WEDNESDAY, February 15, 1837.'. Senate met pursuant to adjournment. Mr. Vance from the select committee to which was referred the bill entitled "An act appropriating the residue of the Vermilion Saline Lands to the county of Vermilion for the purpose of building a bridge across the Big Vermilion river," Reported said bill back without amendment, whereupon That it be re-committed to a select committee, Which was not agreed to. Ordered, That the bill be engrossed for a third reading. Mr. Noel, from the select committee to which was referred the bill from the House of Representatives entitled "An act to locate a state road therein named, and for other purposes," Reported the same back with sundry amendments, Which was read, and Concurred in. Ordered, That the bill be read a third time as amended. On motion of Mr. Noel, The rule of the Senate was dispensed with, and Said bill read a third time by its title, and Passed as amended Ordered, That the title be as aforesaid, and that the Secretary inform the House of Representatives of the passage of said bill, and ask their concurrence in the amendments of the Senate thereto. Mr. Maxwell, from the select committee to which was referred the bill entitled "An act for an act &c.," Reported the said bill back with an amendment, and On motion of Mr. Maxwell, The said bill and proposed amendment were Laid on the table, Mr. Gatewood, from the committee on the judiciary to which was referred the bill for incorporating the city of Chicago, Reported said bill back with sundry amendments Which were read, and Concurred in, and said bill was Ordered To be engrossed for a third reading as amended. The engrossed bill entitled "An act relating to the improvement of the Saline river, and for the purpose of preserving the same," Was read the third time, and Ordered, That Messrs. Parrish, Gatewood, and Whiteside of Pope be that committee, Mr. Thomas, from the committee on canal and canal lands made the following REPORT: The committee on canal and canal lands, to which was referred the message of the Governor transmitting the annual report of the Canal Commissioners; also, a report of the committee on roads and canals of the House of Representatives, have had the various matters submitto them under consideration, and submit the following as the result of their deliberations. From the examination of those documents it will be seen, that the questions presented for consideration naturally bring before the committee inquiries touching the whole course of many years' legislation upon the subject of the canal. Questions which ought long since to have been investigated, and definitely settled, and which it must be presumed, have been fully considered and decided upon by previous legislative bodies, are again presented with the view of an almost entire change and total reversion of all previous legislative action. The committee have not thought proper to assume the correctness of the policy and measures heretofore adopted without investigating the facts and reasons urged in favor of the change. In proceeding to the investigation of this subject, the committee will endeavor to divest themselves of all prejudice in favor of preconceived opinions, growing out of previous action in their legislative capacity upon the same subject. It is deemed proper, however, to state, that in the opinion of the committee, it is incumbent upon those urging and proposing changes of action upon a subject of such vast importance, to show that such changes are practicable, and are consistent with the public faith, and the character and dignity of the state. The first change proposed by the committee of the House is upon the summit division of the canal line, thirty two miles in extent. The proposition is to adopt the high level, as run by Mr. BUCKLIN, ten feet above the surface of Lake Michigan, using the Calamic and Des Plaines rivers for feeders. The second is, to substitute the improvement of the Illinois river, from the foot of the rapids to the head of Lake Juliet, for steam navigation by means of locks and dams. The two propositions, and the reasons urged in favor of their adoption will be examined. Before proceeding to this examination, however, it is deemed proper to state, that the committee, desirous of ob. taining and furnishing to the Senate all information attainable at this place, appointed a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. THOMAS and STADDEN, to prepare questions, and obtain answers from such persons as were supposed to be in possession of information of a character to be relied on. That committee submitted questions to the State Canal Commissioners, Edward Smith, Samuel Hackelton, Joel Manning, Dr. Madden, and Lt. Burnet. The questions, and the reply of the Canal Commissioners, and Messrs. Smith, Hackelton, Manning, and Burnet, are appended to this report. Mr. Smith declines answering the questions propounded; Dr. Madden has furnished no reply. It has not been thought necessary to resort to con.pulsory means to obtain answers, for the reason, that there might be a seeming impropriety in calling upon members of the General Assembly to give evidence in reference to the questions under consideration, and no question would have been asked of any member, if it had not appeared, from the testimony taken by the committee of the House, that the members referred to had testified, or furnished statements before that committee. The reasons urged by the committee of the House in favor of the first change proposed, are: First, the large sum which the canal will cost upon the present plan; secondly, the length of time required for its completion; third, the difficulties of construction; and, fourth, that a better plan can be adopted. All of these reasons, except the last strike at the root of the project, and have been often urged against the policy of engaging in a work of such magnitude, and it is to be regretted that the committee did not turn its attention more particularly to the last reason, because, unless it can be made to appear that the change proposed by the committee is practicable, the argun ents with reference to cost, to time, and to difficulties of construction, must have their full weight against proceeding further with the canal. If the fact can be established, that a canal much less expensive, equally ample, and securing all the advantages and accommodations which could be obtained from the deep cutting,' can be constructed upon the plan proposed by the committee of the House, there will be no ground or point left for disputation. No citizen of Illinois would be found contending against the adoption of such a plan. If, on the contrary, the plan proposed is impracticable, no one desiring the completion of the canal would be willing to abandon the present plan for such reasons as are urged against it. It is a source of deep regret, that local