The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-11-01

itaiion and electric power but not yet channel
Tor commerce.
They would see New Orleans with It's slogan.
The second port OF the United States" and les
s20,ocoOoO new harbor.
They would see the Great Lakes teeming with
commerce. but not yet with path TO the tho
mississippi with lis barges but not yet path to
the Great Lakes
They would see the East and the West at vsri
anfs over the Great Lakesst Lawrence route to
the sea. They would Illinois and some OF her
ncighbor states at variance over the Great Lakes
Gulf route Via the Illinois Waterway
They would see In Illinois itself legal complies
lions which threaten further delay.
But they would see. looking with the eyes of
the io2a nation.buiiders. within tho space OF ten
years one great path leading TO the Atlantic and
Europe and another great path TO tho Gulf lead
Ing 20 the Panama canal and South America.
Doubtless this vision viii DO fulfilled What was
done az the 500 be done at Lachlne; the chan
melting OF the ST. Clair fats be repeated In the
mudbanks of the Illinois
Tho Illinois river, which flows into the Mssis-
sippl above Alton Is connected with Chicago and
the Greet Lakes by the Illinois and Michigan
canal which begins at Lasaile. This canal was
Completed and opened Ia isis II contributed largely
10 the initial growth OF Chicago and aided In the
development Of northern Illinois Until 1887 when
the railroads able to haul greater tonnage
and the state unable. because Of the restrfc~
tons Ia the constitution Of 1870 20 enlarge II to
greater capacity. Il carried commerce that paid
It's right Of way Is sirted to BE- now worth sia-
ocoooo
Il was the necessity OF adequate channeg
u navigation aud water transportation from Chi
cage 70 the Gulf that lfnpeed the people Of II.
llnelx 10 vote In 1913 the twenty mlon- dollar bond
Issue for the purpose Power development was an
lmportent factor In The anal selection Of the river
route as against an attempt to eniarxe the canal
al efforts to xst setiea In the Legislature were
hogkSd By differences u opinion and political
iealeueles In tpt3 the legislature agreed on a
BIN Incorporating plan for the work. which be-
esms law. Il provided FOR locks % minimum
With Of - feet and length cf go fest The
chief q engineers Of the War department refused
to approve The plan the ground the slrs Of
locks Was but little Improvement the old canal
aud that water power scheme was paramount
This refusal resulted ia DELAY u four years
more In tvie superintendent saekett had ! con.
fsrsncs with Gen wllliaia NJ Black then ehl,f
e vngneerS ard sucecsded IN working cut an
arrssmenf wlrh binl This was incorporated IN
the law ~ 1919 PASSED ~ the flfty.fryt general
assembly. Plans for the WORK ~ a a p.rn..
chief snsinesr, wbo had bern IN government s.ry.
Ice IN eonnectiea With The construction q the
Panama csnal Eeined approval q the chlsf 81 en-
sineers % he War department and secr~snr, %
war Ia NaFch. 1890 after ave years ~ Ebert fes
lowing the afss enaetinea By the general assen,bly
The psan appross,s provides for me improvement
q The pssgialnes river frcm tockpcrt 70 lts mouth
l<ht niles - jcllet az Us cennucnee With the
>aaAskse river the two forming the iltlneiz river
md u the siaois gisee fr0m that point 70 Utica
= hsre lhs present nasixabie water Of ths rrst i
vachest THIS viii De done ~ construction ~
bur dams creafins nstiEabie ps~ls sud nve locks
'vmpsrva whh nftssn locks 10 he Old luiaols
md Atehixan cna1 The iocks viii be the same
stdth the locks % the Panama canaL no feet
,ut $40 seet hang tuv-thirss the length - The
osks u the Panama eanai These locks are ,oo~f
we city blocks In length and nearly half - block
. width They will have depth 81 "a fee< over