Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-01-29
HENNEPIN'S IMPO RTANCE.
Encouraging Words in support of
the waterway Project from a BuI =

pTOvements.
The Burlington Gazette contains the
following words of encouragement per-
tanning to the Hennepia canal:
4 citiz N who owns river interests and
believes rightly that uno6structed nevi~
CATION of the Mississippi river and the
Hennepin canal will aid largely to work
out the salvation of Burlington, ex-
claimed this morning: How few peo-
pie realize the value of II navigabe
stream! Only few men in each COM
munity who haYe heavy shipping But,
TO begin At the beginning, compare the
freight rates from this CITY 10 Chicago
and st. Louis, together with the differ
| ence of the latter at the various seasons
OF the year. The present freight rate be-
tween Burlington and Chicago, first
class, is Al cents Between Bur, ngtOn
and ST. Louis the first-clsss rate is 80
cents. And the distance TO St. Louis is o
little further than it is 10 Chicago. Dur
ing the navigation season the difference
is even greater as against Chicago, as the
q, Il. " Q. railway company controls
all the lines from this city to ST. Louis,
and 1t is the compsDys custom to make
differential of from 4 to 6 cents per
hundred during the steamboat season in
competition with river rates between
this point and ST. Louis. The same rule
undoubtedlv holds good on the lines run
ming to st. Paul and Minneapolis during
the season that through navigation is
possible. Last season the abominable
condition % the river was such that nav>
igation had very little apparent influence
upon transportation rates, and the c.. B.
& Q. did not even allow its usual differ
entail between Burlington and S.. Louis.
Now, l believe that the Hennepin
canal will prove in many respects as VAL
liable TO this city as is the Mississippi
river, because. though it will furnish a
rather roundabout waterway to Chicago.
it will always be uavigable expect to
see the day when the railroad compa>
MES operating between Chicago and
Davenport, Burlington. Muscstine, Clin-
ton and Rock Islsnd will be obliged to
run their own boats on the Mississippi
river and the Hennepin canal 10 cons
pete for the business of the upper Missis>
sippi valley. The only reason the rail-
road companies have not long since been
forced 10 adopt this method up and down
the rlver, is because the government has
neglected the legitimate interests OF the
river and Navigation north and south has
never offered any serious opposition TO
railway transportation
why is it," continued the reasoner
earnestly, that the government en-
always find money for canals, bikes, SUBJ
sides and slack water appropriations for
eastern waterways and schemers. while
its niggsrdlY appropriation for the noblest
river in the most fertile valley of Amer
lea, is not sufficient to provide signal
lights along the shore! l do not believe,
sir, the general government is half as
blsmsble for this outrageous neglect as
are the cong -essmen of the Mississippi
valley. Our representatives go to Wash
ington presumably to secure legislation
for the benefit of their own people. 1t
is conceded by all that the greatest bless
ing which could just now befall Burlipg-
ton, and other towns of the upper river.
would be increased facilities for trans
pOrtation of raw and manufactured pro-
ducts. And what do the congressman
from the Mississippi valley do about it2
They GO to Washington, evidently. to
fiddle on free sugar tune or talk about
the next presidential chances or get a
bill through for a postoffice building.
When the congressman of the upper
Mississippi combine to secure an annual
appropriation four times doubled for the
Improvement of the VESTS greatest water
way, then Burlington and her sister cities
will have advantageous freight rates and
prosperous river commerce. And not
till then"