Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1882 — The Kankakee. [ARTICLE]

The Kankakee.

The following letter from Cob Gleason was recently published in the Michigan City Enterprise, and we deem the same of interest to our readers: ‘‘l was informed to-day that you wanted some facts in reference to the improvement of the Kankakee Valley, and most cheerfully •consent to give any information that will be a service to you in bringing the matter before the people: The Kankakee River rises about three miles south of South Rend, Ind., and continues in a southwesterly course a distance of 240 miles —in a sinuous, tortuous course until it crosses the west line of Indiana, about seven miles from Momence, 111. One and a half miles east of Momence the highest point of rock appears over which the water llows —lhe elevation being about oii tire level with the bed of the river at the stale line. The distance from the source of the river in a direct line along the lowest portion of the valley to the state line where the river crosses is about seventy miles, and tire total fail 71 feet, thus making the average fall per mile in Indiana if the liver is so straightened, of about one foot per mile while now as the water flows the fall is less than four inches per mile. Thus it will be seen that if the river can have its channel reduced to one-third its present length with over three times the average fall per mile, by making it straight and uniform, the. water will acquire an accelerated velocity like a ball falling down an inclined plane; and a channel onethird the width of the present channel, and of the suine depth, will pass the water off more than three times as fast as the old one, as all abrupt curves aud obstructions of grass will be avoided, which created eddies and back currents. The river as it now Hows is ofveiy uniform depth, being on r-ii averagd about four and a half feet. Probably the average are of a cross section of the stream as it will show about 900 square feet. Suppose we cut a new channel titty feet wide and six feet deep, which would make a cross section of 300 squai e feet, or a channel one third as large as now exists, but having three times the fall per mile, and only one-third tae distance to run from the source until it crosses the state line. Such a channel will pass three times as much water in the same, and more, because of the advantage os the law of falling bodies, having an acc derated velocity. A ditch fifty ieei wide and. six feet deep wou d contain about 60,000 cubic yards of earth per mile. This could be taken out by a dredge and placed a sufficient distance from the ditch to make a railroad embankment for ten cents per yard making $6,000 per mile—and for seventy miles, $420,000. Rut say it costs $500,000 and, distributing it over 640,600 acres of land benefitted, it would be less than eighty cents per acre, the average cost. Then in addition to this the parties or land-owners making this improvement could organize a railroad company to run along this liiie of ditch from South Bend to the State line, connecting with the Kankakee and Plymouth railroad, running west into Illinois and connecting with other lines, aud realize much valma from the embankment as a bed for the road, it being nearly a level grade. Such a line could do a very heavy business at moderate expense. The fall in the Kankakee Rivar being uniform, it is readily seen that the elevation of rock at or -near Momence, 111., is no obstacle to drainage in Indiana, for it is ■like pouring water into a ditch that is already full—it will run out ft* fast as it flows in.

I regard the improvement of the Kankakee Valley as the greatest and most desirable enterprise in this part of the state, and one that will bring a greater retmrn for the amount required to the land owners, and all other interests affected by the improvement, than anything now presented for the investment of capital. Consider what would be the business developed by a railroad in the Kankakee Valley, cutting as it would not less than nine important lines already built, between South Bend and Momence, and connecting at the terminating points with other good lines extending east and west. The line would furnish au immense trade in coal, ice, hay,and lumber for distribution to the cross lines, which will aUo help to build up local interests.”

N. GLEASON.