The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-01-27

IN describing that portion Of The Valley
Of The Upper Mississippi, lying between
The western boundary of Pcnnsy lvania,
and the left bank Q! the Upper Mississippi
River, our country ATTEST geograPhcr VIII
liam Darby, ESQ.,, very i.:s.ly remarks,
that. .rsken rs q whole, this productive
tract Of GOO miles In length, and exceeding
200 mean width, and now comprised 10
the States of Ohio, Indiann and Illinois, has
no equal on earth, in any one continuous
BODY"
In this opinion VIC accord our fullest rs
sent. The agricultural fertility and re-
sources Of the region just described, arc un-
matched in any quarter of tho habitablc
earth. We have on former occasions de-
nominated il, the granary Of our republic;
an oppelIation il richly merits. Though
very recently redeemed from the '.Sons Of
the Wids," il already contains, an industri.
Gus, intelligent and prosperous population,
numbering nearly, $500, 900 souls. The
mass Of its inhabitants arc culiivators of the
soil, and feeling as they do the want Of a
proper avenue, open nj oil asons Of the
year, to our Northern Atlantic Cities, we
arc glad 10 learn, that meetings arc being
held. and active measures urgently advo-
cnted, to further the immediate construc.
tion of IN iron highway, from the Mssis.
sippi River TO the Atlantic coast. The
completion VI a great thoroughlare, such NJ
NO have mentioned, will ensure to the og-
riculturists, occupying the great grannry
alluded 10, the best, surest. and most Ger.
tain markets, ut all seasons Of the year.
Al present the ycomanry Of the States
referred TO, rs well as their agricultural
brethren, residing in Michigan, Wisconsin,
aud Iowa, are obliged TO rely wholly on the
Lakes, and the Mississippi and lis tributo.
'ry streams, in order TO transport the sur.
plus products Of their farms to market
Tho channels now used, viz: our Lakes
and tho Mississippi and ito tributaries,
though available at certain seasons, are
wholly closed for at least four months
in each year, owing to ice, or low
water. LIKE navigation is suspended gen.
orally we believe, from the last Of Novem-
bcr until nearly the middle Of April, and
the loss Of ,imc on the Upper Mississippi.
especially above the lower Rapids, between
low water and ice, exceeds Eve mos,hs 10
every ycar. Low water is as perfect m
embargo on the shipment Of brcndstuiIs,
and provisions on the Mississippi and il
tributaries, as ice. The price demanded
Tor freight, during the prevalence Of low
wnter, wholly prccludes the shipmcn. Of
agricultural productions, unless the farmer
is willing to dispose Of his surplus bread
stuifs ut prices fearfully low.
To remedy this state Of things, and 10
enable the farming community residing in
the S,aies enumerated, to realize rcmuner.
atng prices for their industry, an "iron
highway" must be speedily constructed,
from the Upper Mississippi River, cast
ward, trayersing northern Illinois, Indiana,
and Ohio, TO some eligible point in the last
named Suite, at which point, j, could be
easily connected with the great central
Road, now being constructed from PhiIa-
dolphin TO Pi.tsburg and also, with the New
York and Eric Rail Road. In the event Of
the construction Of the highway advocated
by US, and its connection with the great
iron highways, Of New York and Pennsyl.
vnnia, as suggested, our farmers would be
enabled, as we'll 10 mid -wintcr as mid-sum.
mcr, to reach the best markets Of our couu.
try, in a very few days.
The dis.uncc, from r ck Island to New
York would probably not exceed 1850
miles, and to Philadelphia, it would not OK
coed $50.
In few short ycars the annual surplus
produce Of the States described, will reach
An immense aggregate, and il will either
perish on the ground, or be sold at prices
greatly below present rates, unless On out
let such rs We advocate, shall be construct
ed from the Mississippi River, TO the prin-
cipal Atlantic cities. The line proposed
to DO travcrscd westward, beginning q,
Akron and continued to Rock Island, hi.
nois, presents an almost unbroken surface,
the entire distance. On NJ portion Of the