Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-13
FORTUNE FAVORED 1T.
How the Hennepia Canal Has Been Adj
vanced-The Present status.


The Chicago Herald devotes a page
to an illustrated review Of the pro-
gress of work on the Hennepin canal,
and in addition to giving in detail
the manner in which the project has
been advanced, as heretofore de-
scribed in The ARGUS, the Herald
has the following information fur
nished it from Milan:
Two months ago il was expected
that Is OF 90 miles of the Illinois and
Mississippi canal, better known as
the Hennepin. would be in use by
this time. At the commencement of
work last spring il was believed and
hoped that the first section of tn e
canal could lie completed and thrown
open 10 traffic by Oct. l. and this
was the latest date fixed by the en-
gineers for the dedication of the
work with whatever ceremonies the
local enthusiasts might determine.
This expectation would have been
fully met if it had not been for the
delay in the arrival of two bridges
that are to span the canal at this
place; one CARRYING a public high
way, the other the Rock Island Il Pc
oria road. While the people of this
vicinity fondly expected that this
opening of the canal would bring
with it the opening of valuable coal
fields in Illinois, all adjacent To the
line of the canal. the engineers
wanted to see the embankments
tested, so that any leakage or other
Il L..
As il appears now that water will
not be admitted in time To accom-
plish any of this. While there are a
few small bits of work still To be
done. such as the finishing of the
lockkeepers' homes. and here and
there bit of sandpapcring of the
canal trunk. none of this work is Of
such a character as To DELAY the
opening. The bridges only are hold
ing il back.
How Fortune Favored the Work.
Good luck and favoring fortune
from start to finish have been marked
features of the work. The OCCASION
al floods of Rock river and Mill creek
have threatened. but have done no
damage. The bad weather has fallen
so that it occasioned little inconven-
fence. For the most part it has been
good. The route included three
| quarters of 4 mile of lake, saving
| that much excavation. About the
dams and upper guard lock. where
large amounts of rock were needed.
rock was found in plenty. At locks
Sc and 81. where the soil was allu-
vial with no rock. excellent pebbles
were found right al hand. and used
in the concrete work. The earth en-
cavation near Milan was just sul1i-
Gent to fill the entertainments, and the
rock excavation just sufficient to rip
rap them. The periods of low water
in Rock river came so as to favor
quarrying there at the right time for
| doing it. One week after the dams
were completed flood filled that
stream that would have swept the
work all away had it come a few DAYS
sooner. During last summers
miners strike, coal became scarce
and finally was exhausted. Two or
three days before this happened a
good vein of all coal was struck.
right in the rock in the bed OF the
canal, where the cut had to be deep
ened anyway; so. in addition to 4
railroad system, waterworks and
several other high titled establish
ments. Capt. Wheeler became for the
time mine operator. This vein
carried the locomotives and station
airy engines over the strike without
the loss of a day. Recently good
building stone was needed. None
exists in this part of the country,
and it was expected that a purchase
would be necessary. just before
this work was reached, however. 4
stratum of fine solid slimestone was
opened in the canal prism, so this
need was supplied, and like many
others, almost providentially. M.
merous other examples light be
given to show the kindnesses of the
canals guardian angel TO those in
charge of the work.
What the Canal will DO.
The construction of the canal en-.
bankments is a godsend to all the
Milan and Big Island region, which
contains some of the fairest farms in
Illinois. They are high enough tc
cut oil all overflow by Rock river and
Mill Creek. These overilows have
been a serious drawback to residenc,
and busin ess here. The embauk.
ments will carry highways at several
points. The finest fishing ground in
this region has been created about
the dams. The whole locality has
become almost a pleasure resort by
the people of the three cities, and the
slack water above the dams will soon
be pleasure ground that will at
tract many excursions.
But these are mere circumstances
beside the large benefit that will &C.
crue to this region rs soon as tn,
water is admitted to the canal prism
and the era of traffic opened. Rock
Island and Davenport will then be
large distributing centers for hard
coal, which is now large item OF
| fra t1iss hara ovI "a 10. 4.