Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-09-24
SENSIBLE TALK.
The Grand Opportu mites TO Accom-
pany the coming of the Hennepin
canal

The Grand Opportu mites TO Accom-.
pany the coming Of the Hennepiu
Canal.
VIM. r. Holmes has written the Dav.
export Democrat stirring communication
on the opportunities which are to be Of
fered with the coming OF the Hennepin
canal. He says for instance:
Perhaps few realize the full significance
OF this movement, and certainly no one
can predict the extent of its value to this
locality, which will hereafter enjoy specs
ial benefit as a shipping, manufacturing
and commercial center; the terminus of
water rates from the seaboard to the Mis-
sissippi. and to a connection with rail
roads to all points west to the Pacific,
more especially to the great grain produc-
ing regions of the United States. with bnt
single transfer, and at reduced freights;
for all rail rates will be cheapened, even
for merchandise which never floats on the
waters of this canal. This, with the re
sulting enlargement of the home market
for nearby products, will still further
benefit Scott county and the tri>cities, and
river city between st. Paul and ST. Louis.
The Hennepin canal unquestionably
means an early development of our now
wasted water power, which will find pro-
fitable use in large manufactures on
cheap power, with lowest freight rates
between all markets. At the eastern
border of the city the same power can be
converted into electricity for lighting pur
poses, for propelling street cars, ard for
driving-just where convenient-light
machinery, from sewing machines to
printing presses. This canal means
cheaper coal from the mines of Illinois
and Pennsylvania; stone from LOckport
and Joliet; timber from Lake Michigan A;
iron and copper ore from Superior, which
cheap power will convert into freight for
numerous railroads to distribute; for the
Hennepin means that railroads now at
Peoria and east of here will not neglect
point so attractive TO the grain and
other products of the region accessible TO
Davenport, and besides these new corners
are our own n. /. & D. will be started.
and extended to fields abroad. The Hens
nepin canal also means new brid re, c L.
pable of transferring the business of the
numerous railroad companies, sure to
come where great traffic attracts.
Your space would not admit enumera>
ton of the many and varied advantages
to follow the construction of this short
link needed to cheaper the connection be-
tween the granaries of the Mississippi
with the tide waters of the east, but all
these facilities will not speedily accrue To
this city without at least initistOry and
cooperative work on our part. We must
not be laggsrds when the United States
inaugurates this great advance, and, in
justice TO the long suffering agricultural
interests of the northwest, pours out mil
lions of the nations treasure IN place
and way to make possible for us all these
permanent advantages. We must not
fold our arms and say. ''all these will
now come without help" Truly they
may, in course of time, but too late for
the active portion of this generation if we
idly wait the movements of others less
interested
The Hennepin canal alone is but the
alphabet of our future, prophesying and
making possible all that is required 70
promote high and permanent prosperity
but vigorous and persistent action on our
part will be required to spread out vast
manufactures. enlarged and extended
commerce, expanded wealth and social
privileges. and a populous and beautiful
city whose acknowledged natural condi-
tons of healthy location on a majestic
| river with beautiful scenery and sur
roundings, are supplemented by the in
telligence, energy and enterprise of It's
inhabitants