Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-04-12
THE HENDERSON BILL,
The Situation of the Canal in Con
gress.
The Next Move TO be Made BY the
Measures Acknowledgement Oh W.
position.

Measures AdvOcntes-Eeason OF up
position.
Congressman Henderson writes that ne
will try to have the action of the house
committee on railways and canals on MS
Hennepin canal bill reversed A Few
DAYS ago, the committee, by vote OF d
TO 4. authorized Mr.. Cobb of Alabama, to
report the bill adversely--that is on APP
propriation to commence work. Before
that report is make Mr.. Henderson hopes
to get a hearing before the committee
and uphold the merits of the bill. Mr.
Plumb, who is member of the commit
tee. is irving to arrange hearing for
Gen. Henderson,
As is well known, Gen. Henderson,
bill appropriates 100000 for the con-
struction of the canal. Mr.. Cobb says he
has not yet written the report nor de>
cided when he will do so. He seems to
be inclined to let the matter rest where
it is, so that unless the majority insist
upon it he will not submit the report
for some time. This course is prompts
ed by friendly spirit toward the aaVo'
Gates of the measure, and will give an
opportunity to secure rehearing before
the committe and possibly reversal OF
its decision against the bill. Gen. lien
1 ha
Plumb of Illinois. and Judge Hayes OF
Iowa, who are warm friends of the pros
iect and members of the committee on
railways and canals, will no doubt be
able to secure reopening OF the case
II is understood that the vote in commit
tee was four for favorable report to six
against it. Mr.. Cobb thinks congress has
no right to make appropriations for the
construction and maintenance of
canals; that if congress had that right
there IS no commercial necessity for the
construction of the canal, because there
are already several lines of railway
that can furnish all transportation
facilities required by the demands of
trade Ia the general direction of the
propose, route; that there will be no
| military necessity for its construction,
| because the desired communication be-
tween the Mississippi and the lakes
will be furnished by the Illinois and
| Desplaines river route, as provided by
the Springer bill, which the committee
has already recommended for survey.
Besides, Mr.. Cobb says the Hennepin
canal would not afford IA satisfactory
| means of communication, because it
would be closed by ice in the winter.
The suggestion that the canal should be
built for the purpose of affording cheap
transportation or force lower railroad
rates he says smacks too much of the
theory of a paternal government.
Mr.. Cobb's argument would prevent
appropriation for all harbors, all improve
mepts on northern lakes and rivers.
They are frozen fast from December to
March. The very "Illinois and Des
Moines river route" that he seems to fa-
vor will be unnavigable in the winter.
His position on the Hennepin canal is so
weak that in debate he can have no ten"
able ground. He is simply prejudiced,
1t would be good thing for Mr.. Cobb if
he would take tour in the region to be
benefited by the Hennepin canal.
THE LATERAL CANAL.
The provision in the pending river and
harbor bill for the proposed lateral canal
is as follows:
And inasmuch as the present channel
of the Mississippi river at the Rock ISIS
and rapids is said TO be of insufficient
width and depth. and dangerous to the
np yigation of said river the secretary of
war is hereby authorized and directed to
cause an examination and lurveY to be
made at said rapids, with the view of de.
termining the bes. and most economical
mode of securing safer channel of great
er width and depth, sufficient to meet the
necessities of the commerce and naviga-
ton of the river, either by the construction
of canal around said rapids on the Hi
| DOlS Sue Vi sdlu llNStb i'OhA NAS $1,000 -
the rapids near Rapids City, on the
| most direct and feasible route to the
| main river, at the foot of said rapids, OF
by widening and deepening the present
channel of the river at said rapids. And
the secretary of war shall cause report
of said examination and survey to be
made to congress at its next session. to-
gether with plans and estimates of the
probable cost for the construction OF such
| canal, or for the widening and deepening
of the present navigable channel OF the
river, and, with such plans and estimates,
shall submit his opinion as to the best
and most economical plan of improving
the river at said rapids in the interests oil
commerce and navigation of the river,
and for the purpose of such examination
and survey, so much of the above appro>
| priation of six hundred and fifty thousand
dollars as may be necessary is hereby
| authorized to be expended, not to exceed
| $4,000.
Goodrich Matinee.
| So,nrdav the Goodrich company vii