Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-17
MAJOR HOFFMAN
RETURNS FROM A
TRIP over CANAL
Finds the Hennepin in Excellent
Condition and Navigable to
Depth of Seven Feet.
AWAIT PASSAGE OF BILL
River and Harbor Measure Will In
crease Number of Employees in
Field but Office Force Same.

! Major Hoffman in charge of the
| United States engineers office in this
city. which has control of upper Mis-
| sissippi river and also of the Henne
/ pin canal. last evening returned from a
| trip of inspection over the canal.
Major Hoffman found the waterway
in excellent condition, a recent break
at aqueduct No. having been repair
ed and the canal now navigable to a
depth OF seven feet
Major Hoffman in a statement made
this morning said that all which was
now needed to increase the traffic on
the canal was the rehabilitation of the
Illinois and Michigan canal. which ex-
tends from Joliet to LaSalle.
Would Increase Traffic.
He said that the amount of tonnage
conveyed on the waterway would in
crease from 100000 to 10000. 900. as
soon as the state canal was rehabili-
tated and that all that was necessary
OIL the old waterway was deepening
so that it would be navigable to a
depL of feet
he also said that the Illinois Michi-
gan canal was sufficiently wide for the
present He claimed that the govern
ment would likely take charge of any
changes in broadening the waterway
should the traffic, after it was deepen
ed. become congested.
The state of Illinois has on several
occasions appropriated sums for the
rehabilitation of the canal. One ap-
of $4,000 was made but an
injunction was secured and the state
supreme court held the law prohibit
ing the legislature from appropriating
funds for canals or railroads valid,
therefore preventing the expenditure
of this sum on the canal.
A subsequent legislature appropriat-
ed similar amount and the matter of
the constitutionality of the act is now
pending in the federal courts.
Would Mean Much Here.
The matter of deepening the old ILL |
neis and Michigan canal would mean /
much to Rock Island and all cities on
he upper Mississippi. The canal |
empties into the Illinois river at La
Sale and the Hennepin canal is a
link between the Illinois
md Mississippi rivers.
This would mean that between Rock
sland and Joliet. a waterway avail
IbIe for large boats would be afforded.
Even now with the Illinois and Mich
gan canal in its present condition sew
raj concerns are hauling freight from
Joints near Chicago to Mississippi
owns, using the old state canal, the
Illinois river and the Hennepin canal
However. the traffic would be great
= increased with the rehabilitation of
he Illinois and Michigan canal as ii
'ould provide for the larger vessels.
Bill Will Increase Help.
The river and harbor appropriation
i'll. the passage of which by congress
being anxiously awaited here, will
the number of employees in
he field. under jurisdiction of Office in
his city. However. it will not in any {
ay increase the number of employees
the headquarters here.
The work on the river is awaiting !
ne passage of the bill. With the eX-
option OF the contract work. no other I
Dor is being conducted with the ex- i
zption of that of two dredges at st. c
aul
Hope is expressed that the bill will !
. passed soon. so that by the time the T
yer descends from its present high I
age. that the improvement may be 2