Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-05
FIRST FIVE NILES
work on the West End of the
Hennepin Canal.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE NEAR MILAN

"enerai Review of What Has Been Accom-
plished-who Are and Have Been I'm
Charge-Matterso of Public Interest From
the Town Of Milan
MILAN, Sept. 5.-The first five
miles Of one of the great waterways in
the United States will soon be com.
pleted. There will be in the construc-
ton OF this canal saving of 600 miles
to the shipping interests of all the
towns above Rock Island A steamer
can make trip on this canal from
Chicago to Rock Island in about sew
enteen days less than usual, which
means great deal to the grain and
lumber shipping interests, as the
grain by boat now goes by way of the
Illinois river. The first dirt was
thrown during the month of August,
1892, by delegation of citizens
from the tri-cities, who came mp
Rock river on a steamer The spade
| with which the first dirt was dug was
| exhibited at the Worlds fair, and is
now in the Smithsonian institute at
Washington. This part of the canal
has three locks numbering sc. 81 and
guard lock. The concrete work on
the locks was in charge of
| George F. Eckert, under the
supervision of Capt. l.. L. Wheeler.
The carpenter work on the lock gates
was in charge of Alex Owens. The
locks are all 49, feet in length and
wide enough for the largest boat or
barge on the Mississippi river. bur
| ing the excavations for the locks and
banks Indian relics and rocks OF all
kinds were found. The rest of the
work between the locks is earthwork.
the most of which was done by two
locomotives and so dump cars. The
engine, Davenport, was in charge of
| Engineer Baker and Fireman Gerard,
ana the Hennepin in charge of En-
gineer Church and Fireman Murphy.
The civil engineers who have been in
charge from the beginning up to the
present time are l.. l.. Wheeler, j. W.
Woermann and A. .. Rouse The
| original force OF engineers included
r. 5. Hunter, of Boston: R. Is.
Stearns, of Chicago: Charles Francis,
OF Davenport, and Charles Wood
bury, of Vermont. q. +. MCGEE has
| Just come here lately and has charge
OF the two dams across Rock river.
The concrete piers for the new draw
bridge across the canal near the old
wagon bridges are finished. and work
on the piers for the railroad bridge
will begin As soon as the railroad
bank is removed. The bridges are
being built by Cleveland, Ohio,
bridge company and will soon he
ready to put into place. a fine vein
| OF coal was struck near the west end
OF the guard lock. which measured
four feet. The coal taken out of this
bank was enough to run eight or
nine stationary engines which were
used for pumping Golfers and run
ming steam drills. besides the coal
used for the two locomotives. Ii will
not be very long now till the mer-
chants Of Milan can get goods from
st. Louis and have them shipped by
way OF the canal at cheaper rates
than by rail. The water will likely
he let into the canal about the lst of
October.
D. +. Beers, OF Geneseo. was in
town Tuesday.
Miss Maud Wynes, of Rural. was in
town Saturday.
Lester Schwartz is teaming for the
Milan roller mills
A large number of people were
sightseeing on the canal Sunday.
The artesian well is completed and
the tower was taken down Tuesday.
The township auditors held meet
ing in the town hall Tuesday after
noon.
The village council met and ad-
journed Monday evening. No bust
ness was done.
About seven blocks of good walks