Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-22
milan DOES ITSELF PROUD IN
CELEBRATION FOR THE HENNEPIk

Yesterdays celebration he defined "a
far more important event, marking
the completion and opening of the en-
tire waterway and stated that had i,
but been opened years ago many mil
lions of dollars in freight would have
been saved the people in cities on its
course.
The tri-cities were named as the
main champions of the Hennepin dur
ing the years of its construction when
appropriations were worked for, and
he emphasized that another and mora
important mission now remains 70.
the people to make use of it. Boats AMI
bargeS must be provided and commOG
tiles manufactured along it's line be
transported upon its waters. He sail
that the first appropriation. amour;
ing to 100000, was contained in the
rivers and harbors bill of 1890 signed
by President Harrison, and since that
time amounts of various denominations
have been necessary to continue the
work.
Hon. q. W. Prince.
Congressman George w. Prince o:
Galesburg was introduced as the mex,
speaker. In opening his remarks he
lauded the work of General Thomas
J. Henderson of Princeton as the
father of the. canal and in securing
appropriations and maintaining inter.
nS in thn I.l- III in, he
course of his remarks praised Walter
Reeves of Bureau who secured the
continuing contract law which made
possible the completion of the canal.
He said that waterways has become
a prime necessity as means of trans
porting the nations commodities as
the railroads. Melted as they are have
already felt their inability to handle
the fast increasing traffic of the west
ern states. In fact the railroads are
strong upholders, he stated. of the
waterways. and he prophesfed thai
they would in due time be the coz
trolling element in the waterways. As
the time of rate regulation by the gov.
eminent has come. he added, the rates
will nevertheless be kept within their
proper bounds
ii. A. Weld Speaks.
H. A. Weld of this city discussed
the importance of the Mississippi val
ley and the necessity for means Cf
transportation of its products. The
valley is still in its infancy and its
inevitable increase of wealth will
make further demands on the facilities
necessity for control of water trans
portation as well as railroad transpOr-
tation. by the government.
| Hon. T. a. Murphy.
Hon. T. A. Murphy was next intro
duced. Mr.. Murphy paid a tribute %
his father. the late Jerry r. Murphy 81
Davenport, as one of the staunchesi
| friends 'of the canal. who had it as 8
hobby and worked hard to make it "
success He praised General Hende:
son and stated that as the general has
been called the father of the Henne
pin, his father is entitled to be callet
its godfather. His fathers work !
its interests, he stated, including year:
of travelling in interesting government
officials in the project, in attendant,
upon and addresses to conventions
and other work OF equal importance
to making the then proposed canal ;
reality.
senator W. o. Schmidt.
State Senator w. o. Schmidt q
Davenport was called upon for few
remarks and he added further to tn
memory of Mr.. Murphy. He urge'
the necessity of seeing that the raj
roads keep their rates down in winta
when the canal would be closed t
navigation, as we'll as in summe
when it would exert its influence
Senator F. A. Landee of Moline mad
. few remarks emphasizing the nece;
sity of securing the proposed cana
from Utica to Chicago by way of tn
l Illinois river to connect the tri-citie
l with Chicago. County Attorne
J.. George w. Scott of Davenport deli;