Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-18

at the accomplishment of this great
undertaking. and complimented the
engineers on their work, from a
scientific standpoint in securing the
practical beginning of that which
was to be the connecting link be-
tween the majestic father of waters
and the Atlantic ocean.
The band played the "Star
Spangle Banner" the smaller
steamer Lone Star, which had been
sent up through the lower lock in
advance in anticipation of the impos-
sibility of the Young being admitted
| to the locks. was attached to the
barge, the locks swung open.
the boat and barge passed through,
and then it was that short address
was made by Postmaster Nj. j. Nc
Entry, of Moline, the band enlivened
the occasion by more patriotic music
and the excursionists turned their
attention to an investigation of the
contents of the freight consignments
heretofore alluded to.
Refreshments.
These were found to be boxes of
crackers, cookies. pretzels, bottled
beer, soda water and substan-
tial delicacies, of which the party
partook with relish, and as a pastime
some sport was created by tossing
crackers and cakes to the army of
boys that trudged along the bank of
the canal, and the way they scram-
bled for the good things that were
thrown upon the bank was sight
that was celebrating.
The boat having passed through
locks 81 and Sc was now approaching
Milan. where it touched shore, after
passing through the draw of the first
bridge. A royal welcome was given
the expedition by gathering of the
people of the town on the shore. and
enthusiastic salutations were ex-
changed. Speeches of welcome were
made, the boat pulling away with
reinforcement in the way of passen-
gers from the town, but it being late
now, a number from this city left the
barge and returned to the city by
electric car.
| The Return Trip.
In backing down, near the south
bank, a large birch tree stood in the
water several feet from shore. AS
the Lone Star. passed it was swept,
from wheel to pilot house, by a
fringe of small branches, but the 25-
foot stacks did not escape SO easily.
They caught the larger limbs high
up, hung a moment, then the guy
lines gave way, and down they went
with a crash, quartering across the
hurricane deck in front of the pilot
house, and over onto the roof of the
barge, giving several eXcursionists 4
close call for their heads. The smoke
rolled up from the deck. where the
stacks had parted. and the steam r
was indefinitely hung up for repairs.
These were made in due time, but
the boat encountered other exper-
fences on its return voyage, such as
being hung up on a bar, etc.. but
the merry crowd on board, with
speech making and music, all re-
turned happy and safely about 9
O'Clock. The day had made it's i'm
press on the history of the commu-
nifty, and the people of the cities
whose interests are SO identical, had
joined in another happy, profitable
and memorable occasion.
A Clinton Plan.
Apropos of the opening of the
canal, the Clinton Herald offers the
following suggestion:
ut is announced that the Henne-
pin canal is to be opened for business
Wednesday, the 18th. In order to
> make it of much use to the popula-
tien above the rapids, a branch or
feeder from the Mississippi is neces-
: sary. A practicable route therefor
: is by way of what is called the Cat
!; Tail slough. opposite this city. A
. feeder for the canal goes down from
Sterling, and branch from a point
opposite Clinton would tap that
: branch about thirty miles east. The
! entire distance is dead level, and a
u branch canal could be easily con-
/ structed at little expense compared
with the mileage expense of the main
i canal.
= such a branch would save the
!, dangerous passage of the rapids, a
u long distance and much time. 1t is
5 farther from here to the mouth oil
u the canal below Rock Island than to
!, the other end Of the proposed branch
u starting from point opposite Gin
ton. This branch is like the base
e of a triangle. the sides of which are
u the main canal and the ssissipp
river, from Clinton to Rock Island
1t is obvious that great time could
e be saved by passing along the base
II of the triangle instead of travelling
$ the entire length of both sides, to
= say nothing OF the perils of the rap
ids.
- 1.-The Herald is informed that thu
: people in tie vicinity of this posi-
Z bic branch canal are much interested
,e and will do everything in their pow
u er to assist such an enterprise. The
u government engineers are nov
II located at Sterling during the max
:: ing OF the feeder from that point
Il and it is therefore a very favorable
Z time Tn Spcurp n surrav Anplica