Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-21
WATERWAY DEAD, IS
REPORT EMANAT|NG
AT STATE CAPITAL
LEGISLATION FOR REHABlLiTA
TON OF ILLINOIS RIVER BE-
llEVEO TO BE OUT OF CUES
TON THIS YEAR.

The people of Ottawa and of the
Desplanes and Illinois valley will not
see start On the deep waterway dur
ing the next two years
This seems certain The belief rests
upon the fact that the present state
administration has not indicated any
move towards the start of the con-
struction of the waterway under the
terms of the act passed two years ago
thru the efforts of former Governor
Edward F. Dunno.
The theory that there will be no
dirt flying on the deep waterway with
4 in the next year may be taken be-
cause of the attitude Of the state ad
ministration AlthO it has never been
authoritatively stated as the direct
word of governor, 1t is claimed that
Gov. LOwden has hinted that there
will be nothing done during the bi-
ennial This is further corroborated
by the action OF the department of
public works, the department that
will supervise such departments as
waterways, the canal and parks, un-
der the administrative code, in de-
clining to ask for large appr0pria.
tions for the waterway project.
Waterway Appropriation Reverts.
According to advices from Spring
field the head Of the department, l.
, ID, Puterbaugh, will not ask for {
n re-appropriation of the money ap
!. propriated two years ago for start
;. ing the work. Now of the money ap
propriated two years ago to float, ;
d part of the $20.0O00O bond issue ha
t been used. Under the law OF tn
S state will revert back into the treas
II ury and lapse. Its use If desire
/ within the next two years, must b
II secured by new appropriation.
e Samuel j Drew, a member of tn
n Dunno waterway commission, visite
X Springfield last week. He held cor
: sutation with Gov Lowden. He ais
e conferred with Mr. Puterbaugl
L While Mr. Drew will not discuss tn
results of his conferences il Is III
e derstood that he left Springfield con
=" pletely satisfied that there will be n
Z work on the waterway
Administration Conservative.
e From other sources, however,
j. has been learned that the admin!
n tration will not attempt action at thi
t. time. Several reasons are advance
'e for its attitude. Primarily the priI
~ cipal cause Is seen In the decision {
& the government to hold down the al
+ preparations for the biennial Thu
far the state officials and the lea,
I! ers of the two appropriation commi
~ tees have generally declined to pc
~ nit building operations Only i'm a
:, somte cases have they appropriate
" money for new buildings
!, For the first time in many year
!, the state win not spend cent Il
new buildings at its normal school
= The total appropriations for the fly
,o normal institutions do not show a pc
as ny for new buildings Taking 9th,
or state institutions the same rule hf
,p held
le- Dodge Waterway Cost.
1t is estimated that start on Il
'' waterway within the next two yea
would mean an expenditure OF Sc
-, eral million dollars, 1t is said tn
such an expense would shoot the
rd ennial appropriations up higher thi
Inn ever before And with the lawma
an. ers and the governors advisers wol
,is ing night and day in an effort to Ike
the total down below the $4,000, o
mark, 1t is said that the waterw
Ia one item on the list of instjtutio