The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-01
ENCOURAGING ENDORSEMENT.
Washington Papers Sustain the Hen.
Bepin Canal Project.-.Letter From
b. d. Buford, Esq.
WHY LIZ snOuLD Re Built.

WHY 1T SHOULD BE BUILT.
The Washington Cd. C) National Re
publican thus comments editorislly upon
the reports OF the committee on railways
and eanals-and the Hennepin clause:
Hon. J. II. Murphy submitted the re-
port of the committee on railways and
canals in favor of constructing the Illinois
and Mississippi canal, more generally
known as the Hennepin canal, yesterday.
The report contains much that is insiruc-
tive. 1t is srgumenistive and convine
ing. One of the strong points in the re-
port ia the necessity of the cheapest pos>
sible transport from the fields of produc-
ton to the seaboard to enable this coun>
try TO retain its export trade in the cereals.
which in 1880 amounted TO $2sS, 900, 900
or about IS per cent of the entire amount
of all exports from the United States.
Competition from Russia, India and
Australia has already reduced our cereal
exports more than 40 per cent since 1880
because of increased facilities for trans>
portation in and from those countries.
In India alone there has been about the
same amount expended 10 the construct,
ion OF canals which serve the double
purpose of irrigation and transport-that
has been expended on all improvements.
internal and external, IN the United States
since the Foundation of the government.
In India, also, railroads are largely owned
and subsidized by the government in the
interest of cheap transport ltlon. The
expenditures for internal Improvements
in the United States are utterly insight f.
cant when compared with the eXpen di.
lures of France. Germany and the East
Indies for the same purpose.
The indications are that the time is not
distant when competition will deprive
this country altogether of the benefit of
foreign markets for our surplus cereals e.
Is not the probability or the possibility
of the loss of 80 per cent of the export
trade of the country n matter of national
Importance? Can the United States af>
ford 10 forego so large an amount of its
export trade?
The question is asked IN the report,
should Illinois build this canal? This
question is easily answered by saying; il
| built, the products of Illinois would not
pass through it. Illinois contains fifty,
six thousand square miles. The canal, il
built, would be in the northwestern pari
of the state and not more than thret
thousand square miles Of the ffty>si,
thousand would receive any direct benefit
from it. The business of the cana
would, for the most part, come from
those states lying west of the Mississippi
which states have received very little as
sIstance from the government in making
internal Improvements.
THE ROCK ISLAND DELEGATION.
The following interesting letter was re
ceived this morning from B D. Bufcrd
Esq:
WASHINGTON, d. c Feb %, 1885
EDITOR ARGUs:-Judge Murphy con
ciuded his speech today in favor Of Hen
ncpin and was listened to with attention
and complimented by many. He had Al
ARRAY Of figures and evidences that shoul,
convince our congress of the importanc
of this great project. After him, Gen
Rowell. of Illinois, made an excelen
speech, full of statistics and unanswera
bic arguments in favor OF the canal
He will probably complete his speech TO
morrow. There will follow speeche
from day to dag until this matter is dis
posed of Col. Plumb, of Illinois, fol
lows next. and General Henderson vii
. probably wait to answer some of the OF
ponents of the bill An effort will b
made to get the best talent in the hous
to speak in favor of the bill, and il
hoped and expected that the whole bust
ness will be disposed OF inside of tw
weeks. Alderman Larkin has gone home
, and Sheriff Reticker leaves in day G
two. Both have done effective work 70
the canal.
The old stagers. like Pig Iron Kelly
who thinks of nothing but protection
and some old time democrats like Hatci
; of Missouri, and Randolph Tucker, {
i Virginia, will fight the bill on constitu
tional grounds. But none can deny il
great value as cheapener of freight
Fred Hass arrived this morning.
Yours truly. B. d. BuFoRD.
RETICKER.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. 2s.-Wi
reach home Friday or Saturday. Tt
committee are doing all they can possibl,
Fred Hsss, after visiting the places of il
terest, left for Baltimore He will retur
Wednesday. J. NJ RETTCKER
I