The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-25
,h., ths nsssgalon may be gone nio and lhs survey

OF the Louisville and Portland canal from lis commence
ment down to the present time will not read the whole
OF them. for they would be too long | viii read how
ever the result OF lis operations for few yeas past In
I64s there passed through il 523 steamboats,, which
paid toll OF Sl5s OCT In 1881 1856 STEAMBOATS, ana
other craft passed through it, and the toll collected
S167 ,08o. read this 10 show that from The canal
tolls collected from the western commerce year alter
year. exceeding $4,000 annually Inc hen.uecy Eggs
asurs years ago paesed act TO which Congress
have assenied by which the tolls upon the canal Were
directed 10 be- annually used purchasing m The sioek
Az The profits arising from ths cana, nIss ofsh ussa ~
1870, which are still outstanding. This year about
$50 900 viii be appropriated TO buy IN portion OF
The ia4o shares leaving only some SIX Or seven HUNDRED
already paid 10 the stockholders and the government
more money In dividends than they actually contributed
in the origin and has purchased IN the stock which
Mr. DAVIS. What do you pay for the stock
Mr.. UNDERWOOD We pay about $3.50 or $3.50 a
share 10 retire IT, say the canal has paid back divi.
dend OF more money than originally paid Tor the
shock. Now. as the government own the whole con-
cern except the little individual stock remaining behind,
you will Of necessity be speedily called uponto act SO as
70 know what you will do with your own property The
State OF Kentucky has schemes in reference TO this canal
We want 10 enlarge IT. and make II answer the great pur
poses Of commerce for the whole valley and my friend
IRON Indiana has schemes upon the opposite bank
confess to this extent rivals. Indiana wants
large canal there; and think II would be best 10 nave
bat oue set OF officers and one cana--hat It would pc
more economical than TO have two canals, and double
~ OF officers Then. we think the God OF Nature has
given about half the distance 10 make the canal, and
that can be done our side great deal cheaper ALI
then, that my colleague Alr MrRIwETHER asks is, will
you, in reference TO coming eventsfor shadows show
what is c0mingge the tcessary information to enable
you 70 contrast the two NY says uly tnal ,e
Let the engineers say for how much the canal can be
made on the Indiana side. How much on the Ken
lucky side. How much on both sides How much can
You enlarge the old canal Tor, with branch giving new
locke and retaining the old locks-the locks for
larger size Of boats, and the old locks for others What
objection can there be 10 getting that information That
comes before and is known 10 Congress- and my friend
from Indiana brings up his bill next winter and bring
Up mne-ior have one upon the table upon this sub
what scheme is right That is all we ask.
n Mr. BRIGHT know that the Senate are impatient
TO vote, but general rule talk less than majority
OF the members OF the Senate and therefore, feel that
am not trespassing in claiming little time now stated
in my previous remarks that should not oppose the
amendment Of the senator from Kentucky if he insisted
upon i, though thought nothing practical could be de-
rived from the further survey for which provides The
data which the amendment 10 designed to call out have
bean collected and reported upon time and again. as the
records Of the department will show; but this matter
OF very little consequence. The senator from Kentucky
i mistaken in his estimate TO the cost OF canal on
the Indiana shore. or the different engineers who have
examined and reported upon the matter are. Allow me
to say that canal s net proposed on the Indiana shore
entirely. 1t will be located mainly in the will
explained at the proper time Captain Cram in his esti
mate as TO the cost OF canal al the point have named
says could be constructed for from 81 400 900 10 81,
100000 Captain Ball estimates that ii could be built Tor
much less, as will appear by reference TO his report But
must not enter upon examination of figures now.
Mr.. MERlWETHER. Does that canal take you be-
low the falls or into the big eddy'
Mr.. BRIGHT. AS understand it, j, takes you down
Mr.. MERiWETHER. Tha, is abou, half way down
Mr.. BRIGHT Now. the importance Of the work to
mich have called the attention OF the Senate is adj
ticd by every gentleman who is at all conversant with
% facts as they exist The senator from Kentucky says
hat the present canal cost 81 200, O0o
M, UNDERWOOD. gave no cost. ! said nothing
about that
Mr. BRIGHT. Well, the Louisville and Portland canal
did cost about Sl,oO00OO. This has long since
been refunded to the United States The private stock
holders have also been reimbursed, and the canal has
divided over sl,looooO. Where did that money come
from Mainly out OF the pockets of the men who I'LL
the SOIL who live by the sweat OF their brow-a tax
levied from the wheat, bacon, tobacco, COAL lum-
Der, SALT &C. This state of things has existed quite long
enough; change is demanded, and change ought 10
be made This harden has been borne in silence for
years No complaint was put forth until private stock
holders and the public treasury have had all returned 10
Mr.. UNDERWOOD They have collected 81
404 90.
Mr.. BRIGHT More than they shall ever collec,
again, Al my humble efforts can prevent H. They have
divided over Sllo0 600 profits, and still their tariff
mains as It was, collecting annually fraction under
$2o0,0oo Their last report states their receipts last
year AT SlG7000. The question, then, is, whether the
United States desire to continue this tax upon The labor OF
ONT western citizens. There is principle involved in
TINS case demanding examination. Whether the Louis.
vile and Portland canal be enlarged, or whether a
new one be built the Indiana shore, is matter OF
consequence 10 the community generally further than the
question arises OF which the proper plan in order
promote The public interests and give that outlet 10
commerce and travel that is demanded BY every sonnd
consideration OF public policy Without the lie 80
personal or local feeling this subject; nave no hest
fancy IN say ing that 10 undertake to enlarge the present
canal would be the height OF folly II be made
adequate 10 the advancing OF the great Ohio and
Missesippi valley We must have a new canal, CON-
menced and finished with all the advantages derived from
advancing science aud the improvements of the age in
which we live Nature Intended that this Improvement
should run down the Indiana shore and II had time,
or rather II dare ask the Senate indulge me, should
ike to read the opinions Of emnenty practical men,
allowing the immense advantages in favor OF this over
any other location Have senators ever considered the
water power that would be created by the buding OF this
canal The government is now in pursuit. OF suitable
point AT which 10 establish armofy This s The very
place. Here, with the aid OF canal, You would have
wafer power sufficient TO dive the machinery OF all New
England We need grea, naval depot in the West
Tins - the place for H. Coal and ore, in the greatest
abundance, can be hau with the aid OF the river, al
most all seasons OF the year. IN short there reason
why this poin-the falls of the 0ho--should not be TO
the United States, regards national arsenal arnory
and foundry and might add naval depot, what Lowell
mto the manufacturing interests OF New England
should be glad to go into this matter fully and feel
hrey prepared to do so, bu, that might say now
would be forgotten before the Senate would be called
what have to say for future OCCASION when hoTe
TO have the active aid OF my friends IRON Kentucky
who now show evident signs OF hostility
The question being then taken upon the amendment TO
the amendment, II agreed to- and the amendment as
amended was concurred in.
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