The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-10-01
HOPE FOR HENNEPIN.
Yesterdays Afternoons Work Before
the Canal Arsu-
ments and C0mmuni-
cations.

EntHtS anu
cations.
The repSo in yesterdays ARGUS of the
session of Inc Hennepin canal commits
sion, carried the proceedings up to the
adjournment at o'clock At clock
the commission met again. and able argu-
ments were made by Ex-Governor Bross.
of Chicago. and other champions CT the
cause. Congressman Murphy made an
address in advocacy of the Rock Island
route, as combining great natural adVan-
tages, in point Of construction, and also
setting forth the commercial advantages
of having the termirus here, and the
convenience it would afford the govern
meut in connection with the Rock Island
arsenal. He said he had written the sec
rotary of war on this point, asking the
opinion of the ordnance department. and
in reply had received the following which
includes the report of the chief of ord
nsnces of the United States army;
Sir: The department is in receipt of
YOUR communication of the 18th instant
suggesting, in connection with pending
legislation relative to the proposed Hen
nepin canal, that the views Of the ord,
nance department he obtained in regard
to the point at which the junction with
the Mississippi river may be so made as
to best subserve the interest of the gov
eminent in the transportation of war ma
terial to and from the Rock Island arse
nal to Lake Michigan.
In reply have the honor 10 iuclose
herewith report of this date from the
chief of ordnance which contains the de
sired information Very respectfully,
5. V. BENET
Brig. General, Chief of Ordnance
and acting Secretary OF War.
The honorable, the secretary of war
Sir: | have the honor to return letter to
| the secretary of war of the 18th inst,
from the Hon J. IL. Murphy, house of
| representatives ia relation to the propOS>
ed Hennepin canal and asking that the
views of the ordnance department be OBJ
tanned as TO the point at which the june
ton with the Mississippi river may lie so
made that the interests of the governs
ment will be best subserved in the trans
portation of materials of war to and from
the Rock Island arsenal and Lake Mich
gan under all circumstances, and to re-
port
The surveys made by the engineer de-
| partment mention three termini on the
Mississippi river for the proposed canal;
One at Rock Island. | ] miles below the
| city; one at Waterfowl. 5 miles above
Rock Island; one near Albany, 90 miles
above Rock Island
Ia the transportation of war materials
from the arsenal to the lake frontier by
canal the difficulties to be encountered in
reaching the mouth of the canal, espec>
Tally during freshets and moving ice.
would be small, going two miles down
stream, as compared with the difficulties
to be surmounttd over miles of rapids and
freshets and through ice to reach Waters
town and Albany so many miles distant
up stream. TIE cities of Rock Island
Moline AMI Davenport, form very inn
portant manufacturing, commercial and
railroad centre, with great aud growing
facilities for producing and moving freight
in connection with this canal, and is an
other reason why in case OF war the ter
minus of the canal should be at Rock
| Island.
As regards the interest of the Unite
Stated at the Rock Island arsenal both
present and future, | am decidedly in
favor of the terminus at Rock Island.
Very respectfully,
s. V. BESET,
Brig Gen. Chief of Ordnance.
| A communication was read from Hon.
J. C. Dore, of Chicago, setting forth The
demands of the canal from commercial
point of view, and after further interest
ing discussion the board adjourned, hav'
ing accepted an invitation from Messrs
Charles Deere and Eugene Lewis, of Mo
line, to visit the site of the WATERFOWL
route which they had SO strongly advo
Gated The visit was made in the after
noon. and this morning the engineers re
turned to Chicago, Capt. Durham accom-
panying them to Savanna on the c NJ
& St. P road, in order that he nigh
show them the location of the suggestel
Meredosia terminus.