Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-03-15
CONSTANTINE REPUBLICAN.
WEDNESDAY. MARCH Is, 1887.

already reaping the pienteous harvest OF an early
action of their Legislature, on this subject The
receipts oftolls upon the Erie Canal have already
amounted to more than the cost of construction,
and in few years will bring in vast revenue to
the state-and at the same time afording facilities
to the citizens of the state, unsurpassed by any
work of Internal Improvement in the world to
the section through which it might pass. The
farmers now find market for their produce--the
merchants a channel for the transportation of
their goods, who, but few years since, were
compelled to transport their produce by teams,
two or three hundred miles TO the eastern mar
ket, and their merchandise subject to similar
taxation, previous to being offered for sale in the
interiors consequently the farmer was not on
ly obliged to sell his produce at very low
price, but was paying an enormous price for ev-
or article of merchandise purchased. The pro-
ject of charging the Eric Canal is now strenu-
navigaton-which object will undoubtedly be nc
complishcd soon. The great southern rail road,
through the southern tier of counties of that state
now constructing, is another grand work. opening
as 1t does, communication to the eastern mar
ket, for the people of that extensive and splendid
firming country. In addition to these works of
Internal Improvement, there are more than six
ty other charters for rail roads and canals in that
state, with capital of more than forty millions
of dollars. Thus the state of New York is rapid
ly increasing in wealth and prosperity through
the untirng zeal and excrtions of her enterprisng
Legislators, in the encouragement and prosecution
of her numerous works of Internal Improvement.
The state of Pennsylvania has number Of
rail roads and canals in operation, the success
and prosperity of which to the people, has pro-
duced spirit Of enterprise and perseverance, in
them, that is and will be used, through their
agents in tho representative hall, till she shall
have every nook and corner other dominion CON-
nodious to an Atlantic market. The navigable
rivers, of which Pennsylvania is particularly fa-
vored. when connected with her present and con-
templatod internal communications, will not only
open channel to oil eastern, but to the nor
thern, western and southern markets. Her path
to future greatness and wealth is marked out,
and in few years will give fair illustration of
the benefits to be derived from Internal Improve
ments.
Ohio is taking rapid strides in her onward
course in the construction of canals and railroads
she has already connected the waters of Lake
Erie with the waters of the Ohio River, and
canal is now being constructed to connect Lake
Erie with the Wabash Rivera rail road is about
to be constructed from Cincinnati to the ATTAIN
tic, at Charleston, South Carolina, through the
states Of Kentucky and Tennessee, which, though
il is tremendous task, will be accomplished before
many years shall pass over our heads. There
are numerous other rail road and canal charters
granted by the Legislature of that state, and ma
ny of the works are progressing with great rapid
ity. The people of Ohio are determined to crowd
on their gerat works Of Internal Improvement to
the utmost of their ability.
The people Of Indiana and Illinois are not
far behind their sister states in their cxertions
to construct internal communications In In
diana there are many works of Internal Improve
ment going on prosperously. In Illinois the
great state work-the canal, connecting the wa
ters of Lake Michigan with the waters of the
Illinois River, is now being constructed. 1t is
a heavy work, but as the State of Illinois has the
matter in hand, it will be completed with all pos
sibe despatch. 1t will, when completed, be
very important channel of communication to the
whole western country and a source of great
wealth to the state Of Illinois.
In Michigan, this all.absorbing subject, Inter-
nal improvements, is receiving its due considera-
ton. The agents of tho people, in the legisla-
tive hall urging their claims for the construc-
ton of three channels of communication across
the Peninsula, at the expense of the state. This
is an enterprise worthy the praise, and illustra-
tive of tho good judgment of the representa-
tives Of an older state. The project, although
hooted at by the editor of the Detroit Journal, is
magnificent one. The densely populated coun-
try through which they will pass, imperiousy de-
mands that an immediate action of this kind
should be made by our Legislature on this impor-
tant subject. 1t is known to all who arc in tho
least acquainted with the country through the
southern tier Of counties, that it is not inferior if
not superior in point Of population and fertility
of soil, to any range of counties in Michigan, and
equal to any country in the world for farming
purposes-and yet there is no market, except for
home consumption, caused by the great influx of
emigration, (which we can not expect to be per-
mancnt,) for the convenience of the tiller of the
soil. The contemplated Rail Road through the
southern tier of counties is a work Of vital i'm
portance to the State Of Michigan, and should in
justice receive the unpreudiced and impartial ac-
ton Of our Legislature. 1--we understand the in
tention of works of Internal Improvement, they
are not intended for the particular accommodation
of any one person or set of persons, but for the
general benefit of the citizens of the State. That
there is opposition to the southern and northern
routes, existing in the minds of some, we have no
doubt, yet we can not believe that such feelings
exist to any great extent. If the members who
oppose these works do SO from conscientious
belief that they are inexpedent, and that we arc
undertaking too much, we are willing to believe
them honest in their opinions, however much our
view of the subject may differ from thers--but if
their opposition and hostility to the proposed
works of Internal Improvement arise from self
interest for any particular section, or for the ben.
eft of any particular persons, regardless of the
interests Of the great mass of people, then and
in that case we must say that il is wrong and un-
just, and an abuse of the rights vested in them by
the people. The interests of the people of the
different sections Of the state should DO consulted
We are. any ions 10 see every mart of Michgan In