Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-14
WHERE WILL 1t BE?
The Permanent Terminus of the
Hennepin Canal.
The Canal Com miss ion Decides. But
Who Knows ? Some Thearie.as
TO the Nature of the
BOard's Dec sion.

mine permanently the location of the
terminus of the Hennepin canal, com
pleted its labors Saturday evening, arriv.
ing at decision which will be in due
time forwarded 10 the war department at
Washington, from which the first official
information as to its nature must emanate.
That night Gen. Poe left for his home at
Detroit and Capt. Marshall returned to
Chicago. Last evening Msj Mackenzie
departed for tour up the Mississippi to
look after matters pertaining to his de-
psrtment of the government engineer ser.
vice.
While as has been stated in THE ARGUS
repeatedly, the engineers have given DO
expression as to The nature of their opiu-
ions, individually or collectively, and can
not under the regulations of the war de-
partment until the proper authorities have
passed uDon their findings. there is good
reason 20 believe there is little hope for
the north route between Turkey
island and Pettifer's island. This
view on the part of THE ARGUS
is reached after consideration of mum,
Der of new developments which have
been made by the engineers inyestiga-
ton and which were before unknown,
and chief of which is discovery con-
corning the water supply of Rock river
Under the old original survey the dis
charge was 900 cubic inches at the
head of Vandruff's island, whereas it is
now shown 10 be only 1900 cubic
inches, or not one>third what it was Or
iginslly supposed to be. This would
have very important bearing on the
case and might make the line of the north
shore survey which utilizes the channel
of Rock river below Turkey island i'm
practicable in the matter of maintaining
the proper depth and stage Of water for
the passage of canal boats.
Under such circumstances we may ex,
pect an endors ement of the southern
route, or what is better the recommended
ton on the part of the engineers of an
entirely new survey across the plateau
from Turkey island-as already spoken
OF in The ARGUS and emptying into the
Mississippi somewhere near the
old distillery. Such decision
would depend, of course, mainly upon the
boards construction of the latitude Of
the phrase "st the mouth of Rock river"
Locally speaking as well as for the in.
terests of the community, the commission
could not adopt more favorable course.
The Davenport Tribune. commenting
On the assertion of THE ARGUS that Rock
Island had worked for the canal before
Davenport had heard of it, adds:
This will be news TO many people in
this city. The canal project was hstched
IN Davenport anC the first article ever
published in advocacy of il was published
In tie old GuZetie, then edited by Ell
ward Russell. Il is true that Rock Island
people have worked hard for the canal and
The ARGUS has always teen one of the
tlTmest friends OF the enterprise and is
Today IN favor of the route as selected by
the engineers and has fought the few sell
fish nee who are trying to fill their pock
cts al the governments expense. II THE
ARGUS will investigate little it will learn
that The late George H. French. of this
city. was one of The origlnators of the
canal.
Il is true enough that individuals in
Davenport whom the Tribune mentions
have been identified with the canal pro-
ject from the first, and it might have
aided the name of Hon. j. n. Murphy to
the list. But in Rock Island there has
been no individual. Rock Island worked
sJ.idly for the canal before it was heard
OF in Davenport beyond few individ-
uals. Rock Island has stood as unit for
i; from the first, and the entire city has
worked for it. In Davenport, a few
prominent citizens have done the
bulk of the work.