Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-08-28
TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSOURI.
(No. 2.)

cheap and speedy transportstion; ana assert
it as my opinion, that the State, and people
thereof, are row entirely adequate to the accom-.
plishment OF all these, in a very short time.
Before proceed to show how this is 10 be done,
allow me to say a word or two as TO the i'm
portance OF each OF these requisites. First--Oi
certainty. So rich and productive is our soil
and so genial is our climate, that in the articles
Of Grain, Vegetables, Hemp and Tobacco, and
may add, Beel and Pork--so generally are
our people engaged in the production Of these
articles, that our almost entire prospect OF al
market is from beyond the State, and | may
add, not short OF New Orleans; and consequently,
whatever will facilitate their transportation there,
directly benefits every individual who has any
Of these articles to dispose Of. Therefore, a
certainty that he can send such surplus to New
Orleans, is at once an encouragement to use his
best efforts to raise surplus; whereas, If there
remains an uncertainty Of his sending 1t to
market, he becomes careless whether he raises
more than he needs for domestic consumption.
As o single illustration Of this, let us suppose
it were possible that the Mississippi was in
every second and fourth Of every series Of four
years to be entirely dry, who would be so foolish
as to raise surplus OF these perishable articles
for market, the first and third years Of that time;
and consequently, every lesser thing that OBJ
structs the certainty Of transportation, inclines
our farmers to plant te,oer crops and slackens
their efforts, in the preparation Of articles for
market. This would be different if the largest
portion Of the people (as in some Of the eastern
States) were engaged in manufacturing, for then
our market would be at home, (Which Of all
other markets most increases the wealth Of any
country.) But such is not our case, although
the writer OF this hopes that finally this will be
one of the largest manufacturing States in the
Union; still, before this can be effected our State
must become rich from the sale abroad Of her
agricultural and mineral productions in their
manufactured or crude State; and every thing
that will make the transportation Of this surplus
more certain to the greatest produce depot in
America, q had nearly said in the word) will
increase the wealth, not only Of the farmer, but
Of all classes, except usurers, in the State; for
as increases the farmers wealth, so all other
classes, Except as above) are benefited. As
an illustration Of the injury that uncertainty pro.
duces to the farmer, may DO allowed to refer
to single fact Last winter corn sold at about
one dollar and ten cents per bushel in New
Orleans, for six or seven weeks, while all our
rivers were blocked up with ice, and before their
| oayirafiop mad thof tho M;coo,r;
farmer could send his corn to Market it fell to
from 60 to IS cents, being clear loss, on each
bushel, of at least As cents!! Suppose then,
there had been certainly of transportation from
every farmers neighborhood, during this period,
it is by no means oxtravagant 10 suppose, the
people OF the State could and would have sent
forward at least one million Of bushels, and if so,
there would have been gain in their pockets
Of near half million Of dollars, which would
pay the taxes 10 the State for more than five
years. 1t should be remembered that it is not
on corn alone, but on every other article they
raise for market, on which corresponding losses
are annually sustained from the same cause by
our people, 10 far more than double the amount
above estimated. Even Hay was at one time
last winter over forty dollars per ton in New
Orleans, but at time when the Missouri raiser
could not have transported it there for 500 per
ton. And why? Because Of the uncertainty OF
transportation. And the writer asks his fellow
citizens TO bear in mind this remark: that this
uncertainty occasioned by ice, effects us worse
than any State in the Union, except Iowa. Wis.
consin and Michigan, and that by energy and
the expenditure OF some means, which are en-.
tirely within our reach, we can eradicate this
uncertainty, as in future numbers, will attempt,
and, hope, successfully, TO show.
The next great important item, in relation to
transportation, is its cheapness: to show this,
will be the object Of the next number. In the
mean time, hope every one will think fully
on this matter, and if he will look around him,
even in his neighborhood, he will find ample
proofs, in every direction, sustain the view
thus presented; and even at home he will be
furnished with proof how often he suffers an
inconvenience for the want OF some article oil
necessity, because there is no convenient or Ger.
tain opportunity to order it sent to him. There
fore, the writer repeats, that certainty of trans
porlation is one Of the great constituents of the
wealth Of the State, and deserves the attention
of both the State and the people to make it as
certain as possible. MISSOURI.
TO THE PUBLIC.
VOLUNTEER FUNp, lin order that the pnblic