Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-14
WATERWAY WORK.
The Mass Meeting at Daven-
port to Consider 1t.
PROPER RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.

Speeches by R-pre.entativo Citizens Per-
taining to and setting Forth the I'm
portance Of Inlsnd lmprovsments-1he
Business Mems Association.
The city government of Rock ISL
and was represented by City Clerk
A. ID. Huesing, Chief of Police An
drew Etzel and Aids. Tindall. Nell
son. johnson. Schroeder and Zeis at
last nights mass meeting at the
rooms of the Davenport Bushes.
Meas association TO celebrate Wa
,erways' Day" Mayor Henry Volt
mer. Of Davenport. presided. and in
his opening remarks stated that SEN
ator Sherman in his new book of per-
sonal memoirs, in which the writer
referred to the appropriations that
have been made in recent years for
the benefit of the great waterways,
and particularly the Mississippi
river. as practically wasted. as tn.
annihilati6n of the pine forests
would soon result in climatic changes
that would give spring freshet Of
nnmanageable dimensions and dry
river bed in the summer. The mayor
stated that reading this prophecy
had bothered him somewh nat until he
had had an opportunity of asking
Capt. Walter A. Blair as TO the truth
OF the statesman's assertion. The
captains answer had treasured the
speaker. Capt Blair was pretty
emphatic in sayI6g that the clearing
OF the woodlands of the north was
not nearly so complete as the sena-
tor seemed to think. Pine trees
were seldom found forming a whole
forest by them selves, so that their
removal seldom left the ground
cleared, and that the work pro-
crossed SO little. comparatively, in a
single season, that new growth in
the cut districts usually offset the
cutting done in other places. The
mayor paid his respects to the Faith
er OF Waters and its value to the
cities advantageously lying on its
banks, and then made way for Capt
Lon Bryson. who presented the fol-
lowing resolutions which were
adopted:
Whereas, The waterways in this
country were the first importa fac
tors in the settlement of the great
west and now stand in the position
Of the great arbitrator of freight
Rates in the interests of all the people.
and as no greater waterways exist
than the great lakes and the Missis,
sippi river and tributaries, they are
entitled to the fostering care Of the
government; therefore be it
Resolved. BY the citizens of Daven
port in mass meeting assembled:
1. That those two great waterway
systems should be speedily united by
pushing forward to the completion
of the Illinois and Mississippi Tor
Henncpin) canal. and that we also
nrGc upon congress at its present ses-
sion the necessity of liberal appro-
priation for the continuance of the
work on this important waterlink in
the great chain of western water
ways.
=. That we most heartily endorse
and approve the work done by United
States engineers in the improvement
of the upper Mississippi. and most
earnestly urge congress to continue
to appropriate the money asked for
by the engineers to carry on this i'm
portant and meritorious work.
3. That we most respectfully and
urgently request the United States
engineers in charge of the improve
ment of the upper Mississippi to
make full, fair and compete test
of portable jetties as a remedy for
the new bad places where permanent
work can not be done and only tenn
porary relief is required.
Speeches.
Speeches were made in the mean
time by Capt. Walter A. Blair, City
Attorney Sharon. Hon. Nathaniel
French, Frank W. Smith, A. p. Nc
Guirk, and Aid. j. w. Bollingcr, as
well as by f. W. Baker. who was
present with his Hennepin cane and
bottle of dirt from the first spade
full of earth turned up on the Hennc-
| pin, and was called on By the mayor.
He detailed the history of the vari-
Gus excursions to the Hennepin over
which he has presided as purser. In
concluding, Mr.. Baker introduced j.
{. Long, United States assistant en-
gineer, IN charge Of the construction
of the eastern section of the Hcnne-
pin canal, with headquarters at lis
ki!wa.
Work on the Canal.
In response to number of ques-
tions as to the progress of the work
on the eastern section, Mr.. Loog
gave the following details: After
two years spent in securing right Of
way and preparing plans. coustruc-
eight miles of canal trunk have been
built, and work is now suspended