Rock Island Argus., 1899-10-27
INSPECTION OF CANAL.
Maj. w. L. Marshall and Party of
Congressmen Are in
the City.
TRIP UP THE HENNEPIN ROUTE.

AseertaIning Whether Enough Money Ha
| Been Recommended for CONSTRUCTION
Work for the Coming Year-Rockfort
/ Wants a Connection-A Visit to Rocl
Island Arsenal.
Mai. W. L. Marshall, of the engi-
neer corps, l.. S. A, and Congress
men &. w. Prince. of Galesburg; K.
K. Hit, of Mt. Morris; Walter Reeves.
| of Streator, and V. Warner, of Clin-
ton. ILL.,, who are on a tour of inspec-
| tion of the Hennepin canal, arrived in
Rock Island last night. They were ac-
companied by w. L. Eaton. editor of
the Rockford Register-Gazette. the
latter gentleman being one of the
leading factors in the agitation for the
canalization by the government of
Rock river so that Rockford may be
connected with the great Hennepin
waterway, project that appears to
be generally favored among the Illi-
nois congressman.
The party started out from Chicago
early yesterday morning. Maj. Will
lard, who succeeds Maj. Marshall as
engineer at Chicago, and having
charge of the construction of the Hen
neDin canal, was a member of the
party, but was obliged, owing to fa-
tigue from the cross country ride,
an unpleasant incident of which was
a drenching rain, to quit his fellow
turn to Chicago.
Appropriation for the Canal.
An appropriation of 81, 900. 900 has
been recommended for next years
work on the Hennepin. 1t is for The
purpose of ascertaining whether this
amount is sufficient that the congress
men are going over the route, feeling
the public pulse, that they may be prop
erly fortified with arguments when the
bill comes up for final consideration in
the house of representatives. At the
coming session of congress the con-
Meeting of Rockford with the Henne-
pin will doubtless be urged in 4 bill.
Rockford and other towns would be
greatly benefited by navigable wa
terway opening the Hennepin to their
doors, the item of saving in the trans
portation of coal being a large one in
itself.
At s o'clock this morning the visi-
tors, the guests of Col. c. w
Durham, of the local river en-
gineers corps, boarded the gov
ernment steamer Ruth ut the
foot of Seventeenth street and
were taken south to the mouth of
Rock river and up through the Hem
nepin canal to the vicinity of Green
river.
On returning from the trip up the
Hennepin the visitors took lunch
at the Harper. All were highly
pleased with the progress made on
the canal.
Visit to the Arsenal.
The visiting congressman this
afternoon paid visit to Com
mandant Blunt, at Rock Island
arsenal, and were shown the great pos
sibilities for manufacturing purposes
there, with which they were much |
pleased, and doubtless will put their |
shoulder to the wheel when future |
occasion arises to see to it that the |
plant is given the recognition it is |
entitled to at the hands of the gov
as the largest arsenal in the
The congressman, who |
were accompanied by committee of
Rock Island citizens, were also taken |
Dn u "Trip luEOuSH hOlIHc III CdTTidStS
The congressman were received at
he arsenal by Maj. Blunt and his
staff. Maj. Blunt made a short adj
iress to the visitors, stating it was an
unusual opportunity to address
delegation representing the national
legislature. and he desired to improved
t by impressing upon them the re-s
Iuirements of the arsenal in order toll
bring it up to the place of Importance
t was designed to be, stating that
among the magnificent shop build
ngs erected by the government there
we're several that had not yet been
'quipped with machinery, but he
loped that the day was not far dis
ant when they would be running
With the others, turning out the
needed by the army.
Maj. Blunt also called the attention
If the congressman to the need of a
lew hospital at the arsenal.
Nothing was known about town in
ldvance of the coming of the dis
inguished visitors. But it soon be-
anne noised around they were at the
Harper, where they were called upon
Turing last evening by a number of
prominent citizens.
The visitors will be entertained to-
light at the Rock Island Club.
River Riplets.