AN HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 35 
the prevailing north and northwest winds, will likewise pre- 
vent any important works from being undertaken to im- 
prove the post of Chicago.” 
Could the writer of this sketch, now after the lapse of less 
than fifty years, see the Chicago of the present day, the 
Queen City of the Lakes, he would be inclined to materially 
modify his views. 
On this same expedition an examination was made of the 
natural water communication between the lake at Chicago 
and the head-waters of the Illinois leading to the Mississip- 
pi. In this examination and report we have the first inti- 
mation of the feasibility of an enterprise, as yet only par- 
tially realized, of direct water communication between 
Lake Michigan and the Mississippi river. I say partially, 
for the present Illinois and Michigan canal 1s not on the 
most direct route, and its capacity is limited to a single 
class of boats, not fitted either for river or lake traffic. But 
the problem itself, on which the producing interests of the 
Upper Mississippi Valley are so intimately dependent, was 
substantially solved when, on the 15th of July, 1871, by the 
deep eut of the summit level, the waters of Lake Michigan 
were cause to flow up the slimy bed of Chicago river, and 
pour their tribute on the Mississippi slope. With this grand 
feeder virtually drawing on the entire basin of the great 
lakes, what is there to prevent a direct water route of any 
capacity desired between the lakes and the Mississippi? 
Time and money (and, it is to be hoped, not too much of the 
former) is all that is now requisite to accomplish this im- 
portant result. 
But I have already far exceeded the limits originally de- 
signed for a brief address, though the subject itself, to do 
proper justice, would require volumes. 
Thus, to conclude, from the fragmentary materials at 
my command, I have endeavored, at least, with honest zeal, 
to commemorate the deeds and labors of those early pio- 
