The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-09
THE GREAT WATER WAY,
Outlook for Hennepin.
Interesting Interview With Mr.. Ed.
ward Russell on the Canal
Letter from Mr.. Murphy.
MR.. RUssELL's VIEWS.


by congress at this session of the Henne>
pin canal bills' asked representative of
the ARGUS this morning of Mr. Edward
Russell, as that gentleman was met in his
Office in Davenport.
That question means. Of course. that
you want to interview me on the canal
matter replied the wary ex.editor
"Well. please excuse me; my desire and
aim is to keep out of the newspapers,
and to pursue my own business quietly,
with such incidental aid to public efforts
as can be properly given
But you were in Washington recently
and the ARGUS readers would like to hear
of your views as to the canal outlook
there
well. the public have right to all
possible information on such a subject,
beyond doubt, so | must not, suppose,
deny frank answer to your query. Yet,
| in truth, have no special knowledge to
impart. My recent stay in Washington
was extended only to few days. The
visit there was made at the earnest res
quest, particularly, of such gentlemen as
Messrs. Murray Nelson and J. c. Dore,
OF Chicago, and was compelled to be
short because OF personal business re-
quiring my attention elsewhere. OF
course, while In Washington | industri>
| ously endeavored to ascertain the better
facts as to the status of the canal bill ads
vOcacy, and as to the actual probabilities
of the case in the house. AS result,
my conviction is clear and decided that
the Hennepin canal measure has never
before been MS strong in reliable support
on the part of members of congress as it
| is today. And, as you well know, the
| entire issue balances on the attainable
aggregate of congressional votes. That
is a truism, however, which seems to be
very strangely forgotten by many friends
of the canal If those friends realized
more fully than they now appear to do,
the value of congressional favor and sup
port, aud the absolutely indispensable
necessity for these, they would be more
drive from the pending bill the votes in
congress essential to success The
strength now secured by the canal meas.
ure is due TO the fact that members of
congress are becoming better acquainted
| with the necessities and demands of the
northwest. The necessity for a solution
of the great problem of cheap transpor-
tation, as between the Mississippi valley
and the eastern Atlantic, is being more
clearly realized by petitions of the peo-
pie, and, recently, particularly those of
the Knights of Labor 10 behalf of the
canal are opening many legislative eyes.
On its own merits, rs n simple and yet
grand extension Of the cheap water route
system of transportation of the lake and
the Erie canal TO the upper Mississippi.
the Hennepin canal is gaining friends
steadily, not only in congress, but among
intelligent people of the eastern states.
Ii direct vote could today be reached in
the house, | believe that the bill would
pass, if the measure could have consider
alton solely on its merits as national
project and free from al considerations
OF a merely local character
What is your opinion as to the ques-
tim concerning the western terminus of
the canal, Mr.. Russellf You know some
discussion as to that has been excited in |
this region"
Yes, and very sorry am to learn that
fact. Right there is the greatest danger |
now confronting the canal project in
congress"
Mr. Russell spoke with much energy |
at this point as he continued TO say:
My own opinion concerning the western
terminus of the canal has always been |
that choice thereof should be constantly |
held to be of small moment as compared |
to the great object 10 view-the securing |
of the canal itself, as free water way to |
be constantly under the control of con
gress, therefore, have not only refused |
always to at all discuss the question of |
western terminus, but to urge that such |
discussion be carefully avoided by every |
true friend of the canal. And therefore /
have been sorry to see such references
to such discussion as the ARGUS copied |
last evening from the Davenport Demo-
crot and the Davenport Gazette respec>
lively. My idea is that such publication,
and all such utterances damage very seri-
ously the canal cause itself. "
What, then, Mr.. Russell, wsuld you
have Rock Isliud and the friends of the |
lower route do in view of such publca-
ton as that of the Moline pamphlet re-
Gently issued2' asked the ARGUS repre-
sentative.
Well | would have them treat all |
such Nominations with prolonged dose
OF absolute silence. It's hard, | know,
to maintain discret reserve in such |
cases, but silence constantly proves to be |
most potent antagonist to misstatement
and assault The issuance of the Moline
was very grave mistake, to
say the least on the part of our Moline
friends. In its virulent attacks on other
friends of the Hennepin canal il is, in
deed, atrocious. 1t ignores. too, essen,
tial and controlling facts. Even if it |
were true, that any clique had gotten
control of any property through which |