The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-05-30
nnInois-.-,ye,,ern Er.,.,rn,,on.

great measure of her due proportion OF western
emigranis. With an immense public debt hang
ing over her, and hardly hope Of ever bel z
able to lqudatc il, our state has prcsenoi bat the
dismal prospect Of oppressive taxation, or black
reputation and dishonor ale natives tha, were
but poorly calculated 10 allure either capital OF
honest industry 10 her borders. The current Of
emigraton hss therefore been directed to the ter
iitories north of US, or the wilder regions to TIE
west aud our fertile prarics and beautiful! groves,
our exhausilcss mines and noble rivers, have been
Stunned as deadly milsm, and regions less IA
vo'ed by nature, and less cursed By legislative
folly, have been sought as paradise.
But, happily, the causes that for the last lew
years have siuntcd our growth, are now measure-
bly, removed. A brief and severe adversely has
resulted in the adoption of measures by our legis-
laturc, that while they at once secure US against
the disgrace as well as blighling curse Of rcpudia-
ton, at the same tine afford to the cmigran,
sure guarantee against oppressive taxation. A
law has been passed, providing for the profpcc-
Two paymant Of all tie interest upon our state
debt, at the same time that it permanently fixes
our maximum rate Of Taxation, beyond which we
will never 60 and which 10 lower than in most
Of the states and territories around u.s.
So far, then, as public honor and taxation arc
concerned, VIC arc again on at least unequal foot
ing with any o. the western states or territories,
and can once more compete with them for the
Al l., IF Ia pg !
arising from other considerations. Aud as, for
the last few years, in The dark clouds that have
surrounded u.s. these advantage hrvc nearly been
lost sigh; Of, il may moi be improper to cnumcratc
few Of them now, TO show the cmigrant and man
Of capital that we are not wholly undc.uying Of.
their attention.
To the mass Of omigrnn,s, then, who como as
tlllers Of the soil, aud whose prosperity nsurcsI
tina. of all other classes, we present u soil which
in point Of fertility we place against any other in
the world. Take common eastern farm, cult
yalc it 10 Tie highes, state OF perfection manure it
your after year, and expend thousand dollars to
spread little guGao over it, and work your bones
bare on it, and then take plough and run it
once or twice through a raw Illinois prairie, and
throw on your seed and our word for it the prai-
rio crop will beat that Of your highly cultivated
farm, and you can raise mare crops in succession
And there is all your labor saved-thc labor Of
clearing the ground, Of getting out the roots, and
s,umps, and stones and rubbish OF every kind,
and the labor Of ploughing OF two year, aud of
nearly oil the manurng and Of hundred other
things which tho eastern farmer is pcstercd with
that he Of the west knows nothing Of. In add.
lion you have here oil your grazing ground for
nohing--nccd no meadows-,hc praircs are
boundless The best grass in abundance and all you
need do is, drive in your cattle during the SUN
mer and NOW lor the wlnler.
These arc advantages that are possessed, it is
true, by the territories and one or two states IN
common with us; but there are other advantages
peculiar to Illinois, and which must at once place
her cloims 10 the attention Of the omigrant and
capitalist beyond competition. First among these
are our facilities Of transportation. From any
point IN Illinois 1t is not hundred miles to ma
vgable water, and more than half our counties
arc washed by channels of INSTRUMENTATION
On the north is the Illinois and Michigan canal,
soon to be completed, giving TO our farmers aud
business men the choice VI three markets, the SOU
therp, eastern, and Canada; on the east we are
bounded by lake Michigan and tho Wabash ri.
yer; on tho south by the Ohio; the mighty Mis-
sisspp washes the whole length of the state on
thc west and the placid Illinois picrccs the centre,
dividing tho state lcngthwisc into nearly two
equal parts. No state in tho Union We assert
without fear Of contradiction can boast facilities
of transportation and INSTRUMENTATION like
these or can have reader OF better market for
every kind of produce.
Another advantage peculiar to Illinois at pre-
sent, aud which cannot fail TO attract emigration
and capital, 10 tho fact that tho work is abou, to
be resumed and vigorously prosecuted on tho llli-
nois and Michigan canal. Laborors in grcu,
numbers will DO wanted, who in their turn will
give employment TO scores Of mechanics, make
business brisk for our merchants, and give our
farmers market at their doors for every article
they raise. Money will be plen,y--oyer mil.
lion and half is 10 be expended among us i'm
media,eIy land life and energy mus, be imparl.
cd 10 every kind Of business that is seldom wit
messed. Property will rise rapidly in value, mills
andv,nanuiac,ories will 20 up villages will rapid.
ly swell into towns, and towns into cities. The
property worth . hundred now will soon bling
its thousand and tho poor squalcr will utmost