San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-14
HENNEPIN CANAL.

There is no public work in which the
northwest takes so great interest as in
the Hennepin canal scheme. The object
Of this Improvement is to connect the
Mississippi river and the upper lakes,
TINS giving q waterway from st. Paul
and as far down as Keokuk to the east
through Illinois and the great lakes. AS
to the eastern terminus OF the proposed
waterway there has been no question.
The location OF the western terminus
has been the occasion OF endless disputes
and sectional riyalries TO which in great
measure has been due the fact that so
little progress has been made by the gov
eminent In determining the nature ofthe
work required. After years Of conten-
ton and expensive lobbying in congress
an appropriation was made for prelimin-
airy survey. The report OF this survey
has been RECOMMENDATIONS, SO secretly
has 1t been hidden In the archives OF the
war department. 1t has however been
unearthed at last and promises to become
a fruitful bone of contention. or the
routes selected by the survey, that
known as the Maria de Osier route 10
given the preference over that known as
the Rock Island route. The Rock Island
route seeks to have the Mississippi ter
minus at Rock Island where the govern
ment has its largest arsenal. Here are
the considerable cities Of Rock Island
and Moline on the Illinois shore, and
Davenport on the Iowa shore, with their
aggregated populations OF something
over 10000. The interests Of these cities
are all strongly conferred 10 favor Of the
Rock Island route. The cities above
this point, Clinton, Dubuque, La
Crosse, WinOns, st. Paul and Min
neapolls oppose the Rock Island
terminus as being too far down stream;
as being at the foot OF long rapids lie
Claire), and as starting twenty feet be-
low the level of the Maria de Osler
route, which twenty feet would require
to be locked bacE again; and, as being
forty miles longer than the other route.
1t is not necessary to follow out the
lines Of controversy. The survey recon-
mends the waterway as every way de-
sirsble for navigation. The estimated
cost by the upper, or Maria de Osier
route,is $5,sll, 1856 for canal eighty feet
wide and seven feet deep; length GA
miles, and locks 10 feet by 80. The state
Of Illinois already owns what Is known
as the Illinois and Michigan canal
which 1t Is proposed to make part Of
the new waterway, but the report does
not endorse the idea OF the national gov
eminent becoming responsible for this
latter without more definite under
standing with that state as to the terms
upon which the existing works will be
turned over by the state. The matter is
of interest as one upon which congress
Is destined to have no little chin music
wasted; as one which Is sure to interest
the Mississippi river improvement COM
mission; as one which will come up for
Its share OF river and harbor appropris-
tions; as one which is one more factor in
the great problem OF water conmunics-
ton between the east and the west. The
lower Mississippi river ports all favor
the upper route, because there is very
little prospect OF Its ever receiving the
lobby interest that can be exerted In
favor Of the Rock Island route, and the
cities down stream do not want the
canal at all, as it would take just so
much business from the lower river
ports.