Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-10-05

try in the world supports as many papers
as Wisconsin, in proportion to the number
of inhabitants.
LAKE NAVIGATION.-During the last three
weeks, there has been almost continued succession
of storms and winds vn the lake, and consequently
there have been but few arrivals Of steamboats, and
vessels at this place since the middle of last month The
necessity of Harbors the lake. becoming daily
apparent, and the subject of appropriations for this
object cannot fail to excite increased interest through
out the community. Immense losses and continual en-
barassments, sustained by almost every class of
persons, arising from the exposed condition Of our lake
coast. Emigrants passengers, merchandise and vari
Gus descriptions of freight, destined from the east to
Wisconsin, are every week carried by to Chicago in
consequence of the hazard in landing at places where
afford no protection to vessels in bad weather. In
ny instances passengers who had taken passagea Buff
fao for Southport, have been carried by to Chicago
and on the return of the boats have again taken pas
sage for Southport, and carried back to Macknaw; be-
ing unable to effect landing either Southport, Ra-
cine or Milwaukee. Navigation has been attended
with extreme danger life and property the present
fall season. We have heard of many narrow escapes
from shipwreck on the upper lakes within the past
month The perilous adventures and hair breadth
capes these great inland waters, would form fit
subject for the thri ling sketches and incidents of
life.
Were it not that the STEAMBOATS, and vessels on the
lake, navigated by of unrvaed experience and
frmness of character, disasters would be Of much
frequent occurrence In no portion of the world
the officers and Of vessels composed of men
of moro temperate habits and responsibility than
the western lakes; and il is doubtless owing to this fact
that so few accidents occur comparative to the dangers
incident to the navigatons of these waters But few
If any accidents have occurred formany years past on
the lakes which We're the result of carelessness or
recklessness on the part Of the officers and crew.
The loss which is annually sustained by the pso-
pie cf the west, from the want of harbors on LAKE
Michigan is ncaculabe. The destruction of property
is not alone to be taken INTO the account but it has
tendency TO paralize industry and enterprise Neither
is it those alone, who directly engaged in CONNER
cial operations whom the burden fas-every far
and producer in the vest is loser. The want of
harbors increases the price of merchandise and erery
article ofmport which is brought into the Territory
it also hos tendency TO impose tax from six to twelve
cents every bushel of wheat which the farmer brings
to market, and proportonae duty every article OF
export The want of harbors also tends depress the
the value of real estate and operates in every respect
against the interests of all business classes of cornu
nifty.
lfthere is single interest in the Union which demands
the attention and immediate action of the general gov
ernment 1t is the construction of harbors Lake Mi
chgan Is is not only required act ofustice, and Of
right, towards Wisconsin and the west, but the
mercial interests Of the nation demand 1t. The United
States are commercial people, and it has been
the policy Of the government to foster and encourage
trade both foreign and domestic. And the govern
ment be still reckless not only the claims ofthe west
but to the commercial good ofthe nation? And what
the interests of Wisconsin but the interests of the
whole Union Our commerce is component part OF
the commerce OF tho nation-crpple the commerce Of
the west and one of the prolific channels of trade Of
wealth. and of the supports of life to the whole people
sparazed The west is now the granary Of the Union,
and its products regulate the prices Of bread stufs in
the markets of the east and have controlling influence
upon the interests of the manufacturer the merchant
and the mechanic. A productive crop or a short crop
in the west, has on important bearing CONNER
cial transac tons with Europe and the world Nopro.
ductive interest between the Atlantic and the Rocky
Mountains is essential to the stability and happiness
of the American people as that of Agricuture Far
better that every other kind of industry in the United
States should be blghted than that agriculture should
be neglected. The west is the great theatre of agr-
cultural operations and the government look with
criminal Indifference upon this sustaining pillar of the
nation?
In national point Of view, it is tho duty of the whole
people to every effort facilitate the commerce
Of the west by tho construction of harbors lake Mi
chigan. This subject must be permitted to slumber
it must be constantly spread out before the public thro
the columns of thepress Our claims must be pressed
by petition and by recourse TO facts-they must BE-
Numbered in the ears of Congress. Public meetings
should be held in every town in the Territory, and
public expressions given in favor of harbors at South
port, Racine and Milwaukee. Every farmer merchant
and mechanic has an interest at stake-an interest suE
cient to prompt him to oct for the accomplishment of
this great object.