[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 95 (Thursday, July 16, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE ILLINOIS & MICHIGAN CANAL: A PRECIOUS PIECE OF OUR 
                            NATION'S HISTORY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 1998

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, 150 years ago, the Illinois & Michigan 
Canal was completed. Built from 1836 to 1848, the I&M Canal was the 
catalyst for the evolution of Chicago from a backwards settlement on 
the shore of Lake Michigan into the hustling metropolis referred to as 
the gateway to the American West. Followed later by the railroads and 
the Sanitary and Ship Canal, which played critical roles in the 
continued development of Chicago and the Midwest, the I&M Canal was the 
catalyst. It was the one of the first and certainly one of the most 
notable infrastructure projects that changed the landscape of Chicago 
and the American heartland forever, and it made an indelible mark in 
America's psyche as Chicago became one of the nation's largest 
transportation hubs.
  The canal linked Lake Michigan with the Illinois River in LaSalle/
Peru and made it possible to ship cargo from the Atlantic Ocean through 
the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and down to the Gulf of 
Mexico. The canal was 60 feet wide and 6 feet deep along its entire 
length, and cargo was carried on barges pulled by mules. The I&M Canal 
stimulated economic development along its path, and particularly in 
Chicago.
  Recognizing the rich heritage and recreational opportunities of the 
I&M Canal, Congress designated it as the first National Heritage 
Corridor in 1984, the first ``partnership park'' of its kind, which is 
now a model for such parks throughout the nation. Presently, over 10 
such parks exist in the U.S., and it was the I&M Corridor that started 
it all. Along with the designation, Congress also created a Commission 
to coordinate the efforts and resources of federal, state, and local 
agencies.
  My esteemed colleagues from the Illinois congressional delegation 
recognize the importance of the canal, too. Last year, I introduced 
legislation that would extend the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor 
Commission for another five years to 2004. Nearly the entire delegation 
from my home state have cosponsored my legislation. They placed their 
bipartisan support behind the legislation, because we all recognize the 
historical importance of the I&M Canal, and we all want to see its 
preservation for our children and our children's children.
  Mr. Speaker, this is why it is an honor for me to rise today to honor 
the 150th birthday of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Its historical 
significance in the development of the Midwest has made an indelible 
mark in this nation's history. We should do our part to protect our 
national heritage by continuing to work for its preservation for the 
future generations to enjoy and cherish. As we look with boundless 
optimism towards the future, we must also be wise enough keep our feet 
planted and learn about and remember our roots--where we came from--for 
that is the tie that binds us as a people and as a nation.

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