Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-21
worth, first; Tom Wynn, second; Har
ry Williams, third.

Program of Speeches.
This afternoon program of
speeches is being given, County Judge
r. w. Olmsted presiding as chairman
of the day. The speakers this after-
noon are Hope Thompson of this city
and c. A. Ficke of Davenport.
This evening there will be addresses
it is expected. by Governor c. S. De
leen, Senator Hopkins and other dis
tinguished men here for the river
meeting in Moline. T. A. Murphy and
evenings program.
This noon the steam whistles Wee
footed for Is minutes in honor of the
occasion, and tonight there will be a
fireworks display, and a volley by tAa
members of Company A. The mem
bers of the company are to meet ut
the armory at o'clock and go to the
village
VIII Open Thursday.
The canal is to be formally opened
Thursday at Rock Falls, and the two
cities, Rock Falls and Sterling, are
planning a big celebration in honor of
the event. The opening of the giant
sluice gate between the two towns
will mark the realization of dream
that people of this part of the state
have had for between 40 and so years
"a dream of a waterway connecting
the Illinois and Mississippi rivers
across the state. The canal has beeh
built by the United States government
at a cost of $7,500,O0O.
Began at Milan.
The first shovel of dirt was thrown
at Milan, in 1892, and the construction
of the canal has progressed more or
less steadily since that time. There
have been many obstacles which hav ;
retarded the work, however, and At
different times the canal has been Il
political issue in this part of Illinois
and in Iowa. The agitation for the
canal first assumed definite form n
Iowa. and that was IS years ago, when
the Iowa legislature memorialized con,
gress, appealing for the construction OF
a canal from Hennepin to Rock Island
to provide transportation eastward
from Iowa. During the years follow
ing, and up to 1892, the history of the
canal is one of appeals and entreati IS
to congress to authorize the canal.
History of Canal.
The chronological history of the
canal is of interest at this time, b.
cause it shows that this weeks form?
opening is the result of nearly a hal
century of effort. Following is brie
chronology of the canal:
1SG4-Iowa legislature memorabilia,
congress to construct canal from Hell
nepin to Rock Island.
| 1S66-First survey made by stat
engineers under direction of Chief En-
gineer J. O. Hudnott. Specification
returned showed that the construction
of canal 60 feet wide and six fee
deep would cost $4,5000 600.
1S70-First government surve.
made under direction of Engineer Co
man P Low, Jr. Specifications show
ed that the construction of a canal 1G
fleet wide and seven feet deep woul
necessitate an outlay of $12 $780, 900.
1S70-IOwa legislature again mem,
rallied congress to construct canal.
1S74-Survey again made shown
that the engineers estimated that til
construction of the canal. which wa
to be 65 miles long, would cost abol
$500. 1928.
1S74-Iowa legislature again meme
rallied congress.
1SS1-Board of trades of Chicag'
Buffalo and Duluth, board of transpo
tation of New York Produce exchange
produce exchanges of ST. Paul, dee
waterway convention at Davenpol
and deep waterway convention at S
Louis indorsed plans and memoria
lied congress.
INSTALLATIONS surveys made
government engineers.
SS2-Congressman Henderson
Illinois introduced bill in congress pr
viding for construction of the canal
1SS3-Bill providing for consUuctio
of canal passed.
1S90-Captain L. l.. Wheeler assur
ed charge of work on canal.
| 1S90-Congress appropriated $500
\ 900 for work on canal.
1S92-Congress appropriated a
other 100000.
H 1S92-First dirt taken from canal
\ Milan. Contractors start work on we
end of main line.
1S94-Congress appropriated $40
\ 600.
i 1S95-Citizens of Rock Island. Da
export. Moline and Milan joined
monster celebration and canal W
dedicated.
II 1896-Congress listens to plea
N Sterling and Rock Falls citizens a
location of the mouth of the feeder
changed to Rock Falls and $4,000
v appropriated.
1S97-Congress appropriated $Sl
y 600 and work on feeder is started.
q. 1S9S-Congress appropriated s1,4:
$40.
. 19O7-Canal is formally opened.