STATE GRAiS'GE OF ILLINOIS. 59 



obstructions at the mouth of the Mississippi river. The com- 

 mittee do not feel themselves competent to express an opinion 

 upon the merits of the two plans now before the country — the 

 St. Phillips or Jetty — but whichever may be adopted, we hope 

 to see the work carried forward to completion with the least 

 possible dela}^ 



The construction of the projected section of canal connecting 

 the Mississippi river with the lakes, known as the Hennepic 

 and Rock River canal, is a work of much importance. This 

 would open up another competing route, and would have a 

 tendency to reduce the present rates very much. The canal is 

 really the connection of the Illinois and Michigan canal to the 

 Mississippi river. This section will be 61 miles long, and the 

 estimated cost, ^4,000,000. 



Your committee is of the decided opinion that more can be 

 done by competition than by legislation, and would therefore 

 favor, in every legitimate manner, the construction of lines of 

 railroad which would naturally compete with each other for the 

 carrying trade, with la^fs preventing combinations. While 

 they are not prepared to recommend any grant to any route, 

 however well guarded may be its provisions against frauds, 

 or grabs, or Credit Mobiliers; but if such can be built by 

 private enterprise, we welcome them as tending to supply more 

 competition, and thus reduce freights to the sea-board. We 

 know it has been said, that wherever combination is possible, 

 competition is impossible, but we are not fully prepared to sub- 

 scribe to that doctrine. We believe that legislation may effect 

 much to prevent discrimination against those living where there 

 are no competing lines, and would, therefore, recommend that 

 the present railroad law should have a fair trial before anything 

 is done to materially either alter or amend it. 



A resolution, offered by E. A. Gillen, of Greene, and referred 

 to your committee, is respectfully reported back, and we recom- 

 mend its adoption. 



With this hasty sketch of what we could gather, we most 

 respectfully submit this, our report. 



B. J. Yan" Court, St. Clair County. 

 S. Gilliam, of Madison County. 

 A. J. Sai^buri^, of Ogle County. 

 D. W. Dame, of Carroll County. 

 Samuel Reed, of Logan County. 

 R. M. Grey, of McLean County. 

 H. Vanderhoff, of Jasper County. 

 Isaac Terrell, of St. Clair County. 

 D. B. GREEif, of Cumberland County, 



