Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-22
SAYS BOARD knew.
Attorney c. A. Monroe, Who
Carried Through Economy
Power Deal, Testifies
IN HEARING At CHICAGO
Asserts That congressman Madden
and Snapp Helped Obtain Rec
ognition at Washington.

Chicago. Nov. 22.-Attorney Charles
A. Monroe, who carried through the
power development scheme in the Des-
PLANES river, was on the witness stand
yesterday afternoon before the legis-
latures investigating committee.
Both Commissioners Sackett and
Snively had testified previously that
they were in misty ignorance regard
ing the plans for water power develop
ment, but Mr.. Monroe said the whole
scheme had been outlined to them and
that there was friendly agreement to
enable him to secure what he needed.
He related how Congressman How
ard Snapp and Martin B. Madden had
aided him before the war department
in his efforts to secure federal sane
ton for his plans. He said that he
had been turned away until he secured
the services of Mr.. Snapp and Mr..
Madden.
First Met with Success.
81 did not have any success until
they said they would help me" ne
said Zone day | met them in front
OF the hall of representatives, and Mr..
Madden said:
Howard, you take Charlie over to
the war office and introduce him
Mr. Snapp took me over, and | be-
gan to get attention. Mr.. Snapp told
the secretary of war that the enter
prise was a great one in favor of the
deep waterway, and that he was inter
ested in it for that reason. The fed
eral officials said they would not in
terfere because they did not regard
the Desplaines as a navigable stream"
He also said that the war depart
ment had agreed to give the enterprise
official sanction if the promoters would
give the federal authorities control
over the levels SO that the dam and
pool could be used as parSsof any wa
terway undertaken by fhe govern
ment. 49,
Embarrasscs the commissioners.
To the great embarrassment of the
two canal commissioners, Mr.. Monroe
testified that all the subsequent plans
for the enterprise had been discussed
with them and that they had been
told that the 16 acres which were sold
to him by them were absolutely nee
essary to carry out his plans for dam
at Dresden Heights.
Without this land. which carried ri
parian rights, he could not have back
ed the water-up far enough to form
pnnl Of tbo docirod dip,apcinnc
There was a gentlemens agreement
that | should have the land" he said,
land the commissioners were to see
that the sale was conducted in accord,
ance with the law. They said it had
to be sold at public auction. The auc-
ton was held at Lockport and Viii
liam Keough, one of the assistant SUI
IperinteAdents, auctioned it off.
He was asked if any other persons
were present and said that the only
lperSons there were Keough, himself,
and stenographer. The deed was
signed in Chicago at the Majestic ho-
ltel.
He said it was his understanding
that the fiowage rights which he OBJ
tanned were perpetual.
hoard Makes Dam Possible.
The plans, he said. were for a pool
about nine miles long, mile wide in
places, and % feet deep. Without the
grants given him by the canal board
and without the 16 acres sold to him
it would have been impossible for nim
to have built the dam at Dresden
Heights.
| Without these grants he could have
~~Aa ..-