Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-09-04
FIRST EIGHT MILES
Excavation for so Much of the
Canal Completed.
HENNEPN MAKING PROGRESS.

Seven Large Locks Within That Distance
Soon to be Fintshed-WorkinE Double
Timr-rhc Appropriations Now AvaI,a-
bic.
According to a dispatch from
Princeton to the Chicago Inter-Ocean,
the excavations and embankments
for the first eight miles Of the Hen
nepin canal are about completed, and
within the next few weeks it is ex-
pected the seven large locks en-
braced in this distance will be fin
ished. rendering a completed canal
from the Illinois river to n point
near Tiskilwa. There is yet remain
ing about $3.50, 900 of the last appro-
alton of congress for this enterprise.
which sum, it is thought, is sufli-
cient to keep up active operations
until another appropriation is made
at the next congress. A late esti-
mate places the cost for the entire
canal at about Z ZOO, 900, with plain
embankments. OF about 80, 200, 900
with entertainments ripcapped with
cut stone, and of the amount neces-
sary 81, $50. 900 has already been APP
p%ropriated by congress. During the
last six weeks night and day shifts
have beer at work on the locks in
constructing the walls, which are
made Of concrete. Light has been
provided by electricity and night
work is considered necessary. as the
walls on each side arc over 800 feet
long, and the concrete work must be
carried on constantly in order to rem
der it solid. II a way is found to
supply the first eight or twelve
miles of the canal with water. this
portion of the canal will be opened
for public use before the remainder
of the canal is completed. Onc pro-
jcct to supply this portion of the ca
nal temporarily and possibly perma-
nently was to tap Bureau river ut a
point about n mile west Of Prince
ton. but this plan has practically
been abandoned. With the section
named in operation boats could reach
Bureau and Tiskilwa. The cost in
vOlved in the construction Of the first
eight miles of the canal exclusive of
the necessary highway and railroad
bridges, will be about 800. 900. OF this
amount, $40, 900 to $4,000 goes for
the construction of each of the seven
locks and $40, 900 for an aqueduct to
allow Bureau river to pass under the
canal. The locks are being fitted
with the latest improvements in the
way of machinery, and with the de-
vices to be used it is said that not
more than Is or 20 minutes will be
required to allow boats to pass
through the locks. AT each lock the
government has purchased a small
amount Of ground upon which will
he erected a residence for the keeper
in charge of the lock. Says the dis
patch:
Great Benefits Reviewed.
'.By the construction Of this canal,
which is technically termed the ILL
nois and Mississippi canal. a dis
lance of 600 miles will be saved to
the shipping interests of all the
towns on the Mississippi river above
Rock Island and of the northwest in
a water route to the Chicago market.
At the present time it is necessary
for all river craft upon arriving at
Rock Island to double down the Mis-.
sissippi river and back on the Hi
nois, as and these rivers for 4 distance
of 800 miles parallel each other, the
trade has been placed at a great dis
advantage. This route has also
many other objections, among them
being the rapid descent of the Mis-
sissippi river between Rock Island
and the mouth of the Illinois river.
and also on account of the latter
river being low and sluggish. When
the Henncpin canal is finished, be-
tween IA and 16 days will be saved
to river craft in making the trip
from Rock Island to Chicago. and
also many dangers of the present
route will be avoided. In addition
to the grain trade, it is considered
the canal will be an easy outlet for
the lumber interests Of Wisconsin
is sawed at mills along the Missis-
sippi river and streams that empty
into it. The remaider of the route
to Chicago. after passing through
the Hennepin canal, will be by way
of the Illinois river to LaSalle, and
from there into the city by the Hi
nois and Michigan canal. This route
will be used until the Chicago drain
age canal is completed when, under
the law authorizing its construction.
that will be substituted. Until that
time only the small boats can make
the entire distance. owing to the
narrowncss of the Illinois and Michi-
gan canal. The act of congress pro-
vides that in case the Chicago drain
age canal is rot ultimately used. the
Illinois and Michigan canal. which
the state Of Illinois rendered the
general government, will be both
and widcned. The canal
commences at the Illinois river
about two miles above Hennepin.
At this point a ridge separating the
from Spring Lake has been cut
through. and on one side an embank-
ment will be thrown up TO be used as
a tow path. Spring lake will be used
as a basin in which boats can accu-
,pt,l , , ~ ~ ior& r,c,t.- I.r.