Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-12-03

Tor an examination oil that part oil the
Canal subject which Mr.. Cook has so
ably handled, but having been anloipal-
ed, IN some respects, by his communica-
ton, am induced to confine this num-
Der to an examination of the correctness
OF The positions assumed by him. AS
this is matter OF great importance, 1t
cannot be unacceptable to any gentle
man that Mr.. Cooks views should IN
dergo an Investig ation---indeed | am SO
well acquainted with that genlleman's
, l,berallty OF character, that | know il
could not be more acceptable TO any one
than himself. His general reputation
Tor talents, and his known acquaintance
with this particular subject, wiii deservr
edly give bis opinions great weight; and
we should be ready to avail ourselves OF
whatever light his talents may have shed
upon the subject. II seems that We
both had for our object The smendm ept,
or he repeating of the Canal law. My
Chief aim in No. ,, was to show the i'm
poiiance of making the Canal, by any
means in our power, and the inadequacy
OF The present law TO effect the object OF
the legislature: and Mr. Cooks, in his
address. TO SHOW the impolcy Of letting
private company have 1t, and TO point the
means by which the state Can do it her
sell. | have before said, that if the state
we're co~petent to the undertaking, |
would prefer it. By this, | meant not
only pecuniary, but a moral competen-
cy also; and | would not now be under
stood as contcnding for the giving OF it 10
company, in any event, but only as
questioning, in some degree, the supe-
riority of Mr.. Cooks plan, under exist
ing circumstances, and the souDdness oil
the reasoning by which il is supported.
IF the data upon which his reasoning is
predicated, shall be found to be too by
pothetical, his conclusions must be in
the same proportion erroneous. That
this is be fact shall attempt 10 show.
In attempting which, my only object is
to excite a spirit Of investigalion-tha
by sober and honest discussion this i'm.
porant subject may become to be I'M
derstood before ii is acted upon again.
II my views are erroneous, their reiuta-
ton will not occasion me the least NOR
LITIGATION, a correct understanding OF the
subject being my aim.
Mr.. Cooks view of the subject may
be divided into three paris:
LIST. A calculation OF the surplus pro-
duce which Illinois and Missouri will
furnish for transportation On the canal;
aud hence,
2d'y. The profits arising from it TO
the slate.
Sa'y. The dele,eripus influence which
accompany would have upon the politics
OF the state.
| 4ih. The means are pointed out by
The LIST and Cd, shall undertake to
show are overrated, the Sd, problema.i-
cal, and that The h is impollic.
| Mr.. Cook shows, that before the state
can possess herself of the canal, at the
expiration of fifty years, she viii have 10
pay the company three and a half ,nl
lions If dollars. This is true, and is
sufficient reason for altering or repeal
ing the law. He then estimates Inc an
nnal income to the state at SOL 200 at
this result he arrives by surprising one
boat OF 100 tons to pass on the Canal per
| day, which, according to the rates OF toll,
would produce that sum. In order TO
prove tha, this estimate is not too high,
he SAYS that wheat enough can be pro-
duced from four townships of land (he
must mean) for exploration, to produce
this result" or," says he, " il each soul
in the state, surprising them 10 be 90 900,
would raise, for transportation on the
Canal. the prodoct OF one acre only"
viz: 5 bushels OF wheat, it would pro-
duce The same result; and 10 do this, he
thinks it would require very little indus
| lry.-Now let US see, reasonable as this
calculation seems at first, if it be founded
in probability. First, is ii probable that
under any state Of society, the state can
or will, upon an average, raise the guam
tity OF produce which Mr. G.. says can
be produced from four townships of land.
| BY MIR. C's. own calculation, Illinois and
Missouri, in 1855, will, both together,
have l,375,o97 inhabitants, which will
make them just about as populous as
the territory which conposes Tennes-
see, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana was in
1920. To have exactly the same mum.
Der 10 the square mile which those states
had in 1890, Illinois and Missouri, should
have l,3ll,649; and whom they should
possess this population, see no
| VUh N inf Hat - mi