Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-04-25
LEAD.-A bill has been introduced into

the Legislature OF New L rK, ior the puF-
pose Of reducing the toll on Lead passing
through the New York and Erie canal
The subject is one Of vital Importance to
the lead trade of Wisconsin. Should the
State of New York reduce the toll on lead
transported on the canal, to low rates, the
vast and yearly increasing mineral pro-
auctions of Wisconsin, would be diverted
from the Mississippi to New York city
Were the toll reduced to one mill per mile
OH every 1000 pounds, the State of New
York would doubtless obtain greater re-
venue than if the toll were mills per mile.
In proportion as the rate of toll is lessened
will be the increase of the amount OF lead
transported by way Of the lakes and Erie
canal 1t would, therefore, be a wise po-
Icy for the State Of New York to bring
the rate of toll to so low a rate, as Will in
duce the dealers in lead at the west TO carry
this commodity to market through that
State, rather than down the Mississippi TO
New Orleans.
The following remarks relative to the
law, proposing a reduction Of the toll on
lead, now before the legislature Of New
York, we take from the Albany Argus:
awe would call the particular attention
of the commercial community 10 the pro-
posed bounty on lead delivered at tide wa
ter, and the effects it may have on the
business aud revenues of this stale.
Few are fully aware Of the immensely
of the western lead trade. In the year
1912. the product Of all the lead mines 10
the u. S. was about hirty-three millions
of pounds, and thirty millions of this was
manufactured at Gaena and its vicinity.
Nearly all this went down the Mississippi to
New-Orleans, ana from thence to New
York and different parts Of the world
Lead can be afforded at Newly orl at 81
cents per pound. This price is so low,
and the supply can be so infinitely extern
ded in this country, that our merchants are
now shipping 10 China-for the lining Of
tea chests-and we are even underselling
England in her own market, for We have
been informed by great lead firm in The
city Of New York, that they shipped &c.
600 pigs of lead 10 England during the last
season, at proft,and this is only the be-
ginning of this great trade.
Four years since, there was scarcely a
ton of lead that came by way Of Buffalo
and Oswego to New-York; but during the
last wear we understand there was some
thing like two millions Of pounds. This
has arisen from the discovery Of new ami
extensive mines near Rock River ,about 60
miles west of Lake Michigan.
10 encourage this great staple to come
to market in this direction, the Canal Board
Of 40 and Al reduced the tolls to 2 mills
per mile on every 1000 pounds of lead
coming from the west. Under this wise
and fostering impulse,the lead trade has al
ready reachcdtwo millions Of pounds in the
course of two years,and its future increase
is almost beyond calculation. But the pre-
sent Canal Board, deemng that their pre-
decessors had no constitutional right to re-
duce the tolls, were impelod bv their con-
vlctions, in their regulations for the year
1S43, to restore the old rates, and now the
tolls on lead are mills and half; whereas
in 40 it was only mills: thus raising the
tolls on that article so per cent. We have
been informed that even the tolls Of 2 mills
per mile was deemed an onerous tax. But
il the present rates be adhered to, and no
provisions be adopted similar to those intro
duced by senator PORTER, the lead Of Wis
consn must be entirely cut off from trans
portation on the Erie Canal, and if it goes
to market at all, it will seek the valley Of
the Mississippi--to the injury OF the reve-
nues and the business Of this state. The
bill in fact reduces the tolls on lead IS per
cent. This will have the happlest effect.
1t will extensively increase the manufac-
ture in Wisconsin,, increase the revenues
Of the state (for the toll on the additional
number Of boats that would be employed,
would more than counterbaance the de-
crease on the tolls on the lead, and it
would materially add to the ability Of wes-
tern debtors 10 pay their eastern creditors.
Town ENTHUSIASTICALLY TO an act
passed by the Legislature ofthis Territory,
all Ulcers elected at the last annual town
meeting, will hold their Offices and act for
the towns for which they were respectively
elected Notwithstanding parts Of said
towns in which some Of the town officers
resided on the first Tuesday in April last,
and for which they were elected, have been
subsequently set of, and erected into new
towns, or annexed to other towns. The
town of Southport therefore which has.been
divided since the last annual town meeting
will have no vacancies Of town officers to
fill, although'several of the officers elected
for said town, now reside in the town Of
Pike. The same is applicable of course to