The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-03-27
The Mississippi Valley.

gress Of his speech, took .occason to hurl at the
democratic party the usual amount Of wing slang
yet, rs far as this extract may tend to promote
the interests of this great valley, We cheerfulIy
give ii place III our columns. lie said:
81 desire to submit n few words, in regard to
the great interests, AZ well as the rights, Of the
Mississippi valley and the commerce Of the iBirpd
lakes. | desire to call the attention Of the COM
mlttee to II few facts, which it may be well to
consider III conncxlon, as well with our Legislation
upon these land bliss ss with other propositions
which, IN their proper order, will be presented.
The late census shows that in that valley there
are now upwards Of tep millions of people whose
interests are intimately connected with the lni-
proyemeut Of this great commercial thoroughfIrc.
That inland commerce Of this country has become
matter Of the deepest national interest, and IS
enttIeI to the fostering and protecting care of
national legislation. 10 prove its Importance, a
few general statistics must suffice for the present
Dmng the last summer, the statistics Of this
inland commerce were taken under the authority
oi the Treasury Department The statistic OF
what Is termed the exterior commerce have also
been taken. From thi, official data present the
following facts, promising with the statement
that, prior to the year 1871 the entire commerce
of the Mississippi valley was carried on in few
keel boats, and IN hat year the first steamboat
In the waters of that "Father Of Rivers was
launched a; Pittsburgh.
"On the first Of July last, the steam marine OF
the inland lakes aud rivers was 765 steamers, the
average tonnage of which was 2Ol Gl3 tons, be.
inr an excess Of $4,000 tons over the entire steam
marine of Great Britain and her dependencies
The capital invested in these vessels is more than
Sl5,OOOOup, and the number Of persons employ.
ed regularly is Is 900 The number Of passcn.
gers TO and fro upon the various inland llnes
during the year ending June 81, 1851, was
about 100000.
The exterior steem marine which il fostcrcd
and guarded by national legislation, including
the Atlantic and Pacific steamers aud prop-ler-
comprises Of steamboats, and vessels. only G2j
with an average tonnage Of 2l?, 800 tons. These
facts OF themselves present nj once the most pow
eIiul argument To prove that the system Of le
gi-ation which has 81 lond neglected the inter
ual commerce OF the country should be speedily
reformed.
"Ihe annual commerce Of the Mississippi val
ley amounts to about S3OOOOOOOO
"I'rOr to the wear ISIS the number Of steam
ers destroyed by disasters on the Mississippi ant
It's tributaries was 400.
"The losses on the inland lakes snd rivers IN
the year ending July |, 1851, were 81 vessels
50 be tempest, and 80 bv snag.
THE number oi lives lost by disasters on thc
rivers during that year was CPS end am in
formed on good authority that from one point or
the Mississippi, may be seen the wreck Of sixteel
steamboats,.
notwithstanding the Importance Of this grea
inland ntere.t, and the great sacrifice Of proper
iy as well as OF human life resulting from III,
partial legislation Of Congress, there are tho-,
representing the seatoard on this floor, who az
are eternaliy clamorlng about the partiality t,
the West If Missouri asks the benefit Of do
nation OF land, which would IN the end cost tn
general government nothing, the cry is raise,
against her for plundering the old states. |
Kentucky as Ks the benefit Of some of yoIr uu
saIeaOle lands to help her IN some laudaIlc i'm
proyemcnt to AID eragrlcuture aud commerce
her h.II Is speedily Consigned to the tomb Of a.,
Capulets by such reference aS gives It a qui
etus for the season. When cries ot distress rs,
up from the great valley Of the Mississippi, an,
IN thrilling tones tell You Of the thousands wh'
perish upon her waters Tor the want OF improve
men'S III navigation these men coo!ly tell GS tha
they want the money 20 blow up Pot Rock, u
la'hetS ana brothers OF those whose lives have
been sacrificed N the lakes Of the interior ]. con
sequence OF your neglect, come before you, aud 4
the bit,crest tears their woe supplIca,c YOU tc
give them aid; but YOU turn \ deaf ear TO then
cntrcatics, ol tell them you have uu power under
the Constitution to give relief. GU can tuC
ample power to vote tens and hundreds OF ihul
sands o! dollcrs out Of Their treasury for youi
TDust uTl lUlnFDNyn,ufs uUtl I.vt
exploring expeditions. You can vote away turty
or h'ty thousand dollars To print book On bugs
but not dollar nor an acre ol land to save tn,
ives or property, oi your fellow citizen, IN Tho
Great west who bear their share OF the burdens
1' 'he government Ana TINS !. not all when
d'Spaliing "i alI iTom the legislative branches a
The government, to improve the avlsabe streams
the rnterprSing people OF that valley undertake
on Their private account, TO cross those streams
an the construction OF artificial outlets ior tho pro
duets oI 'hcir industry a IN the case ot th'
"heeins hrldSe another branch OF your govern
meht decides that 'hc stream beng declared IN
NsahIe, The bridge Is an obstruction and must b'
torn down les, sIri when We ask you to takt
ont the distractions from the river, You cont
down upon Us with your votes, and decide tha
the stream Is not national thoroughiere. WheI
a bridge i erected, you declare 1t is anationa
'horonIhIarc' and we must remove 1t!
'ihofc are upwards oi ten millions ot ve"pIt
IN the valley ci the Mississippi The star Of en-
pre- Is not gong mere-n ~ there already
,hese resolution, winch hold IN my hand iron
thc legislature oi ONO are but premonIIion Il
muse gentlemen VINO hlsE'e ABOUT Tue donations
"i ruoHc LANDS, "l what Is to come II these srea
Interests "G longer neglected. Inc people be
tween the Al'eshary and the Rockey Mountains
begin TO icel Their power, as well rs your inlus
tee, AMI the day i not far distant when they vii