Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-17
CHANGE OF CANAL ROUTE.

correspondent sends a dispatch TO his
paper today in which he saws ex-Con.
gresham Gest is there in accordance with
special appointment with the secretary
OF war in the matter of the location of the
Hennepin canal. The dispatch con-
tinues:
Mr.. Gest will see Secretary Proctor
TOMORROW, when he will present the case
10 him with the new information that has
oeen discovered since lie. Mr.. Gest, filed
MS orlef here month ago The case as
Mr. Gest Will present it to the secretary
OF war Is this; For years the cause of
the Hennepin canal was injured by the
cohulctlng Claims as to the routes There
were four different routes, and the advo-
Gates OF the respective routes were very
earnest IN their claims. Congress, how
ever, in 1889 set led the question of route
by adopting what is known as the Rock
leland route. T is route was adopted by
congress after the reports of the en-
gineers as to all of the routes suggested
had been carefully considered. The act
LETT no discretion to the secretary of war
or to the engineer officers to change the
from Rock Island where the Rock River
empties INTO the Mississippi. That act
located the canal
The act of 1890 made the appropria-
ten for the beginning Of the construc>
tlon or the canal on the route which the
previous act had fixed. The act of 1890
DID not change the route and did not au-
thorlze anyone TO change it. The engi-
neer omcers were instructed 10 com
mence work in accordance with that act.
Instead of that Capt. Marshall, in charge
OF the district, without authority of Jaw,
proceeded 10 make a survey of another
route and has made report to the secre-
tary OF war that the work should begin
on the route selected by himself outside
OF any authority of law and in defiance 10
the act Of congress. He has made a re-
port to the secretary of war to Justify
himself in this usurpstion of authority by
making series of statements and char
ges which cannot be sustained, and
which, if they could be sustained. are
matter for the law making power, and
not for subordinate officer of an exec.
uuYe department acting under a specific
law
The statements made by Captain Mar
snail to which Congressman GtSr takes
exceptions are that he deemed it expe
dent TO change the route, because, IS he
asserts, there is combination to mulct
the government as to right of way, and
that the titles are clouded. To this Mr.
Gest replies that Captain Marshall does
not sustain his charge. and that he has
no right TO assume that he is wiser than
or that the law making power
is vested in himself
The congress has prepared a wsy by
which the general government can secure
the title, and the courts will see to it that
the government is not defrauded and
that the titles are good. In other words.
MT. Gest will insist to the secretary of
war that this engineer officer has eX-
ceeded his duty in assuming the functions
both Of congress and the courts, and in
both to make a new law and
assume the functions of the courts. More
over, Mr.. Gest denies that facts are as
stated TO be by Captain Marshall in this
report. He insists that there is no com
binstion to mulct the government, and
that the titles are not clouded
While there is q general tendency 10
believe the nearer route would We lee
preferable 10 Rock Island, still THE AR
GUS believes the engineers adopted what !
they believed 10 be the most practical !
route, regardless of the property interests !
and with an aim single to the protection !
Of the government. If MI Gest had !
been as enthusiastic in his work for the !
canal as he is earnest in mis- esire TO |
have the adopted route changed, he !
would have shown more commemorate |
spirit. 1t is indeed exceedingly peculiar
that he should be so deeply inter-
ested in the matter how. THE
ARGUS is for the canal, no matter what
The route, though, Of course, it would |
favor that most advantageous to Rock
Island. Rather than jeopsrdize the en-
tire measure, however, as there is danger
Of doing ia the mere qualification of |
self interests. THE ARGUS would pre-
Tered to see the route left undisturbed, |
and the actual work of construction 90
forward without delay. The canal was
quit not for few individuals whose
property might be benefited, nor for a
single community, but for the advance
nent of the commerce of the entire north
vest. as the people of Rock Island
nave always held.