Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-12
Railroads..

tloO, ana rs means OF communlCa-
ton, is to be preferred 10 the channel
Of river; in as much as il is open the
whole year.
But few years have elapsed since
the almost entire wealth and strength
Of the nation was centered upon the
banks Of the navigabIe rivers that flow
into the Atlantic, and a Journey across
the mountains TO the waters Of the
Ohio was looked upon as an expedition
that exposed the adventurcr to great
Thardships and suffering. This has been
the case within the memory of soh Q
now living, who can testify that those
who foretold, the future greatness and
prosperity of the states bordering on
the Ohio, were looked upon rs vision
ar!cs-yot how, las the fact exceed
ed the predictions Of the most sanguine.
The great Appalachian chain that
seemed interposcd like barrier be-
tween the cast and west presented diff
hculties, that might well have dis
couraged the boldcst enterprise; mot
withstanding all this the means of com
munication have been opened by canal
and Railroad and the rapidity with
which the work of improvement has
progressed is source Of .onish-
mcnt to the most credible, .. These
great connecting links, I'D thorough
fares of trade between the east and west,
while they have been the means of
comforting lasting benefits, upon The
communities and states who have pros
cuted them and through which they
pass, have become Of national impor-
lance, and essential to our prosperity.
The fact is now demonstrated from
natural and unerring fuses, that the
greatest strength Of this republic must
soon rcpose in the bosom of the mag
niliccnt valley drained by the Misss
sippi and its tributaries. This vast
theatre Of enterprise is worthy Of n
nations pride. The impcdiments, that
nature has thrown in our way are few
and only serve as stimnlants TO cxer-
ton.
The inevitable result of tho great
and progressive increase Of The coun.
try is apparent TO all, and although
there are now those, who deny tho
right Of the general government, to cx-
tend fostering care, al d lend cncolr-
agement to the prosecution of such
works Of general utility, as the i'm
provcmCnt of navigablc streams, and
the construction of highways for trade
and commerce, yet the time will come,
when such opposition will be looked
upon as having been dictated by the
most selfish and contracted views.
The Canal or the Railroad that con
meets lake Eric with the Hudson riv-
err, is not so much a work Of sectional
importance, as ii is Of general and pub
lie utility. New York and Pennsyl-I
yania, derive no more advantage from
the operation oftheir internal improve
ment works, than Ohio or the other
western states that lie contiguous. II
The opening Of public thoroughfarcs
through the several states is but con-
cession Of the right Of way, to others
Of the confcdaracy in order that all
may enter the markets Of the world
upon terms Of easy competition. At
this day the mutual interests OF these
States, and their dependence upon
each other are becoming more appa-
rent than ever, and men Of all parties
should agree TO that policy ofthc gov
eminent which encourages TO the great
est extent the industry and enterprise
of the people. A protective tariff is
not the only means by which industry
is to be encouraged. A wise system Of
internal improvements is necessary \.
and as extended as are the limits Of
our territory, yet we possess all the re-
quisite material Within ourselves to
speedily overcome every obstruction
to future unparalleled greatness.
This Ultimate degree of prosperity
can only be secured by providing the
easy means Of carrying ON trade and
commerce TO the remotcst portion of
he country.
Wheat, one Of the greatest staples Of
he soil, commands in the city of Now
York s % per bushcl. while at Rock
Island which is only 1909 miles from
he sea-board in a direct line, it rates
II about 80 cents per bushcl. While
his great disparity continues 10 exist
t is apparent to all, that we arc in an
hiant and unimproyed condition
With an uninterrupted communica-