SHIP CANAL

SHIP CANAL. During the winter of 1863 a shipping canal convention was called at Des Moines, Iowa. The idea met with great interest in the states along the Upper MISSISSIPPI RIVER. The McGregor News stated that "a ship canal is absolutely necessary to develop the resources of Iowa and Minnesota." (1)

The legislatures of Iowa and Wisconsin endorsed the project of a canal around the upper and lower rapids on the Mississippi. (2) It was suggested that the development of the land west of the Mississippi would develop more quickly if transportation of materials and products could be improved. The canal was characterized as "pushing Lake Michigan up to the front of Iowa by which transportation to the lakes would be reduced one-third. The canal would, it was argued, break down monopolies for conveying products, have the potential to double the price of all agricultural land west of the Mississippi, add ten-fold to the value of all city property on the Mississippi, double the value of all east and west lines of railroad west of the Mississippi, and make Iowa and Minnesota first class manufacturing and commercial and well as agricultural centers. (3)

In a later editorial, the editorial page of the Herald suggested that farmland in Illinois and Wisconsin was 100% higher than in Iowa because these states bordered on the Great Lakes. This, the editorial continued, left them free from freight blockages and railroad monopolies. The paper suggested that if land values in Minnesota and Iowa only increased $2.50 per acre it would mean $200,000,000 to the two states. A report of a Mr. June, engineer of the Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement, provided an estimate that improvement of those rivers with canals and locks would cost $1,250,000. Improvements on the Upper Mississippi River would "lead to cities rivaling Cincinnati and Louisville on the Upper Mississippi." (4)

The PEOSTA HALL was tentatively scheduled for the meetings and the railroads had been convinced to transport delegates to the canal convention for half price or free. The NORTHWESTERN PACKET COMPANY agreed to carry delegates for two-thirds rate if there were twenty people from the same town. A mass meeting of local citizens was scheduled for the DUBUQUE COUNTY COURTHOUSE to elect seventeen delegates to the Ship Canal Convention to be held in Dubuque on May 4, 1864. Benjamin Billings RICHARDS was the chairman. (5)

The Courthouse meeting began with three men---Platt SMITH, George Wallace JONES and F. Hinds---being asked to record on their recommendations for delegates. Their list included Julius K. GRAVES, Frederick Ezekiel BISSELL, John H. THEDINGA, Jesse P. FARLEY, Henry L. STOUT, George L. Mathews, Patrick QUIGLEY, John T. HANCOCK, E. A. Babbage, F. Hinds, William G. STEWART, H. Hoelscher, W. F. Sheffield, John Jackson, W. W. Hamilton, L. A. Thomas, and J. Hannibal EMERSON. Those on the list were approved. (6)

The convention was actually held in the Julien Theatre since the anticipated Peosta Hall was not finished. (7) An audience for the convention activities was encouraged as a means of showing those attending that Dubuque appreciated the importance of the meeting. (8)

The delegates met on May 4, 1864 and elected as officers: C. C. Cole (Des Moines), President; W. J. Abrams (Green Bay, Wisconsin), Vice-President; W. J. Gilchrist (McGregor), Vice-President; D. Leffingwell (McGregor) and Charles ALDRICH (Dubuque), Secretaries. In his remarks to the delegates, President Cole assured the group that it was not being asked to build the canal between the Mississippi and the Great Lakes--only to show it could be done and with what benefits. (9)

L. A. Thomas proposed that a committee of nine be appointed to prepare work for the resolutions committee and to "draw up a memorial" to Congress. The motion was carried and B. B. Richards and L. A. Thomas were appointed. (10)

W. J. Abrams of Green Bay spoke to the delegates on the improvements that had been made to the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. He claimed to have it on the best authority that boats could be moved all the way from Green Bay, Wisconsin to the Mississippi if they drew on more than 3.5 feet of way (compare to the nine-foot navigation in the modern Mississippi River--ed. note). (11)

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Source:

1. "The Ship Canal Convention," Dubuque Democratic Herald, April 22, 1864, p. 4, Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A36e8EsbUSoC&dat=18640422&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. "The Ship Canal," Dubuque Democratic Herald, April 24, 1864, p. 4, Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A36e8EsbUSoC&dat=18640424&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

3. Ibid.

4. "The Ship Canal--Its Need and Advantages," Dubuque Democratic Herald, April 26, 1864, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A36e8EsbUSoC&dat=18640426&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

5. "The Canal Convention," Dubuque Democratic Herald, April 27, 1864, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A36e8EsbUSoC&dat=18640427&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

6. "The Ship Canal Convention," Dubuque Democratic Herald, April 29, 1864, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A36e8EsbUSoC&dat=18640429&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

7. "The Canal Convention," Dubuque Democratic Herald, April 30, 1864, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A36e8EsbUSoC&dat=18640430&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

8. "The Convention," Dubuque Democratic Herald, May 4, 1864, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A36e8EsbUSoC&dat=18640428&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

9. "The Canal Convention-Its Permanent Organization," Dubuque Democratic Herald, May 5, 1864, p. 1, Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A36e8EsbUSoC&dat=18640505&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

10. Ibid.

11. Ibid.