Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-02-20
VOL VINO. 81,

ence? 1t is unkind thus TO ask US to ex-
change certainty for an uncertainty. For
one, sir, | never will consent 10 jeopared in
upper lakes, which the more immediate
~ represent on this foor,by voting FOR the
proposed reference. whilst my confidence
in the proper standing committee is so un
limited that know not where TO look for
IA more favorable report,l watched the an
nouncement OF the committees while the
greatest anxiety: and the mo nent heard
the names of this committc, my hopes were
bright, and they have come brighter still
from subsequent events.
would be less strenuous in this matter,
as my anxiety to act with my western
friends in all cases is very great, were not
the claims Of the northern frontier, embrac-
ing an extent Of 1000 miles and lake
coast of 5000 SO pressing. All the ex-
penditures for lake improvements will not
reach two and half millions, whilst tie
expense Of the Delaware breakwater alone
has been three millions. The policy Of
protecting the Atlantic coast, originating
with the first session the American Con
gress, has been continued down TO the pre-
sent time; and | am at loss to get at The
precise amount Of the millions upon mill
ions which have been expended for buoys,
beacons, ght-houses. breakwa'ers, and har-
bors there. know that some make q d s.
lincton between the trade 10 that direction
and ours, by calling one external, and the
other internal Bat, sir, i: that commerce
m1re entitled to the name Of ex ernal thar
goes from Boston, NV York, or any 9TH
er Atlantic cty,to the old world, than tina,
which goes from Chicago, Detroit, Cleve-
land, or Buffalo, through the Welland ca
nal and the 81. Lawrence river! am sor-
ry have not the statistics Of this portion
Of our foreign trade, TO present to you;but
| will collect them, and have them ready
for another occasion; and | am confiden.
that they will astonish many gentlemen on
this floor, who have regarded the lake trade
as interna! alone. And the enlargement OF
the Welland canal, land the Improvement Of
the St Lawrence. now, in progress, will
bring boats of $50 tons burden from Liy-
eTpool to Chicago, without once breaking
bulk; whilst the completion Of tho Illinois
and Michigan CANA nayigable for boats
Of $50 tons--will open this channe, OF trade
direct with ST. Louis. Thus the whole
western and northern trade IS fast gaining
foreign nature, and is entitled 10 all the
protection of that emanating from the At
lantic c;ties,even through int MI COM
merce were entitled 10 no protection, which
deny. Look to the history Of our lake
trade; and let the past be some indication
of the future. In 1896 the American flag
was first hoisted on Lake Erie,on board a
small schooner of 70 tons. Ia 1902 the
| first government vessel was launched there.
In 1sl9,on Lake Erie, which now has So,
the first steamboat Northumberland made
its appearance, and made trip to Macinac,
to carry up the goods Of the American Fur
Company, and annually made her "long
and arduous voyage" to this Ultima Thule
Of American navigation, until she was
wrecked on the beach near Buffalo, in the
month Of November, 1921. With The grea'
test difficulty her place was supplied by the
steamboat Superior, which has since been
altered over into small sail vessel--a pitt
full contrast with the mighty Great Wes-
tern, Illinois, or Wisconsin. But,n those
days have no doubt the captains of the
Walk-in-the-wotrr and Superior strulted
the deck, prouder Of the extent and great
ness of their command, than now do my
weather worn and popular friends, Captains
Walker, Blake, and Randall, now making
their fourday trips from Buffalo to what
were then paris unknown. And those very
straits, which were then visited but once q
year by steamboat, now have one every
day. In 1926, steamboats, first made their
appearance on Lake Michigan on a pleas
ufe excursion 10 Green Bay. In 1882.
the necessities of the government, d1ring
the Black Hawk war, compelled the first
s,eamboa. TO make u trip to what is now
the great granary Of The West-,he garden
city, "mrbs in horto," where | have the
honor TO reside--a city not set on hill,
yet it will never be la.d-a city this mo-
ment holding out greater inducements to7
investments in real estate than any in this
broad countfy-a city that will one day a.
lone have a member on this, loor;aEc this,
more than one person now alive will live
to see. Ia that year, 1892 The first frame
building was erected. The next Chicago
was first laid out into lois. And, during
this year. (ls33, there were but eleven
steamboats, on Lake Erie, and only three
trips were made into Lake Michigan, one
10 Green Bay, and two to Chicago, when
the erection Of the first brick house was
celebrated. In 1884 there were but eigh-
teen boats in all on The lakes, making in
the year two arrivals at Chica go and three
at Green Bay. In 1886, the year of my
first arrival in the State, the prairie fires
overran what now composcs the principal
part Of two of our wards. lis growth, since
that time, can be best estimated from the
following statistics:
Exports. Imports.
1896, $1,000 "a 1886, 1925, 203 90
1887, lI,065 90 1897, 1885, IL
1899, 1904 IS 1888, 579,l6i 81
1899, 33,343 % 1899. $50, 80 %
1910. 22s,635 II IS4O, 562,IG 20
1871, 34S, 1862 "a 1871, 56f,347 90