The morning call., 1891-01-04
A COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY,
Inaugural Address Of The President Of
the Chicago Ship Canal.

CHICAGO, Jan. 3.-Judge Richard Prem
dergast. in his inaugural address to-day. as
President of the Chicago Ship Canal Trus-
tees, made some notable utterances. After
outlining the present status of the enter
prise and suggesting the immense water
power that would be created at the western
edge OF the city on DeSplaines River max
ing possible the construction there of per-
maps the greatest mills on the continent,
Judge Prendergast said: 1.-The general
SUBJECT OF such waterway as it is the pol
ley OF the State of Illinois to Cooperate in
constructing includes a branch which, in
peaceful and profitable days of commerce
and industrial and agricultural activities. is
not borne In mind by the masses of the peo-
pie, and yet which is important to all of
then." The Judge referred to the restric-
ton OF our naval force on the great lakes by
treaty with Great Britain, made when the
territories tributary TO them were mighty
wilderness. Now the lakes are bordered
with regions of dense population, and great
cities are all along their shores. The British
Canadian authorities, at the expenditure
OF more than 5000, 900, 900, have constructed
series OF waterways between the lakes and
the Atlantic seaboard of such dimensions
that over 125 war vessels ON the British
naval list can pass into the great lakes, and
In addition it has been the policy of that
Government to foster the construction of
Steel vessels, for commercial purposes, to
navigate Canadian waters, susceptible of
use as armed cruisers in case of hUstilites."
Judge Prendergast mentioned the system of
armament on Vancouver Island, command
ing Puget Sound, etc, and said "In addition
to all this, as well as the British military
n vol +fo+
in other waters, we have upon the northern
frontiers rich, strong and vigorous country
and people bound by many ties to England,
presenting all along our borders magnif-
cent system Of offensive and defensive utii-
ties, and up to this hour the Government of
the United States has done substantially
nothing to meet or cope with the hostile
demonstration from this source.
The Federal Government has surveyed
Lake Peoria, which is but the widening of
the Illinois River, near the city of Peoria,
and naval exI ertS have pronounced 1t an ad
equate and available site for a Government
station for construction, maneuvering and
steering of torpedo-boats. Indeed, tine most
OF the investigations and expenditures made
by the Federal Government in the Illinois
River have had relation to the subject of
ultimately perfecting its accessibility from
the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan, but,
OF course, such station would be an ab-
surdity, IN so tar as it relates to the lakes,
without channel for the passage of vessels
from 1t TO the lakes, and there is no doubt
the construction of main channel, aided
by the logic of the situation and of the
events, will compel the construction of the
remainder of the waterway by the Federal
Government, with, among other things, the
construction of such naval station near
the CITY of Peoria" Aftar a -reSuma n tsyv h at
lie considers the tremendous probable COM
mercial effects of the canal, Judge Prender-
CAST in conclusion said: when Mar
quette. Joliet, La Sale and Hennepin made
their weary marches to reach the river of
De Soto they walked the way of destiny.
This valley region, formerly a highway of
waters, has become and must become more
and more highway of commerce."