Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-02-11
Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement.


tons.
Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement.
MADISON, Feb. !, 1853.
The annual report of the Commissioner of Pub
lie Works is printed-and give you its essential
features by copying follows
''Should the lands be sold for money, as antci-
patcd, within the next two years and the proceeds
applied as received, towards the eXtinguishmcnt
of the liabilities the whole Indebtedness including
interest, on the first day Of January, 1855 to be
paid ont of the Revenue Fund will amount to
say $500, 900. The annual interest upon the
debt at ID per cent, would amount to $50 900.
at cannot, in our opinion, be reas enable doubt
ed that the of the improvement within the
first twenty years after its completion, will meet
the annually accruing interest and cost of repairs
and create sinking fund, sufficient TO eXtinguisll
at the end OF that time, the whole Indebtedness.
That this improvement is one of very great
importance to the interests of the people Of this
state seems TO be admitted in all quarters, for
connections are sought with this thoroughfare by
plank roads and rail roads, projected, in progress
of constructor from different points on Lake Mich
gan, from Manitowoc to Chicago to interscCt il
Mt different points from the mouth of the WsCon.
sin River to Green Bay. The formation of these
various connections must and will add to the rev
enucs of this improvement by assisting to develop
the resources of these fertile and extensive val
leys along its line, whose principal trade is to flow
through its course"
In these paragraphs you have, first, the amount
Of Indebtedness which will exist on the complexion
Of the work second, the term when it will be all
paid third, the means by which it is to be paid.
With reference to the first, let me say, the in
debtcdncss will be full as much as is estimated,
and | think twice as much. The second of course
depends on the third. And as to that, YOU can
estimate its merit by looking at it n moment. 1t
is assumed that the whole country, clear down to
Chicago, is seeking to become tributary to Fox
River by means of plank roads, Iail roads, &c,
from which cause is to proceed these revenues to
pay the interest and the principal. Now, untortu-
nately for the sagacty Of these commissioners,
and the merit of their rep ort-thc object of
these improvements, and their effect, if ever CON
structcd, is, and ever will be to take trade away
from the Fox River, instead of to it. Roads are
projected from Mantowoc, Shehoygan, &C., on
the Lake Shore, to Lake Winnebago and the Fox
River, not to enable the Manitowoc and Shcboy-
gan people TO 60 to those points, butte enable the
people of that region to avail themselves of amorc
eligible market by coming to the Lake Shore
When this improvement is completed (should it
ever be- it will he little more than a canal with a
great number of locks, dams &c, running north
into six months annual of ice. What chance
then has it in this age, and in virtue Of our geo
graphical position, to do any great amount of bu
sncss. Rail Roads will be constructed conncc-
the North with the South at important points
and the idea that any amount of trade will scch
this northern channel to make its way ens
through Green Bay and the Straits Of Mackinaw,
seems to me prcpostcrous.
What then Suppose the debtinsead of $500,
O0O should be $500, 0OO as is much more likely
The interest annually on that will be the snug lit
tie sum of 100000. Now if the tolls, over ant
above the expenses will pay half the interest,
shall be disappointed. Then we have debt Of
$500, OOO with an accruing interest of 100000 an
nually to mcet-and how Our constitution says
we shall not enter into works of internal improve
mcnt as State, we shall contract no debt for suci
objects, and we shall contract a debt for no pur
pose of over 500 900; which would authorize us Il
suppose that this half million could hardly be a
legitemate State debt. That is the question. Is
II, or Is IL not MANY aIICduH COutSIH 'iN' Wv
Legislation in reference to it, has been of such
character that the State is in honor bound to see
the debt paid, and those who think this, think tina
the pertinacity of creditors will sooner or later
force it on to the State Treasury. If we get rio
of itshort of million may think ourselves wei
off And yet with this and previous experience
there are those who are begging for grants ofland
from Congress, TO the State, to assist in works o
internal Improvement We should pray to be de
livered from all such grants. No sooner are they
made than they become at once the prey Of Wing
or Democratic caucuses, and whilst a few mer
ride unto wealth and office on the strength Of then
the many are made to bear the burthens of taxa
ton which ensue.
THE RBscISDISG RESOLUTIONS.
am told that our Democratic brethren, who
have been agonising over this proposition have at
length come to the conclusion that it is not best
to NEEDLE with them. Under this state OF the
case, the question arises, arc they inside or out
side of the pale of healthy organization. Those
resolutions are directly hostile to the baltimore
Platform. And by refusing to repeal them, the
democracy of course re-indorse them. let as be
thankful that the popular sentiment rs such as to
compel this state of things Oh the part OF leaders
and let us hope, as we may, that the time is not
distant when the politicians and the people too
will act in accordance with their professions