The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-03-29
fRCs, The LAKE TO THE GULF.

Synopsis Of Cor.r .ssman P.amb's re.
p,rt IN The Ecnn pin Canal scheme,
Upon Which III, House Committee
J. ,ok. W til Favor.
NAsnIS y. NJ rch 2I-The House Conn
mite, on Il .i.ways and Canals has finished
the consideration OF the Hennepin canal
project ;nl yesterday verbally agreed to
a6opt the report prepared by Mr.. Plumb
I'LL
The rcrort Of Colonel Plumb begins with an
elaborate press nfaflon OF the phys cal facts
that are present ID for the cons Iteration OF the
committee, Civ ng the extent population aad
resources Of the Mississippi valley
end the immense system OF nat
ural waterways that traverse 1t. II then
describes the lake system extending for 1900
miles along tho northern part Of tho
United States, and touching as ii does New
England, New York. Pennsylvania Ohio, In
diana, Michigan Mime sofa and Wisconsin. II
points out the fact that the Illinois river
is q natural canal from its mouth to
La Sale, having a fall OF only twenfy-seyen feet
nlne int hes 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
bu. that II can be easily overcome ty improve
meats. The fact is alluded to that it 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 a channel through the obstruction
is said to be 6: ca,ly reduced by using the Des-
PLANES river 10 within six miles OF Chicago The
report then goes on to describe the two schemes
that are proposed for carrying out the improve
Ment One which II tel ms the propeller scheme
contcmplates q 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 y cutting through the
Nyh
10 feet in depth I6J feet wide by - feet deep,
so as to secure flow OF water at the rate OF
two miles Ier hour. equal TO 61a.O0o cube feet
per minute, which Is in accordance with the
plan suggested by the delegation rom Cacago.
The other plan is called the RIVER steamboat
scheme, which contemplates an extension Of
the improvements now IN existence in the llli-
nos river up 10 Lake Joliet, and SO up the Des-
PLANES river with the canal OF the Same
capacity, the locks being $50 feet in
length by seyenty-fiye 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 thai that city would do its full
share in making the cut through the obstruc-
tion OF q capacity sufficient to secure the out
flow 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 AHeghenies Us well as those in the
Miss ssirpi valley in commercial point OF
view from the construction OF the canal, tho
report makes reference 10 its great impor
tanca from military naval standpoint. by
existing treaties the United States is not per-
mltted to have gun-boats upon the lakes, and
allnsion is made to the fact that whereas En-
r and Is steadily increasing the depth OF the ca
Gals meeting with Lake Ontario SO as TO ad-
init OF the passage OF gun-boats Of u large
cl.ss the United States Is, without this water
way. totally unprepared to meet any foe upon
equal terms In case OF conflict. In single
military contest with any other nation, the re.
lort says, the cost OF the canal would pe moro
than betrayed by the advantage which would
be derived from il in a military sense.