Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1888-03-24
FROM THE LAKE TO THE GULF.

"A Synopsis of Congressman Plumb's Re.
port on the Hennepin Canal Scheme,
Upon Which the House Committee
Looks With Favor.
WASHINGTON, March 21-The House CONF
mittee on Railways and Canals has finished
the consideration of the Hennepin canal
project and yesterday verbally agreed to
adopt the report prepared by Nh. Plumb
lllA
1.-The report Of Colonel Plumb begins with an
elaborate presentation of the physical facts
that are presented for the consideration Of the
committee, giving the extent population and
resources OF the Mississippi valley
and the immense system OF nat
ural waterways that traverse it. It then
Describes the lake system extending for 1900
miles along the northern part of the
United States, and touching as it does New
England New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, In
diana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin It
points out the fact that the Illinois river
is a natural canal from its mouth to
La Sale, having a fall OF only twenty-seYen feet
nine inches that entire distance and follows
the course of the river up to Lake Joliet, where
the fall Of the river is said to be not so large
but that it can be easily overcome by improve
ments. The fact is alluded to that 1t is only
twenty-nine miles through the obstruction
or ridge which stands in the way of the
waters of the lakes flowing as they
once did, down the valley of the Desplaines
river and the Illinois river The cost
OF making channel through the obstruction
is said to be greatly reduced by using the Des-
PLANES river to within s:x miles of Chicago. The
report then goes on to describe the two schemes
that are proposed for carrying out the improve
ment. One which it terms the propeller scheme
contemplates channel of sufficient depth to
take lake craft through from the lakes to the
Gulf OF Mexico during certain portions of the
year, and would require a cutting through the
obstruction of q channel 200 feet in width and
~ feet in depth or 100 feet wide by % feet Deep
SO as to secure flow of water at the rate Of
Two miles per hour, equal to 60G, 600 cubic feet
per minute, which is in accordance with the
plan suggested by the delegation from Chicago.
The other plan is called the river steamboat
scheme, which contemplates an extension of
the improvements now in existence in the Illi-
no:s river up to Lake Joliet, and so up the Des-
PLANES river with the canal of the same
capacity, the locks being $50 feet in
length by seventy-fve feet in width with
seven feet OF water. The object is to make it
practicable to carry river steamboats, OF 1000
tons burden through-from New Orleans to Chi
cago The report also points out what is called
the Sag" route by way Of Lanes Island and
Blue Island to South Chicago. The report also
sets forth in detail the proposition made by
Chicago parties that that city would do its full
share in making the cut through the obstruc-
ton of a capacity sufficient to secure the out
How OF large quantity of water in order to
benefit the drainage Of the city. Be-
sides pointing out the advantages
which would accrue to the States east
of the Alleghenies as well as those in the
mississippi valley in a commercial point Of
view from the construction of the canal, the
report makes reference to it's great impor.
lance from military or naval standpoint By
existing treaties the United States is not per-
mtted to have gun-boats upon the Takes, and
allusion is made to the fact that whereas En-
gland is steadily increasing the depth of the ca
calls connecting With Lake Ontario so as to id
nit OF the passage of gun-boats of lar.
GLASS; the United States is, without this water
way, totally unprepared to meet any foe upon
equal terms in case of a conflict. In single
Military contest with any other nation. the re.
port says, the cost of the canal would be more
than betrayed by the advantage which would
be derived from it in military sense.]