The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-06
THE HENNEpIN CANAL.
Fall Text OF Congressman Mnrphy's
Bill, Which is Now Before
the Committee.

representatives by Congressman Murphy
for the construction of the Hennepin
canal has been printed and is as follows:
A bill to provide for the construction
of the Lake Michigan and Mississippi
river canal and to cheaper transporta-
ton:
Be it enacted by the senate and house
of representatives of the United States of
America in congress assembled, That the
route surveyed by the secretary of war,
in compliance with the instructions of the
Fortysseventh congress, for the construe-
ton of the Illinois and Mississippi canal,
from the Illinois river. near the town of
Hennepin, to the Mississippi river, atsor
below Rock Island, as designated in said
survey as the Rock Island route, together
with the route, surveyed for branch
canal or feeder from Rock river to the
summit line of said canal, is hereby ap-
proved and adopted.
Sec. 2. That said canal and feeder
shall be eighty feet wide at the water
line and seven feet deep, the locks
feet in length and - feet in width,
and with capacity for vessels of at least
two hundred and eighty tons burden, with
guard gates, waste weirs, locks, locks
houses, basins. bridges and all other
erections and fixtures that may be neces>
sary for safe and convenient navigation
of said canal and branch, as specified in
said survey.
Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of the
secretary of war, in order to secure the
right of way for such canal and branch,
to acquire the title to such lands as may
be necessary, by agreement, purchase, or
voluntary conveyance from the owners,
if it can be done on reasonable terms; but
if that shall be found impracticable, then
the secretary of war shall apply at any
term of the circuit or district court of the
United States for the northern district OF
Illinois to be held thereafter, at any gen
eral or special term held in said district,
and in the name of the United States in
stitute and carry on proceedings to con-
denim such lands rs may be necessary for
right of way rs aforesaid; and in such
proceedings said court shall be governed
| Nv lIlt ldWS VI lnC otdtC VI iiiihci-' So iSA
as the same may be applicable to the sub
| iect of condemning private property Tor
public use.
Sec. 4. That the secretary of war shall
cause SAID work to be commenced as soon
| as practicable, and within six months aftei
this act goes into effect; and he shall
cause said work to be constructed in ac'
| cordance with the provisions of sector
one of this act, and of permanent ane
substantial materials, aud in good work
manlike manner: Provided, That con
gress may at any time reguat'. fix, ant
determine the tolls and charges to be i'm
posed upon said Improvement when com
pleted.
Sec. 5. That the sum of 81 ,o00, 900 be
and the same is HEREBY appropriated, gu
of any money in the treasury OF thu
United States not otherwise appropriated
to carry into effect the provisions of thi
act relating 10 the canal connecting thu
| Illinois river, at or near the town of Hen
nepin, with the Mississippi river, at o
below the city of Rock Island.
The bill has been read twice and is nos
before the committee on railways ant
canals
The Rock Island committee. Messrs J
NJ Beardsiey, B D. Buford, J, NJ Ret
ECKER and c. J Larkin, will leave 70
Washington about the 18th inst Ia or
der that they NAV have all suitable mean
to promote the cause in which they vii
labor, it has been aptly suggested tina
the conditional suhsc riptions on the sol
diers' home be appropriated to cana
fund. This would be a wise plan, an,
many have already authorized that tn
amount contributed By them to this pur
pose be so devoted Other subscriber
will doubtless do likewise, as the fntur
of the canal project lies in diligent ant
efficient action at this time.