The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-02-06
DUBUQUE:


A few weeks ago we took occasion to notice
the various efforts made by neighbors of Illi-
nois to reach the Mississippi by Rail Road
Since that time we have noticed the effect OF
these efforts upon our more immediate nei ghbors
at Gaena, as also upon the ST. Louis press; and
ifthe anxiety of the latter be good criterion of
public feeling, VIC are warranted in believing that
St. Louis begins to feel uneasy at the prospect
i've channels of trade which art and industry are
forming through the vast beds of the prairies.-
Alarm is visibly depicted upon the countenance
of the monopolzing city. Her merchants must,
however, yield to the force circumstances, and
in short time relinquish their hold upon the
trade of the Upper Mississippi.
The heartlcss policy of St. Louis has forced
commerce to seek other channels for exports;
and it is matter of graduation to know, that
the necessity of the case has produced the neces-
sary effect. The great thoroughEare now in
course of construction from Chicago to Galena,
is one Of these necessary channels. Let it but
be completed, and we care not how soon all or
any intercourse with St. Louis, in commercial
point of view shall cease. We shall not be un-
der obligations to her for MARKET nor shall we
find it advantageous to look to her for our COM
mercal supplies. In word, We shall have done
with her.
1t is fact, we'll authent Tic atod, that all goods
necessary for consumption here, can be purchas
ed at Chicago or Milwaukee cheaper than sim
liar goods can be purchased at st Louis, and
that the surplus produce Of this country can find
a stcad1cr, Surcr, more certain, and better mark
ct at Chicago and Milwaukee, than at ST. Lou
is. This fact being we'll established, the only
reason why our dealing is not more with the
east in preference to the south, is, that we have
not had cheap, expeditions medium Of trans
portation. This, by perseverance and industry,
we shall soon have
| So far, this great work has gone on, aided by
the united efforts of disinterestcd zeal and har-
monious action; but the signs of disunion are
already too vsibly developed to warrant us in
hoping that the remainder of the work will be
allowed to progress toward Golena without op-
position from the selfish desires of her more
southern ncighbors of Illinois as well as from
the arch-cncmy of the worS-St. Louis
We say that our fears lead us to anticipate
these unfavorabe results, and when we first
heard it announced that other etfcrts were max
ing to reach the Mississippi by branches from
the main trunk Of the Chicago and Galcna Road
we hailed the announcement with the pleasure
which we always experience when we feel that
a great and good work is being consummated.
We did not then reflect that giving life to
these lateral branches would materially weaken
Or diminish the sustcnancc which was necessa-
ry to complete the growth of the main work,
and that consequently proportion of life
was taken from the chief object Of our care, and
bestowed upon others Of comparatively less i'm.
portance.
Not that we are opposed to the designated
branches to Savannah and Rock Island but that
by giving to these disproportionate Importance
we run the risk of being compelled to yield tc
these points the Importance which naturally be.
longs to more northern terminus. AS we SAID
at the outset, our neighbors at Ga!ena are feel
ing alarmed upon the manifestations of thcil
more southern neighbors, and strenuous efforts
are low being made at the western terminus
and along the main line, to confnc the work tc
the originally designed channel
We state these facts to impress upon our read.
crs in Dubuque the necessity, the absolute ne.
cessity, which ought to impcl them onward in
the encouragement Of this work. They will be
materially and substantially benefited by the
construction of this magnificent improvement
and it is not only right in them, but it is their du
ty to participate pccunarily in its completion
How this should be done, tits for those who car
aid in thc work, to say.