Land Speculation and Dreams of Metropolis

Thompson Canal Survey Map of 1829

In 1830 a survey for the Illinois and Michigan Canal was made, prompted by the success of the Erie Canal completed in 1825. Since regular steamboat traffic was possible only up to the rapids at Starved Rock, the canal's southern terminus would have to be downstream from there. But where exactly?

Land speculation was a growing phenomenon in the Northwest Territory (today's Midwest), to the point that some humorously claimed that the entire territory from the Appalachians to the Mississippi was platted as a city. Think of the number of towns in LaSalle township alone that never became incorporated as their own municipalities: Rockwell, Piety Hill, Shippingsport, Crocketville, Jonesville, and Deer Park/Black Hollow.

All of the speculated towns back then dreamed of being cities. A description of Rockwell by the Rockwell Land Company highlights the features of canal, steamboat access, railroads, mill sites, school houses, stores, warehouses, and a ban on "ardent spirits." Famously Cairo, IL, was drawn as a bustling metropolis by its advertisers, misleading a few settlers into moving in to find only a few cabins. Urbanism was a goal and people were attracted by it. People saw wealth in being at the crossroads of commerce and industry.

Speculation as to the intermodal point at the terminus of the Illinois and Michigan Canal attracted heavy investment into gambling on that location. That location was deemed to be valuable as a center of commerce. The two ends of the canal were believed to be the location of the two gateway cities to the Midwest. All raw goods from the Midwest to the markets on the East would have to pass through the canal as well as all processed goods from the East on their way to the West.

Thus began the competition for the imagined future granted by the canal. Sometime before 1832, the town of Science was platted south of today's North Utica. Since there was already a small population, there was hope that the canal would meet the river there. In 1835 Peru and Rockwell were platted by speculators from the East. Rockwell was placed by Dixwell Lathrop, beleiving that the canal would utilize Split Rock Lake. Peru thought that it would terminate closer to slightly higher ground. Despite all this, in 1836, LaSalle was platted by the Canal Commission as the terminus of the canal.

Crudely Drawn Diagram showing the locations of potential termini

On July 1836 in Bridgeport, the Illinois and Michigan Canal broke ground to be completed in 1848.

Though many speculators plats vied for regional supremacy throughout the United States, only a few made it, leaving behind a great many sleepy little towns dreaming of the day when they will have their chance again.

Sources: LaSalle County Lore, LaSalle County: the Rivers and the Prairies, City of LaSalle Sesquicentennial, 1892 Plat Book: LaSalle County, Cities of the Mississippi: Nineteenth Century Images of Urban Development.