Back to Document 40

Up to Document List

Ahead to Document 42

Document 41 –

Letter from William Gooding to David Leavitt Concerning Various Items of Canal Business

October 12, 1854

Document 41 Click for larger image

Transcription No. 96~                                            Lockport Oct. 12–1854~ D. Leavitt Esq.                    Dear Sir,                                  Your letter of Sepr 30–(No. 113) enclo- -sing vouchers Nos. 428 @ 431 and also yours of Oct. 7–(No. 114) enclosing voucher 432, and resolution of your Board in re- -lation to the appointment of E. S. Prescott to select additional Canal lands, are both at hand.            I have had an interview with Mr. Prescott and dis- -cussed the question of Selection fully. He will act promptly and do all that he can to promote the interests of the Canal but I am afraid that the public lands have been so gen- -erally swept up by private speculators for a few months past that he will find it poor picking every where in the State.           The dry weather continues, the water in the Illinois river is at the minimum stage, and the business of the Canal is just now guite limited. I had hoped that our receipts from tolls would reach $200,000 but they will prob- -ably fall short of $195,000 and may not exceed $190,000.           The rebuilding the superstructure of the Kankakee Feeder Aqueduct and Several Canal bridges will largely increase our disbursements and I must have the authority to draw for a sufficient amt. to meet them. My monthly allowance is now overdrawn for the month, that is, I have already drawn for the month of November to keep my a/c good. I suppose that it will require no action of the Board to give me the requisite funds but simply your order. You will at all events, know what it will be necessary to do in the preemises and instruct me accordingly.           Mr. Saltonstall has notified me that he shall leave the Canal Office some time during the coming winter and I shall have to look out for another clerk.                 Verytruly Yours                                         Wm Gooding

David Leavitt was the canal’s banker as well as one of the bondholders’ trustees. William Gooding in 1854 was the trustees’ secretary. And since Edward B. Talcott had resigned on April 30, Gooding was serving as acting general superintendent as well. Eli S. Prescott had served as the canal’s land agent since July 23, 1845. Previously he had been appointed the register at Chicago’s U.S. land office, a position he held over 1839-1841. By the terms of an act of the U.S. Congress, approved August 3, 1854, the state was entitled to an additional 32,896 acres of U.S. public lands, the sale of which was to help pay off I and M debt. Prescott was to select the additional acres which Congress provided from unsold U.S. lands remaining in Illinois and not subject to preemption. Canal land sales in 1854 raised $272,548.

The water level of the Illinois River below La Salle had been problematic since the canal’s inception. Early in November 1854 the depth at some places was down to as little as twenty-eight inches. This condition effectively shut the canal off from river traffic. Freezing temperatures closed the I and M on December 4, 1854 for the remainder of the season.

Tolls in 1854 amounted to $198,326.92. Repairs and maintenance totaled $53,242.68. Of that latter figure $5,000 was advanced on an $11,713 project to repair the Kankakee feeder and $2,052 was put down for new bridges at Romeo, Lockport, and Joliet.

F.G. Saltonstall had been employed as the canal secretary’s clerk since 1845. After he resigned on January 2, 1855 he was replaced by William A. Gooding. Saltonstall had earned $1,100 per annum. W.A. Gooding received $1,000 a year. It was not uncommon for canal employees to hire relatives to serve as their subordinates (see document 18).

What were "public lands"?

Who had been buying up most of the "public lands" (see also document 32)?

How would low water levels on the Illinois River have affected the I and M?

Why should the I and M have been required to pay for bridges passing over it?

Back to Document 40

Up to Document List

Ahead to Document 42

Back to Illinois and Michigan Canal Introduction page
Back to Illinois State Archives home page