Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-15
HENNEPlN WORK KEPT
MOVING THIS SUMNER.

Mel Willard. of Chicago, in charge
of the division of the United States
engineer Office that contains the III en-
nepin canal, with many other import
ant works, while here u few days ago
said work is going on very well
on this prof sct, notwith standing the
reports that have recently been in cir
culation here to the contrary. The
western section has been delayed, it is
true, but the delay does not involve
work that has been put under con-
tract, or work that has been begun
The delay is in the legal department
in connection with the right of way
ma tiers There HIS been from the
first q degree of slothtulness pervad
ing that de part Dent that would be
simply ruinous to any private enter
prise, but as long as it il the pub lic's
money that is being spent the abuse
is permitted to pass. How long this
condition of things is to last is hard
to say. 1t has existed for years, and
it may remain.
AS far as the work in actual pro-
gress on the western section is con-
cerned, it has come on very well dur
ing the season that is now drawing to
a close. A large amount OF earth has
been handled, and good work has
been done. There is "a large amount
OF heavy work in this section, with
much that is lighter in character,
aud some that is medium. However.
there is still enough work remaining
on the western section to occupy the
engineers and the contractors on that |
work for years to C. me at the present |
rate of progress.
On the feeder line matters have
moved much farther. With the eX-
ception of a small quantity the
earth work on that line, 80 miles |
long, is finished. The numerous con-
crete culverts have been built. TIE
railway bridge, with long and hig b |
Apr oaches, by which the C., b & q. i
line crosses the canal in the outskir s
of Rock Falls, is about finished and |
so is a similar bridge by viii h !
another lire OF the same syst m
crosses the canal in the vicinity IF I
lamp The big work in the vicin-
ity OF Rock Falls and Sterling, con-
sist,ng of the dammiDg OF Rock river
and the protection of the railway s |
aud other interests in that loca
ity, in order to raise the level
of the feed water of the /
river sufficiently to give a 7.fcot
depth at the entrance of the feeder
line, has not been begun, but matters
are practically in readiness for it, in
most respects. the other heavy
feeder line work. the riPrapping OF
its walls, has not been begun, but the |
railroad that is to carry the stone for /
that work is in p ace. A vast amount
of stone will be needed 10 cover the /
inner sides of both canal walls to q /
height of two feet or more aboEe the /
water line, and the work of ripTap-I
ping and dry-wslIiDg will take long
time, on top of the time needed for
the regu' ar work of construction
There will be no buster railroad line
in the state of Illinois th9n that
which will carry the material for this
construction along the top of the
canal walls.
Ii is hoped that the following sea-
son will see large advances ms de In
all this work With money enoIgh
on hand. aud with the way open 10
push construction. for which the tit
to the right of way is necessary,
there is nothing in sight to hinder a
long march ahead by tue canal dur
ing the coming summer.
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