The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-04
BOOM THE CANAL.
That's What the Meeting at Harper
Theatre was Held for Last
Night.
A Committee Appointed TO Solicit
Funds to Send Delegates TO
Washington. @E rs
Washington.

canal meeting was to be held at Harper's
theatre in the evening. Biehl's band also
attracted the people to the theatre, and at
eight o'clock a good audience was assem-
bled to witness the proceedings as eon-
Quoted by the gentlemen who had the
meeting in charge After enlivenng the
occasion with music the band withdrew
and Mr.. j. j. Reimers called the meeting
to order Ex-Mayor Carse was called to
the chair, and Mr.. j. II. Yore acted as
secretary Before taking his seat the
chairman announced that the meeting
was in the interests of the canal, and no
other subject would be mentioned. Sub
sequent proceedings, however, showed
that this mandate was not obeyed. On
motion of Mr. w II. Lundy. the chair
appointed the following committee of five
on resolutions: Judge Wilkinson, W. b.
Lundy, c. W Negus, j. Reimers and B.
D. Buford The committee retired and
soon returned with the following resolu-
lions, which were read by Mr.. Lundy:
Resoyped, That we are heartily in favor
of the early commencement and compile
ton of the Hennepin canal.
Resoloed, That it is the sense of all
ciIiZens here assembled tonight, that the
advantageous central location Of the city
of Rock Island pre- eminently prescribes
it as the Yves ern terminus Of said water
route Z.
Resogoed, That we are in favor of seeur
ing funds by individual subscription only,
sufficient to place an able ami efficient
committee at the seat of government, who
will labor zealously to secure the end we
are seeking to obtain.
On motion of Capt Parks the resolu-
tions were adopted
While.the committee were absent old
Joe Danforth stumbled up to the foot
lights and let his eagle scream until the
committee made their report. After the
resolutions were reported, he again
"spouted' for some minutes. Further on
in the proceedings he again came to the
front apparently bound to talk as much
IS possible. He abused railroads and
their attorneys, and Hon. J. H. Murphy
He thought that Messrs Niece and Hen
derson would not sign the dispatch re
ceived the other day, if they had known
of the movement in Dubuque, and init
mated that Murphy would stoop to most
anything.
Judge Wilkinson was called for, after the
iron gray" had pranced about to his
hearts content. The Judge said that he
would like to have Mr.. Lundy conclude
speech which he had commenced the
other night, but that gentleman objected.
and said he would speak later on if be
was wanted.
Mr.. Wilkinson said that the large and
intelligent audience before him demanded
a more carefully prepared address than he
had to present. He did not propose to dis
cuss the canal, with which all were familiar
Long ago when the Hennepin canal was
first mentioned he had not much faith in
the project, but when the state of Illinois
offered to cede the Illinois & Michigan
canal to the general government, it was
apparent to all that the people would
demand its extension to the Mississippi,
thus connecting the great river with the
lakes All the people here are in favor of
the canal, but it was of vital importance
that the Rock Island route should be
selected. This is the great centre of
population in this section, and the cities
of Rock Island, Moline, Milan and Dav-
export were all greatly interested There
was no question as to the proper route of
the canal, which should commence at
Hennepin and terminate at Rock Island
Three routes had been surveyed, but the
Watertown not now being mentioned, it
would not be unnecessary to aliade to
that. An effort was now being made to
substitute the Meredosia route, but the
impracticability of that route was too plain
to be overlooked. The government would
be very foolish to select a route for the
canal in such poor agricultural country
as that in the neighborhood of the Mere
dosia. and ignore this great terminus where
$4,000 people reside; one of the largest
manufacturing districts west of Chicago,
and whose commercial facilities are large
and extensive; where large coal fields
abounded and water pc wer was
almost unlimited, and where network OF
railroads reached out in every direction
He also spoke of the great armory here
which was only exceeded by the one al
Vienna. When the shops were all in full
operation it would be necessary to carry
heavy freight backward and forward
and then the canal would be of grea
use. II the Meredosia route
was selected the principal freight TO be
carried would be ducks killed by the hunt
ers In that swampy country.
} He advocated the sending of com
mittec to Washington and thought tina
young and active men should be sent
He referred to the last meeting, and sal,
that almost everyone present had received
dispatches saying that there was no OPP
position to the bill from upper rive
towns, He thought that there was