The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-03
THE CANAL WILL COME.
so says Congressman Murphy His
Idea as to the Route.

IuCo as W thV AtVott-
Congressman J. ii. Murphy arrived at
his home in Davenport. last evening from
Spirit Lake, Iowa, and he submitted to
an interview with Gazette representative
on the Hennepin canal When asked if
he believed there was yet hope for the
great measure, he replied:
There is this to be said about it, he
replied The day before | left Washing
ton called upon Secretary Endicott in
connection with the appointment of a
commission under the act Of congress APP
propriating $4,000 for report on the
canal. l told the secretary that the APP
pointment of fair. impartial and able men
to constitute the commission would suit
the people interested in the canal, but no
zone. sided commission made up TO report
adversely or prejudiced on one side
would give satisfaction The canal had
been shown TO he the most important one
to claim the attention of congress, and
the gentlemen TO be selected for the com
mission should give the question a fair
and thorough hearing. They should not
take the report OF any one man and base
their conclusions upon that. Since the
government was formed there had never
rested a suspicion against the engineers
department until one of them was sent
out to make a survey Of the projected
canal. That engineer was to have cons
fined his survey to two routes-the Rock
Island and Watertown. He devoted only
few pages to these routes and gave the
bulk of his report to recommendation
of the Meredosia route, which he had
neither surveyed or examined. | told
moi case where outside influence had
not been brought to bear on the engineer,
most likely the railroads. Il did not know
where to find the motives for such re-
port 1t at once raised suspicion. /
also pointed out the fact that the best
authority in the country has declared that
it was easier for a steamer TO carry ten
ions down stream than one up stream
through the rapids. and that phatIcally
showed the advantage of locating the
canal below the rapids. Not only that,
if the canal were located at Rock Island
there would be population to back 1t.
Davenport, Rock Island and Moline have
a combinei population of sixty thousand
people within radius of five miles, aud
| this was one reason why the canal should
terminate there than at Meredosia, where
there is no population. Besides, in the
event of war with Great Britain, we could
| sl once load vessels with the munitions
of war at The Rock Island arsenal and
send them direct to the great lakes Al
these points should be taken into considr
Grafton. and with fair minded commits
sion, there would be little doubt about
q favorable report | also urged an early
appoiI tment of the commission 50 thai
we might have their report at the next
session of congress. The secretary was
favorably impressed with the statements,
and find that he has appointed IN eX-
cellent commission
What are their names2'
The commission consists of Col. Com
stock, of New York, Col. Poe, OF Chi.
cago. and MAYOR Post of Charleston. S. c.
They are all reliable and intelligent men.
| am satisfied with the commission. Now
the bill is the first one on the calendar foI
unfinished business and will be the first
thing considered at the opening of the
next session. feel perfectly satisfied
that it will pass the house, and if ii doe;
my work will be accomplished The
Iowa and Illinois members of the house
| and senate are unanimous IN favor of the
Rock Island route and | feel confident
that will be the one adopted"
Mr.. Murphy leaves to -day to hold 4
conference with congressman Henderson
of Illinois. and then he goes on to Wash,
ingtOn to confer with others in the in
terest Of the canal. II propose" he said
ito push this thing until it is an accom-
plished fact, or at least until the 4th o
next March. when my term expires