say that this is a grand mistake.
If you will only examine the map and see
the territory interested in this canal you
will see that Wisconsin, Michigan, Mime
sofa, 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 MI
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 Hennepin canal that Illinois has
The gentleman from New York Mr..
Potter], says 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 government to i'm
prove the Mississippi. This has been done
to extend and to facilitate the commerce
of the entire United States. 1t is no
longer question as to the right of con-
gress to improve the Mississippi.
Now, here is proposition not only to
improve the Mississippi, to extend her
commercial benefit into the great lakes of
the north and east, and to give US an out
let for our commerce by water transporta-
ton to the sea, but the benefits and
advantages arising from this project will
be realized as much or more in the state
of New York, with her canals and great
commercial cities, as in any other state in
this union. We are all inclined to take too
narrow a view of improvements of this
kind. Some men can not see the advant-
age of any improvement except it be q
line of railroad leading to his city, with
out even providing an outlet for its use
fulness; while others view it as an enter
prise in opposition to railroad transpor
tation.
In my judgment its effect will not be
to destroy or injure railroad transporta-
ton: it will have effect to prevent extor
ton, which is proper and right. But thu
great effect of the Hennepin canal will bt
to develop the resources of the west and
northwest, and to greatly increase oul
commerce, which will result in benefit
to railroad interests the same as it will tt
any other legitimate business. 1t Is tint
railroad interests in the United States
began to see the great importance O
cheapening transportation and extending
the commerce of this country of their Owl
advantage and to maintain their own ex
istence. Look at the grand opportunitie
the railroads leading from the east to the
west have lost by the suicidal policy o
this government IN excluding trade an,
commerce of foreign nations with thi
country in her socalled protective policy
In twenty years we have succeeded in de
stroying our commerce with foreign ma
tons and in driving our own merchan
marine from the high seas
Our unfriendly laws and hungering TO
bread have induced foreign nations t,
look to other countries for the bread
India instead of the United States is fur
lishing England with bread to the grea
injury of railroads, farmers, laborers an
to the prosperity Of the United States
Look, If you will, to the price o
wheat in Chicago; in the last tire
months it has reached lower point thai
at any time within the last twenty years
Foreigners have Withdrawn from ou
markets and gone where trade is 10
hampered. As to the terminus of th
-Hennepin canal at Rock Island, there ar
the three cities of Rock Island, Molin
and Davenport, aggregating $4,000 III
habitants, with their varied manufacture
and industries. Without Boosting, | vii
say for prosperity, enterprise and useful
ness. those cities are not excelled in til
United States. And the great Rock Islam
arsenal, that oughtto be the pride of ever
citizen in this country, will be given
direct water connection with the lakes 0
the north and east. This arsenal, in cas-
this government should have occasion t
create an army, will be able to manufac
ture the arms, equipage and entire outf
for $500 soldiers per day, which is n
small item to be considered in determinin
{ the terminus for this canal. wish ever
member in this congress could visit Roc