Treasure Chest Thursday – book used by Capt. W.J. Schuler, I & M Canal

Wow, what a treasure chest find yesterday, 20 July 2011, I found a book used by my grandfather William J. Schuler (1872-1965) for navigating the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

The book is a government printing of Document No. 263, House of Representatives report with survey and maps of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The report was published in 1905. From 1898 to 1914, Captain Schuler piloted boats down the canal. In 1914, he piloted the last boat the entire viable length of the canal from Peru to Lockport. The boat “Niagara” was owned by the Morton Salt Company.

The book is in the collection of The Will County Historical Society, 803 S. State St, Lockport, IL 60441, 815-838-5080 and www.willcountyhistoricalsociety.org

info@willcountyhistory.org.

 Who stitched the cover? Every treasure adds more questions.