The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-27

capital, and Portland with her miraculous energies and
forecast stretching forward in the career and dis
But there is enough for all and than enough; and
the only effect OF this magnificent rivalry will be to fur
nish choice OF markets for the husbandmen of Illinois
and the other western and southwestern States.
Philadelphia New York Boston, and Portland are all
pushing for the lakes and will have accomplished
their purpose The next move will be to reach the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers, and establish direct inland COM
munlcation for travel and business with the southwest.
ern States and the lower Mississippi valley, which shall
be open at all seasons Of the yearin winter and summer
in Hood and drought-in peace and war That point is
clearly Cairo; and that channel of communication as
clearly the Central Railroad of Illinois, from Cairo to
the lakes
these conditions cannot be fulfilled Frozen up in win
ter and too low in summer the communication cannot
be maintained nor calculated upon with safety by farm
es business men, shippers, or travellers for many months
Make the time of travel between the Atlantic cities
and New Orleans, by way of Cairo, matter OF reason
able certainty and calculation and OF course, II will
cure preference all other routes the shortest,
cheapest quickest, and safest.
When the Upper Mississippi and her tributaries are
lowsst the prices of freight are nearly doubled When
high prices at New Orleans begin to be felt among the
large producers and shippers, and the boats crowded
to ST. Louis, freghts begin to rise and often reach not
merely discOuragng. but ruinOus rates And so in Md
winter, freghts begin to rise in the fall, and continue
rising to the close OF navigation.
The proposed railway having fixed rates of transpor-
taton for all of the year. and Cairo being the
highest accessible port on the river Arrays open Neu
Orleans, producers, and shippers, and consumers will
severaly derive advantages from il, almost incapable oil
being estimated in the certainty and steadiness OF mar
kets, in supplies prices, and remances.
But there is another important consideration which
must not be lost sight OF here The produce OF the west
being accumulated at Cairo, there will be necessity
for hurryng forward at the busiest seasons and crowd
ing il upon the New Orleans market as heretofore the
communication by river beng always open and the prices
of transportation never unreasonaby enhanced by the
PRESSURE it always be forwarded at from three tc
four days notice.
That the Baltimore and Ohio railway will be pushed
to Wheeling the Ohio and thereby open another great
avenue for business and pleasure, matter OF
in operation, who they that would risk the
gaton OF the Ohio above Cairo, where uncertainty OF
delay grounds OF objection?
There being stage route from Cairo to the interior
the communication between ST. Louis, one of the most
active and prosperous of our American cities, and the
Lower and Upper Mississippi, is almost entirely cut of
when the river is closed by ice Such road, them
that in contemplation, would be of ncalcuabe advan.
tage to St Louis herself and to all her dependencies and
associates.
The cost of public highways through the deep, rch and
loose soil of Illinois being very great and the roads al
ready opened being capable Of use the summer and fall
ony and welngh impossible in winter and spring, the
whole travel and transportation OF the country must OF
necessity pass this railway for great part Of the
year, and would always prefer when expedition, safe
y, and cheapness were thought elements worthy OF con-
sderation
But there is another view of the subject which opens
itself to the statesman, and must not be overlooked by
any that love their country For the transportation OF
the mails, of troops and munitions OF war; to any and all
points threatened by enemy BY land or sea- such
the whole country. Nor is it unworthy of consideration
how largely and certainly it would promote the sale and
settlement OF public lands, well those belonging to
northern capitalists from Cairo to Gaena and Chicago