and sectional interests of recent origin, should be made to operate upon a question of such vital importance to the character, dignity, and faith of the state. A spirit of rivalry is perhaps inseparable from the existence of towns and vil· lages, whose inhabitants imagine that the prosperity of one would be the downfall of the others. Yet whenever such a spirit shall attempt to exert an influence upon legislative action, upon measures involving both state and national policy, it ought to be met by the representatives of the people, with the requisite firmness to destroy its influence, and put to shame those who have attempted to use it. In the examination of the questions now under consideration, the committee will first review the legislative action bearing upon this point. In 1823, an act was passed organizing a board of Commis sioners, to consider, devise and adopt the measures requisite to effect the communication by canal and locks between the navigable waters of the Illinois river and Lake Michigan. Five distinguished citizens of the state were constituted the board. An examination and survey were executed under their direction, by Messrs. Paul and Post, both of whom stood high as men of science, talents, and integrity. In January, 1829, an act was passed by which a board of Canal Commissioners was organized, who were required to locate the canal to effect a navigable communication between Lake Michigan and the Illinois river. The canal to be at least 40 feet in width at the summit of the water line, 28 feet wide at the bottom, and of sufficient depth to contain at least four feet water; and to be furnished with such locks, aqueducts, and dams, as might be required to secure a safe and convenient navigation for boats at least 75 feet long, 13 feet wide, and drawing three feet water. No point is fixed in either of those acts for the termination of the commencement of the canal; nor was any direction given as to the waters to be used for feeders. In 1831, the act last referred to was amended, and an examination was required to be made of the Illinois river, from the mouth of Fox river down to the head of steam boat navigation, with the view of ascertaining whether the Illinois river could be improved by dams and locks, or otherwise, so as to secure its navigation as far upwards as the mouth of Fox river. An examination was also required of the Calamic river to ascertain its probable sufficiency as a feeder for that part of a canal between the Chicago and Des Plaines rivers. In 1832-3, after an ineffectual attempt to change the character of the improvement, from a canal to that of a rail way, the board of canal commissioners was abolished, and all further progress of the work suspended. In 1834-5, another act was passed which provided that 'the canal shall not be less than 45 feet wide at the surface, 30 feet at the base, and of sufficient depth to ensure a navigation of at least four feet, to be suited for ordinary canal boat navigation, to be supplied with water from Lake Michigan and such other sources as the canal commissioners may think proper. No point of termination is fixed by this act. The act of 9th January, 1836, under which the late canal commissioners acted, provides that the canal 'shall commence at or near the town of Chicago, on canal lands, and shall terminate near the mouth of the Little Vermilion, in La Salle county, and on land owned by the state.' These acts of the Legislature are referred to, in order to present before the Senate, in one view, the real points in controversy, and to show the reasons upon which the opinion is expressed, that those who propose changes in the action of the Legislature, are bound to show that such changes are practicable, and consistent with proper regard to the interest of the state. It may here be remarked, that an examination of the various laws will show, that the provisions upon the point now under consideration, were not adopted by accident and without design. The committee of the House, in order to prove the practicability of the change proposed, have made calculations as to the quantity of water required to supply such a canal as is proposed to be constructed, and at page 19 of their report say: 'Your committee feel assured that not only a sufficient quantity of water for all the purposes of the canal can be procured from these two sources, (the Calamic and Des Plaines) but that a large surplus will still remain." No member of your committee having sufficient knowledge of the science of engineering to risk his own judgment upon this question in opposition to the published opinions of gentlemen of acknowledged scientific information, they are compelled to rely upon the opinions of others, in whose judgment they have confidence. Mr. Bucklin, well known to the public, having recently arrived at this place, the chairman of the committee addressed a note to him which together with the reply is as follows: MR. J. M. BUCKLIN: VANDALIA, FEB. 8, 1837. SIR-I am engaged as chairman of a committee of the Senate, investigating the questions which have recently arisen in regard to the change in the plans in constructing the Illinois and Michigan canal, and particularly the questions in relation to the abandonment of the project of supplying the canal with water from the Lake, and resorting to the Calamic. Not being an engineer, nor familiar with the calculsations in relation to the quantity of water required to supply a canal of the size contemplated, I take the liberty of asking your assistance, and request the favor of you to review the calculations heretofore made by yourself and others in reference to the quantity of water in the Calamic, and to state the quantity required for the canal as at present proposed to be constructed. You will also state if there is any thing peculiar in the character of the country, to justify the erecting of a canal without providing the usual quantity of water for evaporation and leakage. All the documents except the report made by you in 1830 will be furnished if desired. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, WM. THOMAS, Chairman of the committee on canals, &c. The following is Mr. Bucklin's reply: SIR-It will give me great pleasure to afford you any information that I may possess in relation to the interesting subject which you have before you. I can, however, do little more than recapitulate the information that has been derived from various sources respecting it. The river Des Plaines was gauged, at Laughton's ford, by Messrs. Post and Paul, in the first survey that was ever made of the route of the Illinois and Michigan canal, and the discharge found to be 72,000 cubic feet per hour. They also guaged it at the Cache island, 18 miles below, when they ascertained the discharge to be 117,000 cubic feet per hour. In October, 1829, it was guaged by Dr. Howard, U. S. Civil |