Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-03-03
SIS
GI.36a.7In az

Now, the whole harbor and river bill
eastern ard westerly does not amount 10
but Sl,340,G00, no, quite $500, 900 Of
which is for lake harbors.
The whole amount for lake harhors ever
granted is but S2,s0J,COO This is less
than the estimate for the completion Of
the Delaware breakwa!er, but little more
than The Norfolk harbor, Virginia, and but
The same as the fish NJ boun les TO the sin.
gle Steles of Maine, New Hampshire, and
Rhode Island
This neglect, Mr.. W hoped, would con,in
ne no longer. Numerically speaking, the
lakes were weak on this floor. But few
members ever saw the lakes. and surprs
ingly few represented any portion Of the
5000 miles OF lake coast In his State he
was was the only man tina, lived on the
lakes, or travelled them. The lake mem
Der from Indiana was also solitary and a
lone. The most Of The lake members
came here for The first time at the present
session; and, save The gentleman from the
Cleveland district, Ohio, Mr.. GtDpINGs. |
no, member from the lake coast region
had yet served out his second term. Few
and inexperienced, they had both numbers
and very long experience TO contend O.
gainsi.
Mr.. w. was deeply sensible Of tho dis
parity and could only rely upon the justice
of his cause.
He said, during the last year there were
60 lives lost. 60 vessels driven ashore
90 total wrecks. 4 sunk, at damage OF
100000.
In the last five years, Act lives lost, and
81 100000, exclusive Of fires and explo.
sions.
He said the lake commerce was more
extensive than would be supposed from the
very small number Of lake representatives
on this floor.
Ia 1645, there were II vessels Of 4,599
tons, built on Lake Ontario; and between
Buffalo and Chicago, 4S vessels Of 1O,207
tones. lnalthe lakes save Champlain, 65
vessels Of $4,000 tons costing SS50,000.
In The last five years, were built above
Niagara Falls $50 vessels, costing So, 500,
coo. OF these 81 were steamboats,, and
4 propellers.
In the whole lake trade, Mr.. w. estimated
so steamboats,, 20 propellers, SO brigs ,270
chooners--making 500 vessels of $4,000
tons; costing S4,OOO,0OO.
There are now building on the stocks be-
tween Chicago and Buffalo, 10 steamboats,
II propelers, and - sail vessels-34 in
all. There are 5000 active seamen on
these lakes. and their co mmerce the past
season has been all of I25, 100000.
Mr.. w. said that there was now direct
communication from Chicago to Montreal
and Quebec, and soon would be to Liver
pool and all the world Indeed, beef is
now packed at Chicago for the British mar
ket direct. And yet members call these lake
herbors internal improvements.
Mr. w. defended the Hudson and Missis-
s;ppi river improvements as absolutely rec
essary in giving the grea. West choice
Of the New 0:!!9ans and New York mar.
kels, and continued long while in urging
the claims of the West to further appropri-
atoms, and in contrasting the amount II
had received with that Of the south and
east. But, for all this he made no war on
any southern or eastern appropriation.
which he deemed right Of itself. He ut
length closed. by stating That he hoped that
the present bill would pass,a that il would
be the very last that would be allowed 20
take precedence OF The river and harbor
bill. II certainly would DO the last with
his consent.