Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-12
HOLDS A MILLION
DOLLARS WIlLDO
FOR CANAL WORK
Sterling Morton Of Chicago
Says Old I. & M. Gan Be
Repaired Cheaply.
TALKS AT DAVENPORT CLUB
All Water Route from Chicago to MISS
issippi Is Given Boost by
Several Speakers

rehabilitation OF the old Illinois &
Michigan canal. &c miles long, lying
between Joliet and La Sale, because
river terminals are being built TO han
die traffic coming from Chicago through
that waterway and connecting with
the Hennepin canal" Sterling Norton
secretary of the Morton Salt company
of Chicago. told 125 members OF the
Davenport Commercial club last night
at a banuuet. The utilization OF the
Hennepin, the old illinois & Michigan
canal and the Chicago drainage ca
nal" as an all-water route from Chi
cago to the tri-cities was Mr.. Mortonfs
subject.
A. F. Dawson, president of the First
National bank, Davenport. acted as
toastmaster. production and distri-
button are two OF the greatest things
in life" he said. He spoke OF Daven-
ports future as a distributing point.
He described how lowering of freight
rates would be comparatively easy
when once the river terminal was es-
tablished with a navigable waterway
from Chicago. Arthur NJ. Compton,
head engineer of the levee commits
sion: William A. Meese of Moline, ana
A. B. Peterson of Davenport, termed
the daddy" of the river terminal Idea
in Davenport, also spoke during the
evening.
Best He Ever Saw.
The key wall now being constructed
as a part of Davenport's terminal far
ciIities is the best in America, accord
ing TO Mr. Morton. 81 saw nothing IN
France or Germany to compare with
it," he asserted. Applause greeted the
statement. He contended that Daven-
port was the entry front TO all iowa
points from the great lakes district.
Its a second Chicago as distrlout-
ing point" he added. That three
fourths of the money TO be expended
in river improvement should be placed
in a terminal was the speakers idea.
The Illinois & Michigan canal was
built in 1928 for s20,00O,0O0 by the
government by the reclamation OF
lands. Now, however, the locks are
unsafe and too small for boats to pass
into the Illinois river, thence into the
Hennepin canal. BY the expenditure
of 81 .OOO, 900 the old canal could be re-
babilitated and made navigable for all
boats which can use the Hennepin.
Canal commissioners, who sought the
aid of the state legislature in having
the canal reconstructed, were defeat
ed by Injunction proceedings. 1t Is
now wholly within the province of the
federal government TO take the matter
from the state courts and declare for
it's Improvement.
Meese Offers Services.
Mr.. Meese told the Davenport busi-
ness men that he would present petit
ton through the district congressman
from Iowa, prepared by the CONNER
cial club, asking for federal aid in re-
facilitating the canal, when he went
to Washington this week. The men
heartily applauded his offer, and the
appeal to the government will prob
ably be made.
That the old canal has many sand
bars in places where small streams
come in between Joliet and Lockport
was the declaration of Mr.. Morton.
He considered that $4,000 would tenn
porarily rebuild the canal to accom-
modate traffic.
The equipping of three fleets here
for canal use was suggested. These
fleets would make trips every &c hours.
He urged that proper apparatus be in
stalled at the river terminal for the
| transfer of freight, such as cranes and
switch tracks. Mr.. Morton pleaded for
more inland waterways and hard roads.
The demand of commerce is not for
rapidly propelled boats. Lake steam
ers make but 10 miles an hour. The
speaker said the canal boats need
make but six miles per hour.
Build Above High Water.
A. NJ. Compton. head engineer of the
levee commission, told the Commercial
club of the plan to beautify the river
/ front. Warehouses are to be built at
a point a foot and a half above the
highest river stage. Several frontages
! have been sold for commercial use
/ and will be ready for occupancy Jan.
| s, 1915. For lot improvement, $4,000
| is to be spent. These lots will be held
for a rental of $3.50 to $3.50 per annum
! At that figure $1,000 yearly will be
/ obtained from their rental