Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-17
CANAL ROUTES.
Capt. NarshuiI On G-p. GIIchrisi $
kCckle-s Sch me-.

LCckle-s Sch mr.
Capt. W. L. Marshall has furnished
the Davenport Democrat the following as
his idea OF Gen G a Glchrist's lockless
Hennepin canal scheme:
United States Engineers Office, Chi.
csgo. Ill, March 5. 1892 Gen. eli,
christ has no authority whatever for go
ing about the country publicly stating
what he believes 10 be my opinion as 10
his scheme, the Hennepin canal, or anys
thing else
What have 10 say about the canal is
given in my fficial reports, and not in
Gen Gilchrist's unauthorized and self
interested talks. After years of agita
ton congress has caused the location of
the canal on the Rock Island route. has
caused detailed plans and estimates to be
made, and has appropriated money for
beginning its construction. The matter
of route, dimensions and character of the
canal are no longer under discussion and
| do not discuss them with Gen. Gilcbrist
or any one else. When he came TO me
with his scaeC-e l simply told him to 90 to
congress with it if he desired to push il
the Hennepin canal. Gen Gilchrist, it
seems, did not perceive that the remsrk
may have been aimed at his scheme as an
impracticable or harmless one rather than
at the Hennepin.
Gen. Gilchrist wants to carry a canal
20 feet deep and l don't recol.ect how
many miles wide; flowing canal without
locks. from Lake Michigan 10 the Missis.
slppi, with embsnB ments across rsyipes
in some places 100 feet high. and cuts
and high entertainments for miles in other
places so to 80 feet in vertical dimen-
SONS.
What my opinion as to canals 20 feet
more or less in depth and some miles
more or less in width from Lake Michigan
where there is no artificial barber Of
that depth-to the Mississippi river above
ST. Louis, where there is no steamer re-
curing more than seven feet of water
(snd not more than four feet of water in
the river even for such boats, is pub
lished, and well known to all who have
studied the later official publications on
this subject.
don't believe any of these schemes
will inJure the Illinois river improvement
nor the HenDepin canal. nor will the ad-
vocstes of them be able to retsrd work
upon them in any way. They have been
In vain irving to retard them for many
years. They ought to be allowed, how
ever. to talk, as the more they talk the
less dangerous and better satisfied. they
all are, and the better acquainted with
the whole subject the people become.
The work on the Hennepin canal is de
layed 10 secure rights OF wsy. and not by
the engineers in charge of the work The
matter has been out of cur hands about q
year. ard we are governed by the laws o.
the United States Very respectfully,
w l.. MAR,HALL.
Capt Corps OF Engineers.
In its Introductory comments the dem
ocrat says:
The Davenport Democrat of Friday.
March 4, contained very full report of
Gen G. A Gichrist's scheme for what
he calls "lockless canal from Lake
Michigan TO the mouth of Rock river
Gen. GIlchrist was in town, wanted to
talk and the Democrat accommodated
him. 1t gave Gen. Gilchrist no endorse
ment, believing his scheme unworthy f
attention. 1t simply printed his story.
But it did more. Copies OF the paper
containing an account of the vision were
sent to Capt. Marshall under whose di-
rection the adopted surveys were made
No one, with the possible exception OF
Gen. Gilchrist. doubts that Capt. Mar.
shall has found and work has been begun
on the best and in every way the most
desirable route. Capt. Marshall was
asked whether Gen Gilchrist was author
lied to make certain statements and fol-
lowing is the very satisfactory answer