Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-12-10
SP.hDpApDRo
EDwARDsvILLE. DECEMBER 10, 1925.
CANAL


hardly complain, as yet; for nolwi,h-
standing much has been SAID, much
more might, and, if we were competent,
should be advanced to good purpose.
But it is the New York canal which &C.
cupies SO much space in our columns
to-day. We wish to keep the public in
mind of this end OF the road-lo wealth
and prosperity. We wan, to be able to
start /air; and set us once a'loar, we ap-
prehend there will be no difficulty in car.
rying the state bark into safe harbor, with
a good market, and fair prices: What
then shall hinder US from profitable re-
turns
We noted a thing or two last week
for the consideration of "Sangamon,"
and OF the public. 1t may be perceived
from what we then said, that we are IN
cined 10 the opinion, that the imrned,-
ale dissolution OF the canal company and
an attempt on the part of the state to do
the work herself, would be the true policy.
Let US not be understood, however, as
urging the latter measure at all hazards.
II should be thoroughly examined, ana
adopted, it adopted at all, with the utmost
caution, and the most prudent prepare
ton.
The chief reason advanced by US, was
grounded on the admission of Sangamon,
that the amount to which the cost of The
canal, with, simple interest, would rise
in fifty years, justified an alteration or
repeal of the law; and our own beiiet
that no company would take the proiea
on terms less favorable 10 the s,ockhold
ers. We did not then recur 10 what had
been previously saic by the editor Of the
lntcliigenCer, who seems to intimate,
though he does not express il, that d
company might accep, a charter for a
shorter term. II this can be done, in so
considerable a degree, as to make the
canal eome-at. able by the state, We have
the fewer obleciions-but we doubt it,
We invite those who feel an interest 10
the great Work-and who does not Ito
examine this incipient part Of the sub
iect. Let US start fair, we say again;
and, we add, let no pre-conceved opin-
ions prevent the light of truth and rca-
son from irradiating our path in tie out
set. For ourselves, We really want light
and shall be Obliged to any one who can,
and will instrnc, US.
BY cur second suggestion, last week,
we only intended to shew, that there
may, probably, be some difference be.
tween the circumstances under which
we shall be placed thirty years hence,
and those Of the older western states two
years ago; in consequence, partly, OF
the fact, that our prairies only want fenc-
ing and ploughing, end are then ready a,
once for protilable cultivation; while in
those states, the settler had to toll for
years in opening few acres to the rays
Of the sun. A vast difference We
have known two men 10 enclose and
raise good crop on forty acres Of new
prairie in the first year Of their resi-
dence; and we believe the usual pro-
gress of settlement is nearly equal to
this. If the effect of this dissimilari,y
be as great as we have supposed, it then
appears to US, that calculation found.
ed on supposed equality Of resources,
produces a resul' far below the truth.
We will present another idea. BY
the table constructed by " Sangamon"-
which, however, we believe to be some-
what more favorable to our views than
his premises would justify-he deduces
a clear freft to the state, after deducting
cost, interest Of money borrowed by the
state to do the work, incidental expenses,
&c. Of six hundred and forty thousand
dollars. at the end Of thirty years. This
is on the superstition that the state is to