Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1896 — CANAL FOR INDIANA. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CANAL FOR INDIANA.

Congress Asked to Appropriate Money for Its Survey. The Legislature of Indiana by a memorial has asked Congress for au appropriation to enable the Secretary of War to pay the expenses of a commission to make a survey for'a ship canal from the south shore of Lake Michigan to the Wabash river near Logansport, which is the nearest point and about seventy miles distant in nn air line. Lewis Cass ordered a survey when he was Secretary of War under President .laekson, and In 18111 Mr. Stansberry, a United States, euginepr, made a report, which still stands as evidence of its feasibility. It is claimed .that this canal would shorten the waterway from Lake Michigan to the Gulf of Mexico nearly 400 miles in comparison with that of the great Illinois canal, and that it is a work of such importance and magnitude that it ought to be undertaken by Congress. Mr. Stansberry, in 1831, estimated the distunee to be 157 miles, the number of locks thirty-seven, and the coat. $3,041,800. He followed the valley of the St. Joseph to the valley of tho Tippecanoe, and thence to its junction with the Wabash river. Another route starting' from Michigan City by way of Trail creek to the Tippecanoe valley was found to be 118 twiles in length nnd forty-four locks necessary and the estimated cost was $3,44(1,470. A third route was from Michigan City by the Little Calumet, and -then down Crooked creek to the Kankakee. A fourth was by Wolf lake, from the Grand Calumet river, and another, 148 miles long, was from St. Joseph into the valley of the Kankakee and thence by way of Monon creek and Tippecanoe river. The

post of This was estimated to be $3,045,*Ol. , ,

MAP OF NORTH WESTERN INDIANA.