Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-07
CANAL COMMISSIONERS.
The Special Army Board to Locate
the Proper Route
The Meeting in Msjnr Markenzie's
Odice-PO.s.biiities Of an Ea-
,ireIy New Llue-HOpes
aud Fears.

Gen. o. NJ. Poe of Detroit. Capt. W.
L. Marshall of Chicago. who with Major
Alex. Mackenzie of this city constitute
the special board of army officers to pass
| upon the established route of the Henne-
pin canal or locate differeut line which
ever in their judgment may seem best,
| arrived at the Harper from the east last
night.
This morning the army board mt q,
, Maj. Mackenzie's Office with Geu. Poe az
Chairman and Capt. Marshall as recorder
Shortly afterwsrd the committee of the
Rock Island Citizens Improvement asso.
cistion was received and the resolutions
presented, while lengthy argument was
presented by Oliver Olson in behalf OF
the committee. and in favor of the
north route. The meeting lasted until
10 o'clock when the board djDurned fol
| dinner. sni this afternoon has goae to
| Milan to insp CT the routes.
1t is likely that public meet.
ing may be hell, either at Milan
or in Rock Island. The army board will
complete its report while here, and NAV
be in session several days
A Washington telegram to the Satur.
days Chicago Tribune states:
"'All that is desired in the pending in
| vestigstlion for the most feasible route
for the Hennepin canal, said Acting.Sec-
rotary Grant today. is that 1t shall show
which is the most practicable plan for
allowing steamboats,. railroad trains aud
wagon teams to reach the terminus. H.
| structious have been given the commits
sion to make thorough examination aud
| report In detail to the war deparlme OF
with view to closing up all chance for
furtter controversy on this sub
Ject. Already complaints have
reached the war department that the
route selected as far back as March of
this year is practically useless so far as
tesming and steam boating is concerned.
and We want all parties ia interest to be
perfectly satisfied before decision is
finally rendered. Having lived in the
section of the country through which this
canal will pass, l am perfectly familiar
with the topography. and kno the needs
OF the people. What is desired more
than anything else is to furnish an outlet
for the products of the valley OF
the Mississippi and lis tributaries,
and great care should be exercised il
the selection of terminal station for this
enterprise"
n The expression thus credited to Gen.
Grant puts new phase on the case aud
vests authority in the engineers board
which may result favorsbly to Rock
Island and the entire comm nifty. or it M
perchsnse be directly the contrary in its
effects. If the board should not coudne
itself to the two routes considered, and
should adopt new one further this way
and utiliz. the hills to protect it from
high water. emptying into the river nea.
the old distillery. it would be not only the
best line in the opinion of those familiar
with the lay of thei land, but would be
| more economical. Ga the other hand, If
the board should construe its instructions,
if they are such as are attributed to Gen
Grant, to act upon all oltes considered,
| then it might not be so well for Rock Is
land, Davenport or any one else. In tina,
event great many people would wish
they had adhered to the policy of letting
well enough alone.