The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1908-07-25

naVlgIDle waterways OF Ulo state.
1t must be remembered that former
ly the head Of navigation on the Wa
bash river was at Carmi on the Big
Muddy at Murphysboro; on the Kas-
kaskia at Nandalia; on the Sangamon
at Petersburg. Because of lack of
attention the navigation Of these
streams has gradually deteriorated.
This navigation can be restored, how
ever, by the expenditure of part of the
money secured from the utilization of
water power if the contention of the
state is sustained.
1t was the ascertained fact that the
resulting water power would more
than repay the cost of construction of
the proposed waterway, which was
made the basis of the joint resolution
of the General Assembly, providing
for submission to the voters at the
coming general election of a consti-
tutional amendment permitting the is
suance of $20,00O,O0O in bonds to pro-
vide for he construction of the deep
waterway and the development of wa
ter power incident thereto.
Private Interests Oppose.
The attempt to secure the legisla
ton necessary to preserve the water
power for the state, in the manner
suggested in Governor Deneen's mes"
sage, was met at every step by the
most determined opposition. Perhaps
the most strenuous opposition encoun-
tered by this legislation haa IT'S origin
tn, In nj,
ton engaged in the business of water
power productiOn-the Economy Light
and Power company. AS time passed
the reason for this opposition became
manifest. As heretofore stated, the
proposed waterway construction in
vOlVed the use of the Chicago Drain
age channel and the Desplaines and
Illinois rivers. The attempt to secure
legislation to prohibit the construction
of dams across these streams brought
out the fact that this company had
secured possession of lands at Dres-
den Heights within four hundred feet
OF the mouth of the Desplaines river
and was engaged in the construction
at that point of a dam with a view
to the abstraction of a large part OF
the water power to be created through
the expenditure of public money.
Pushed Work on Dam.
In order the more ettectually to Sc
cure themselves in the enjoyment OF
the advantages the Economy Light and
Power company was pushing this dam
construction work as rapidly as pos
sihle. Information was had hat the
contractors engaged in the work were
under contract to complete 1t before
July l, 1908. the earliest date upon
which legislation to prevent such dam
construction could become effective
TO meet this situation Governor De
neen again on Nov. 6, 1897, addressed
the General Assembly in a message
ceiling attention to the work going on
at Dresden Heights and its proposed
completion before preventive legisla-
ton could become operative. In this
connection the governor said:
'Thc significance of this action Is
plain, and the contamination of this
manifest attempt to secure vested
rights inimical to the public interests
and fatal to the success of the consti
tutional amendment program of the
General Assembly in reference to wa
terway and water-power development
should be prevented. This can only be
done effectually through the passage
of emergency legislation which will
enable the state now to assert and de-
termine its rights in the premises
This is necessary not only for the pro-
lection of the rights of the public, but
also for the proper def lition and pro-
lection of the rights Of the private
interests concerned"
After a prolonged discussion of the
questions thus raised an emergency
measure was passed by the General