The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-23
STRONG ENDORSEMENT.
The Northwestern Lumber Interests
Favor the Construction of the
Hennepin Canal.

The Northeastern ZIMMERMAN, which
speaks for the ldmber and milling
interests of the northwest, and the coun>
try in general for that matter, in a recent
issue editorially remarks on the Henne-
pin canal:
An inquiry was lately addressed to the
LumbermdR from William +. Swilzler,
ceief of the bureau of statistics, at Wash
ington, relative to the probable effect of
the completion of the Hennepin canal on
the lumber trade passing by this point
1t was evidently the idea of the Washing
ton statisticians that considerable lumber
reached Chicago from upper Mississippi
districts for local consumption and ship
ment eastward. On this basis it was
probably designed to figure out the value
of the proposed Improvement to consum-
ers of forest products to the eastward of
Chicago; for, if the canal should tend to
lower the cost of shipment from Missis-
slppi river to lake Michigan, it must fol.
low that prices at the east must thereby
be reduced.
1t is likely that the opening Of the
Hennepin canal would have considerable
effect upon the lumber trade of the north,
west. The product of the mills would
pass through il in both directions No
doubt dealers along the Mississippi river
would use it for bringing Lake Michigan
stocks to their several places of distribu
uhi1a trala yNnnll
between mill points on the great river
and this city Lumber is II commodity
that sticks to no particular direction OF
traffic. 1t is apt to break up in assert.
ment, TO run suddenly low at some point,
and accumulate surplus as eXpenditious
y at others. Carrying Goals to New,
castle, is perhaps Oftener illustrated il
the lumber business than in any other
Interchange of stocks between riya
points is frequently resorted to. Cleal
and select strips often 60 from this mar
ket to Eau Claire and Minneapolis
fencing the middle river points; shingles
to the same chain of markets. while thu
trade here often buys different sOrts OF
the river, and goes to Wisconsin for wide
good lumber and long dimension East
ern dealers are now reaching all over thu
northwest after lumber, and the time MAJ
soon come when they will buy stock a
| Mississippi river markets in large guam
tlty. 1t can thus be seen that the Henne
pin canal might be utilized for carryin,
Michigan or Green Bay lumber to Missis
sippi river points, or stock from the rive
to the lakes. II is quite possible that tn
time will come when barges from Sill
water, Minneapolis. Winona, La Crosse
or points lower down, may be seen in tn,
slips of the TwcntyseCOnd street district
or better still, humping against til
wharves on the lake front after Messrs
Swan and llOtchkiss shall have settled til
riparian question that has SO long bother
ed the lawyers and the railroads. Becaus
| river lumber may come through the cana
to this city, there is no reason why LAX
| Michigan lumber should not 90 thruug
the canal to the river. No toubt the lum
Der traffic would take both directions
determined by fluctuations in demans
prices, the supply at different places au,
the rates on the railroads Ii is probabl
that the canal would cut great figure il
this see saw lumber trade.
But the Hennepin canal would be tn
most important to the lumber movement
| as an inlet to this and other lake market
| for the southern hardwood trade.
would connect the great navigable rive
system Of the southwest with the lakes a
this point. Thus an easy and chea
means for bringing the hardwoods, includ
cypress, TO this distributing and consum
ing center, would be furnished. Barge
could start from any of the mill points Of
the lower Mississippi and its tributaries
and be towed directly to the docks here
1t can be plainly seen that an immense
trade could be developed in this way A
| time passes, and the supply of white PIN
diminishes, the demand for southern lum
Der will increase. Certainly this marke
will require large amount. The Hcnne
pin canal would provide means of bring
ing southern lumber here in large bulk Il
minimum cost. II may be that one da,
the people of this city and surrOundn.
districts will be glad that the promoter
of the Hennepin canal scheme COMMENDED
with great odds In carrying their point il
congress, and that the important water
way was at length provided.