Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-24

VI wa IOI int
as freight charge regulator. exists.
and its economical influence is felt so
long as it is navigable.
The amount of business done on
| its waters is unimportant as a factor
and does not therefore affect its value
in this particular capacity. Many of
| the industries mentioned never use the
canal. but their interests are bound up
in it because of its influence in dictat-
ing to competing railways the amount
of freight charges they shall make Ell
ther on finished products or on raw
materials.
Railways Charge All They Can.
The policy of all railways seems to
be to charge all that the tariff will
bear but so long as the canal is ma
vigable no railway can permanently
obtain higher charges than the water
route, the cheapest form of transport
tatiCn known, offers to perform the
same service Tor.
Not only is the canal direct bene-
fit to its immediate territory but its in
fluence. as Il connecting link, making
the Illinois river valuable as an inter
state waterway. regulates the rates
over large portion of the state. For
instance no railway between Chicago
and st. Louis or Cairo can perma-
nently obtain higher rate for freight
from St. Louis or Cairo to Chicago
than competing water rates for the
same freight would be. The rates
from points on the same railway line
between Chicago, St. Louis or Cairo
must be measured largely by the rates
between the cities mentioned. If.
therefore. the presence of the. canal
lowers through rates. it lowers 10
cal rates in certain degree because
of the fact that the rates for the long
haul must always include the rates for
the short haul.
The railways are allowed to make
extremely low rates when in competi-
ton with water, and if the Illinois &
Michigan canal constitutes the key to
this competition by furnishing the wa
ter competition then il should be ac-
credited with the saving to the whole
state thus affected.
THE Hennepin canal the govern
ment waterway extending from the IL
linOis river to Rock Island, has locks
that will accommodate boats of 2G0 tons
displacement. while the limit of the L
d NJ. canal is at present $50 tons.
There is no question but that with the
opening of the Hennepin canal the
federal government will take over and
assume control of the Illinois & Michi-
gan canal because of the absolute
necessity of the one to the other. This
means that the necessity of asking for
n nj ions from he 81 n q will mt
always exist.
eve understand, that there is now
in the state funds balance of over
$25O,OOO to- the credit of the Illinois
& Michigan canal The balance repre-
sents earnings Of the canal. but these
earnings have. through necessity we
presume. been diverted at various
times to other funds. So. gentlemen,
this appropriation may be looked upon
as an emergency measure in a sense,
because it is necessary in order to
save to our state the economical in
fuence that is much greater than the
physical condition or Importance of
the canal would seem TO indicate.
$50 we can safely assume that with
in n short time of the opening of the
Hennepin canal, the federal govern
ment will of necessity take over the
Illinois d Michigan canal. enlarge and
improve il. and continue it in opera
ton at no cost to the state.
OF National Importance.
''.As we have stated. and as most peo-
pie who are familiar with the situa-
tion will admit, the Illinois 6, Michigan
canal is of national Importance in that
il is the connecting link in the vast
system Of internal waterways that
makes Illinois the grandest. greatest
and best state in the Mississippi val
lev. the most productive. the most en-
terprising. the most cultured and the
most promising section of this great
country.
Its responsibilities in connection |
with the Hennepin canal. are marvel |
Gus. and when we look into the fu- !
ture a few years and see that it has |
become an important part of the great |
that you and | will live to see
bearing on its waters. not canal boats |
of limited size and efficiency. but |
stately ships that sail the sailed seas |
Then indeed the prospect for indus |
trial advantages and commercial SUI |
premacy becomes stupendous in its
Then you and / and the |
other gentlemen here present viii have |
in truth. cause TO congratulate our