Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-04
EXECUTIVE COULD NOT
STOP IN CITY ON
WAY THRU
OFFICIALS WITH HIM
AIDS ACCOMPANY FRANK o. LOW.
DEN ON TRIP DOWN "RAGlNG |.
4 NJ. PARTY OiNEO AT STATE
PARK AND THEN RESUMED
JOURNEY WESTWARD.

Governor Frank o. Lowden spent a
few minutes in Ottawa last night on
his way to La Sale after an inspec-
ton OF the Illinois and Michigan Canal
In company with sixteen waterway
boosters and his personal aids. The
governor and his party left their boat
at Seneca and were motored to Otta-
wa in limousines belonging to Com.
missioner Campbell
After brief stop here the execu.
tive was taken to Starved Rock where
he and his party enjoyd dinner. From
there they continued their journey to
La Sale putting up there for the
night
When the old wooden hulk pulled
into Seneca it caused considerable ey.
citement among the villagers. The
presence OF the governor coming as he
did so unexpectedly found the resi-
dests unprepared for their distinguish.
ed visitor In Ottawa only few knew
or the executives coming and there
were no preparations made for farmal.
ly receiving him. The machines follow.
Ing very brief stop in the loop were
cent upon their way in order that the
governor could finish the isspection
last night
There was no noise and no stop be.
cause Gov. LOwden does not do things
that way. II was purely a business
trip. seeking information for giving
early consideration to n suitable wa.
terway to connect up the lakes with
the river at La Sale, II was the first
time Gov. Lowden has been over the
canal or been able to give personal at
tontion to this problem. Hence he
avoided publicity and gave all his at
tention to investigating the various
pharses and personally examining the
actual conditions.
General Bixby Here.
Another distinguished member of
the party is Gen W. r. Bixby. For
many years he was the chief Of en-
pneers of the war department of the
federal government and he knows all
about the rivers Of the country. has
made standard maps of the river here.
knows all about waterways is now
in charge of three most important
stations in the middle west represent
ing the government in various matters
of importance
Col. L. L. Wheeler. another federal
government representative was a
member of the party. He has charge
of the Hennepin canal and Is to pilot
the party thru that government chan
mel tomorrow.
Canal Builder Here.
Another member of the party and
distinguished engineer, but known
only to his profession and not to the
public except by the works he has
done, is NJ G. Barnes. He aided in
the construction of the Hennepin ca
nal years ago. OF late years he has
been in charge of the one hundred
million dollar work in New York state
opening the Erie canal. and Is cOnsid-
cred the best authority in private life
on the subject of canal construction
in the country.
Judge Leslie d. Puterbaugh. head
of the Department of Public Works
and Buildings, was member of the
party He has visited Ottawa and is
known to many here both personally
and by reputation. Joy Morton. who
AT personal cost demonstrated the
worth of the canal connection in Its
primitive state, was another. He has
been named one of the Board of Wa
ter Resource Advisors of the state by
Gov. Lowden. Other members of this
board, all of whom were on the trip
are r. s. Conway and John Il Pirie
Of Chicago; George T. Page, of Peoria
and c. r. Fox, of East st. Louis.
Seek Definite Plan.
All these men represent those IN
terested in waterway and shipments
and are representative of the hipl
type Of men Gov. Lowden has chosel
to serve the people during his admin
istration, George d. sutton. Gov
Lowden's secretary was another o
the party. The trip Is being made III
der the direction of w. l.. Sackett, o
Morris, superintendent Of the Div
sion of Waterways of the state II /
the hope of the administration to b
able to have some definite plan read
for submission to the next legislator
end that the eminent engineers of tn