Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-31
OFFICIAL FIGURES.
Capt. Marshall's Statement of Hen
nepin Canal Statistics.
interesting Meeting of the Tri-City
Committee on Ways aud Means at the
Improvement Association Rooms
Mr.. Murphy's Report.

/ VI tuC III WY
Hennepin Canal Committee on ways and
means was held at the rooms of the Rock
Island Citizens Improvement association
at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Vice
President ii. G. Connolly presided and
Secretary j. s. Wylie. of Davenport, was
at his desk. There were present: Mai.
Connolly, Ex-Mayor Henry Carse. John
Crubaugh, W. s. Knowlton and DR.. W.
A. Paul. for Rock Island. and Exon
gresham j. H. Murphy, W. F. Ross. ].
s. Wylie and ]. NJ. Eldridge for Daven.
port, and II. L. Framing, of Milan.
MIR. Murphy made an interesting state-
ment detailing his recent trip to Wash
lng'on in the interest of the canal, the
apparently favorable complexion of the
present lower house of congress as re-
CARDS the canal; the fact that eight mem,
bers of the river and harbor committee
are solid for the canal, and the chairman,
Gen. Henderson, being an enthusiastic
advocate. is equiv alent to one third
OF the committee. He made
statement of the finances of the cons
nittee, stating that he had written
Col d. B. Wood, chairman of the Gin
cinnati Waterway convention, stating
that the 800 pledged by the canal cons
mittee to that convention was liberal and
satisfactory Mr.. Murphy said that of
the amount of this money pledged by the
three cities. Rock Islsnd and Davenport
bad paid their proportions, bu. that Mo-
lines $25 had not been forthcoming, and
that he personally had made up the de-
tcit and forwarded the money, and that
the committee could reimburse him at its
pleasure. Mr.. Murphy furthermore re-
ported CORES pOndence with Murray Mel
son, of Chicago, treasurer of the old IL
inoissMichigsn canal commission, and
had received a reply that there was
money in his hands credited to the canal
project, but that he would not pay 1t out
without the proper vouchers. The
speaker believed there was 81, 800 TO ST.
500 in Mr.. Nelson's hands belonging to
the canal interests. which had been COLI
lected along the canal route and upon
his motion the secretary was instructed
to open correspondence with Mr.. Nelson
on the subject.
Mr.. Framing, on behalf of Milan,
pledged S25 to the canal cause, and upon
motion Mr. Framing and Mr.. David
Sears were N sde members of the execu>
tive committee from the town of Milan.
MIR. Murphy made report OF having
communicated with Capt Marshall, who
is in charge of the present surveys, and
submitted the following official statement
from Capt Marshall which will be read
with interest by all
CHICAGO. Dec. 10.
Hon. j. II. Murphy, Washington, y c.
My DEAR SIR:-In reply to your letter
of the 81 inst, | have to say that have
been unable to prepare the memorandum
l promised you about the Illinois and
Mississippi (lennepin) canal. until now.
The advantages of this work and its re-
and discussed in the report of the Com,
stock Board, published in the report OF
the chief of engineers for 1897. page
2l25. My connection with the scheme
has been only the preparation of detailed
plans and estimates under the provision
of the river and hsrbor bill OF August
II, 1855, based entirely upon previous
surveys, except such minor examinations
as were found necessary to get such de
tailed information al special points as
was found necessary to enable me to fit !
the proposed constructions to the sites.
The route begins just above the viii |
lage of Hennepin on the Illinois river,
follows the valleys of Bureau creek and |
Pond creek To the summit level, thence |
across to Rock river at Penny's slough. |
and thence down Rock river to its mouth. |
The entire length of the canal and Rock |
river navigation is exactly ~ miles of |
this fifty miles is canal and twenty>seven |
miles slsckwater navigation in Reck /
river
There is feeder (navigab e. from Rock |
river near Dixon, via Winnebago swamp /
to the summit level thirty-folIr and three
fourths miles long. The canal and |
feeder are each to be eighty feet wide
and seven feet deep, with locks 10 feet |
long and seven feet within stills, |
thirty feet in width Of lock chamber. The |
lockages are as follows:
L 'cks.
summit level 10 Penneys ough, 70 feet -..... 9 |
Penney slough to Misi ssippi river low water, |
20 feet and dams ........... .................
Feeder, Dixon to junction with main hae three
feet descent, with guard LOCK at Dixon....-.. / |
Total number OF locks ......3 IS |
There are five squeducts and large |
number of bridges, culverts, wing dams, |
retaining walls, etc, on the line. !
The detailed plans and estimates Eek
act) cannot be completed before about
May lst but as far as we have progressed
viz All locks but three. all dams, and all
aqueducts, the detailed estimates are
found to agree very closely with the pre-
limlnary estimates already published,
there being variation of only $4,000 |
IN about 81, 0OO,O 900 worth of work, oom-
pared. If this ratio continues between
the preliminary estimates and the close |
computations, | estimate the entire cost |
Of the canal and feeder as 81, 915 ass.
The final estimates will not exceed in |
full short of these figures an amount ex- |
ceeding $250,0 In round numbers |
the canal with all its works and feeder. |
including the Rock river slackwater, can
be built in substantial, permanent man. |
ner of stone, earth and iron for $1,000, |
600. and in accordance with the best |
practice. Such are the present indics-
tons based upon carefully studied plans
and drawings and liberal prices. hope !
that these are the facts that you desire.
l do not consider it necessary for me to
argue as to the necessity or advissbility
OF the work, as that is matter for
statesmen to do and not for engineers.
Very respectfully,
W. L. MARSHALL.
Capt. of Engineers.