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

ny and replacing The project into the
hands OF the state, can remedy the evil.
II has generally been supposed, so far
as We have been-eonyersant with public
opinion, that no better terms could be
asked or expected by the state from any
company who should do the work and
we are Inclined 10 believe that capital
lists would hardly invest money in a
scheme which would hold opt less in
ducemenis than would the possession and
chance OF profits oil the canal for fifty
years, together with the reimbursement
OF capital and interest, on relinquishing
the property a, the end Of hat term. If
this is correct-and if i, be found other
wise we wish to be shewn how--ihen we
think Sangamon has conceded the point
that the immediate dissolution of the
company is necessary 10 enable the stale
ever to possess the canal. ~
Notwithstanding this concessions
which, however, although we believe it
founded OH correct principles, seems not
10 have been intended, in its full extent,
the writer proceeds TO shew that there
are errors in Mr.. Cooks estimate of the
probable profits Of the work, for The pur-
pose Of weakening his arguments in ia
vor of making it strictly state concern.
And here we believe the writer has been
led into error by the very means which
he, not without apparent reason, suppos-
ed would lead TO just conclusion. He
takes j, for granted, that when Illinois
and Missouri shall possess a population
equal to that which was contained in
Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and India
ma, in 1920, the amount of their exports
will be about equal-at least not more
than equal--to the exports of the last
mentioned states, in l8G3-three years
after they bad arrived at the computed
number Of inhabitants. He says" see
no reason from which TO infer that 1t
1.-THE population will be more efficient
or en,erprising than that which was in
these four states in 1925" We confess
we see many reasons-not why they
should be more enterprising-b but why
they should have much larger export
trade. 1t will be borne in mind, that, at
the time mentioned, these four states
were receis ing constant increase OF in
habi,ants from emigration, which caused
the consumption, at home, of an i'm
mense proportion of the surplus pro-
duce; consequently deducted in The same
proportion from the exports. Again !:
many OF the Inhabitants, already settled,
were not then in condition to spare any
material amount Of produce from their
own consumption. But, we think it
highly reasonable to suppose, that the
states of Illinois and Missouri, when they
shall have attained tc population equal
10 the four states mentioned, will have a
much larger amount of settled and thriv-
ing farmers who will have produce TO
sell, in proportion TO emigran,s wishing
to buy, than those states had in 1928.
And in this we are warranied-in addi-
ton to other reasons--by the superior
facilities we enjoy in opening farms, and,
consequently, the shorter space OF lime
eapsing between the first commence.
nent, and the complete settlement O:
them.
But ii must also be remembered thai
oil calculations on the subject, are, and
should be, predicatsd on the additional
/, and superior outlet which will be afford
ed by the canal. Tennessee, Kentucky,
Ohio, and Indiana, had no other mark ct,
5 by water, than New Orleans; which
mustbe approached through long, Circuit
Gus rivers; many Of them SO low, gene
rally, and subject to such frequent OBJ
s,ructions, as TO conhne the exporting
season to narrow and most unfavorable
limit: while illipois and Missouri will