Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-16
COST OF The CHICAGO CANAL
When Completed 10 VIII Represent nm
Outlay OF FIFTY Million
Dollars.


MEMPHIS. Tenn, Nov. t5.-At today's
session of the Western Waterways conven-
tlon L. e. Cooley, engineer in charge OF the
Chicago drainage canal, spoke with regard
to that project. He said that in 1896 a great
engineer came to Chicago and predicted that
that city would become a great metropolis.
His idea was ito connect Chicago and New
York by canal and Chicago and the Misss-
sppi river by canal. He even thought by
this means that the trade of New York
would extend along this route to the gulf.
In 1887 a convention was held at Peoria to
further the canal project. Other conven-
tions indorsed the idea. Chicago, he said,
is now contributing to a canal which would
eventually become the property of the gov
ernment. The enterprise which now repre-
sents an investment of $35,O0O,O00 would,
when completed, represent an outlay of $780,
900 900.
The speaker denied that the canal would
polute the waters of the Mississippi, but
instead 1t would be a great and powerful
commercial arm to the gulf traffic.
This afternoon the committee on resolu-
tions made it's report. The report was
adopted without dissenting voice and the
labors of the convention came to an end.
The resolutions are substantially as follows:
Resolved, That we are more firmly con-
vinced than ever that it is the duty OF the
general government to make liberal appro-
priatons for all the navigable rivers and
harbors in the United States. The work
which has been done in this regard hereto
fore has proven of great advantage to the
people Of this country and we believe that
no appropriation the general government has
ever made has been received by the people
with such unanimous approval.
Resolved, That in the judgment of this
convention It has become the imperative
duty OF the United States to assume ex-
elusive control of the work now being prose-
cuted in conjunction with the riparian state
and levee districts for the protection OF the
lower Mississippi valley from the floods
which annually endanger and frequently in
flict great disaster on that section of the
country"
The resolutions then quote report of the
senate committee on commerce telling of the
levee work accomplished. OF $47631 SOB
levee work accomplished. OF $47,631,5OS ex-
pended on levee work state, local and private
authority contributed $34 $40, ,795, and con-
cludes with the words:
"The burden Of completing the levee sys-
TEN is too great for local and state au-
thority.'
The resolutions continue:
Resolved That we recognize the supreme
utility of the deep waterway between the
Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico and
recommend to the serious consideration of
congress the entire subject matter to the in
tent that such a project shall be matured
and such work undertaken as will provide
waterway of the greatest utility between
Lake Michigan at Chicago and the Mssis-
sippi river.
Resolved, That we favor the establish
by the general government of an isthmus
canal connecting the Gulf of Mexico with the
Pacific ocean. sf-'
Resolved That we favor the establish
ment of an additional department of the
government to be called the Department of
Commerce and Industries, believing that
great and constantly increasing appropria
tions would be secured and more direct con-
sideration and that the people of our coun-
try would be- greatly benefited The head
of such department should be member of
the cabinet and be appointed as other men,
bers of the cabinet are now designated by
law" .t5 ,,,. ISL .r..a sa,. \
Letters were, read from Senators Foraker
and Elkns Representatives Henderson,
Bromwell. Walker and McRae, pledging ac
tive cooperation in helping to improve
the rivers and harbors of the country.
The convention has peen notable one,
between 600 and 700 delegates representing
sixteen states being in attendance.