Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-02-08
HARROURS.

HARBOURS.
| As the session Of Congress advances, the people
of this Territory viii look with increased anxiety,
for that aid from the General Government, which
| they have right to expect. The suffering condi-
ton of our Lake commerce. and the pressing wants
of the people of this Territory, have been repeated
y spread before Congress by petition, and through
other channels of intelligence. That we have wait
ed long and patiently, for the rendering of justice
due to our claims; all who have. any knowledge Of
| the condition of the commerce on Lake Michigan,
will bear witness. The exposed situation of our
coast, and the want of harbors on our lakeshore,
are things of Proverbial remark throughout the
States Of the Union That we are dependent
wholly upon the general government, for any miti-
gaticn of the existing evils of which speak,
none will deny. At aid does not come from Con-
gress, our commerce will continue to be exposed
to TIE fury of the tempest, and the lives of Amerl-
can citizens annually sacrificed
TIE interests of New York. New England, and
every Atlantic State in the Union, are concerned
in the facilities afforded to the commerce of the
West The wheat and -four now shipped from the
several ports bordering on Lake Michigan, already
form an important item in the western trade of
many eastern cities, and also find their way into
the Canadas. And the time is not distant, when
the wheat and -four of Wisconsin, and Illinois will
be found in the markets of every city in New Eng
land as well as in all the Atlantic cities between
Maine and Louisiana. Every facility which is af-
forded to the trade of the West will swell the amt
of western produce in eastern markets, and conse-
quenty cheaper the prices of the great necessares
of life. Especially the laboring and manutac
turing classes of New England, interested in the
construction of our harbors. The West is the
/ granary-the great store House, which is destined
to distribute bread to the older States Of the East,
and receive in return her stores of merchandise
and luxuries of life The West possesses capabili-
lies in extent of territory and fertility of soil, su
cient to supply all the Atlantic States and more
! than half of Europe with the staff of life.
New York. Boston, and other great commercial
cities, are particularly identified with the prosperity
| of the West. If the cities of New York and Bos-
ton, would bring the vast and increasing produce
of the lead and copper mines of Wisconsin, to their
markets, then let them give their influence in favor
of building Western Harbors and improvements
| The Erie canal, and the vast chain of railroads,
I extending from New York and Boston to Lake
Erie, are the proper channels through which the
produce of the w ST. will pass the Atlantic shore.
Every stock holder in these great channels of COM
municaton, has pecuniary interest in the build
ing of Harbors on Lake Michigan for every i'm
provement of this kind will swell the amount of
t,o A.
railroads leading to New-York and Boston. The
mercantile interests of the commercial emporiums
of the East, cannot be so Indifferent to their own
pecunary advantage, as to refuse to lend helping
voice in persuading the general government, to
protect the commerce of the West. Let Harbors
be made on the shore of Lake Michigan, and the
trade of western Wisconsin and of Iowa, will soon
be diverted from the channel of the Mississippi and
New Oreans-it will wend its way through the in
land seas, and pour its treasures into the lap of
tern cities.
But while the East would reap incalculable ben
efts from the Improvement of Western Harbors, to
the West itself this is a sub ject of a-aLsorbng inn
portance The vast expenses which the people OF
Wisconsin every year incur, in shipping their pro-
duce to eastern market for the want of harbor IA
cilities would be enough to weigh down the in
habitants with discouragements, they not pos
sessed of untiring energies and did they not in
habit land proverbial for its health of climate and
fertility of SOIL Every bushel of wheat, every
barrel of flour and pork, shipped from the ports OF
Wisconsin, is subjected to an additional charge,
over the same kind of commodity when shipped
from towns possessed of good harbors. This is a
heavy tax upon the producing classes and tllers of
the soi.-The merchant and the importer, are also
! subjected to extra expense for every barrel of
freight landed on the shores of the Lake
But there is a more appalling picture, connected
with the business on the Lake. The destruction
of he nd of property growing out of the want OF
Harbors, should not fail to have its effect upon the
consideration of Congress. The condition of a
vessel on Lake Michigan exposed to the fury OF
the winds and the waves-without any port of safe
ty at hand, can be better gned than described.
The wrecks that have been strewn upon our coast
the past season. a sad evidence of the destitu-
ton of any port of safety in the hour of peril
These are so many appeals to the Government to
provide for the future. And the DEATH shrek of the
Inflated mariner, too, mingled in the roar of the
tempest, should ring IN the ears of congress, and
move the nation to heed our claims of Justice.