New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-05-18
TIE NORTH AND TIE MISSISSIPPI.


the commercial sivsntsges OF the navigation OF the
Lover Mississippi. We notice the objection with the
more sscrt because il IS the only tha. has fallen
under our observation in the comments OF the press
really pertinent to the question.
Tie omission charged IS based upon the assumption
that the navigation OF that portion Of the Mississippi
living south Of Co. 30 would be lost the North, upon
the exodus from tie Union OF the slave States. Ths
il fry IN point and we hold ourselves under obga-
tous 10 consider the suggestion. We might reply By
insisting upon the rule OF international aw which
cures 10 the nation poss ssing the head waters OF
stream the rgL. OF freely using those waters through
ont tLe. course to the ocean. The principle was
yindioated by Nj. Jefferson in regard to this very
river while Spain was the owner OF both banks near
the mouth and of the western bank throughout It's
whCe extent. !. was insisted upon by his successor
in tie State Department Mr.. Clay in the discussion
with the British Government in ls26 in regard to the
navigation of the st. Lawrence; though here also,
we were tie owners OF but bank. Let it be con-
ceded however to put the worst face upon the matter
that Louis ana Mississippi and Arkansas. States which
belong 10 the South would abure the doctrine to which
they are a. much committed are-rather more
if they have any special regard for southern statesmen
or that they would embarrass the exercise of the right
by annOyng restrictions. The people OF New-Orieans
no are anxious to attract trade not to repe Il, who
are already not little gexed because the people of
the uprer western States 10 not use the Mississippi 50
much As they would be glad to have them--might OBJ
iect and mist that denial Of the right would be very
Ike shut ~ the shop-door in the face oil ones Gus
toners But concede that such trading notions should
be oycrrul.d as unworthy Of rampant chiyalry. Ii
remains then to inquire Whist the navigation of the
Lower Mississippi is worth to the people north OF the
confluence of the Ohio and what they would lose by
privation OF II.
1t so happens that the people to be affected have
been lor some years making those practical expert
rreuts upon which the solution of the problem de-
pends. and we here in the State Of New-York have
been looking on with the most watclfu interest; be-
Ing stimulated thereto by no considerations relating to
slavery or the Union but simply by the fact that we
have constructed and opened rival channel to the
Mississippi. and have been competing successfully for
is trade To bring gris to our mill under the
necessity of bringing it away from that river. The
Canal Board annually plot and cipher upon the question,
and the maps, diagrams aud figures necessary for Its
determination have been scattered broadcast in thous
ands of printed copies. Look at the Report OF Mr..
McApine State Engineer, madein February last or in
be found appended on which the territory is distinct
" marked within which the Mississippi River has
been superseded by the Canals of this State and their
western trbutarios-has become thing OF as little
commercial concern to the people rs the ioangho, OF
vastly less anxiety than is manifested in the South IN
regard to the Amazon. There is dividing line which
separates tie trade that goes North and East to the
Great axes and thence to the hudson. from that
". ~ .rlN fasaa ain
pi That line is delineated on the map of the present
wear yellow paint and marked 1.-THE present line Of the
drainage ofthe trade of the Erie Canal" Every
duction in the tolls and charges for ranspogtationey
cry improvement in the Canals of New-Yorh, Ohio and
Indiana cnlsrges the of its basin. We need not
describe It's boundary. tor il is merely temporary
enc 1t matter Of simple calculation to ascertain
how lar West and South it will be removed upon any
given reduction in Citing charges. andas much so
to ascertain what reduction may be effected by given
improvement. These calculations the Engineer De-
partm,ut has ns de from data furnished by the expe
rencc of al the different routes of transportation in
the Union, rivers. canals, railways, earth ard plank
roads This being done, another line is laid down on
the map painted-we trust with no bloody intentions
in red and marked the southern line of the drain
.1ge of the trade of the Erie Canal elen enlarged
This line runs south Of the ohio R,rer for its whole
length, includes in one basin considerable part OF
Kentucky and of Virginia, the Mississippi
at the mouth of the Ohio and includes the larger part
Of Missour-that part of Missouri which is left de-
pendent on tie navigation Of the Mississippi being
than counterbalanced by those portions of western
Virginia and northern Kentucky. to whose inhabitants
tie Mississippi will become as obsolete piece of ma
cLiucry for transportation as the sickle is for cutting
wheat
The people of the State of NewYork have demon
stacd their faith in this estimate of the future value
of the Mississippi by expenditure Of some fifteen
millions in the enlargement OF their Canal They have
this very spring agreed almost unanimously to stake
ten millions upon the yerifcation of theF expec-
tatous. The ohivalry understand the philosophy OF
betting and trust will that this State intending
no disresIect for the Mississippi, holds Of little
value to the people above the Ohio except a
OF travelling AouhrardIy toward the lakes.
Cur conclusion might be strengthened BY examining
the value Of the Pennsy ysnia Canals. the Chesapeake
and Ohio &c. and might say much in regard to the
advantages Of New-Orleans. where pork melts and
com sour, and which is l5o0 miles further from
Europe than NewYork when compared with the At
lartc port,. But enough has been said 20 show
ihat the commercial value of the navigation Of the
Lower Mississippi is not such to require any appre-
csbie change il our calculation as 10 the pecunary
value OF the Union.
HOURS AND STRIKES.
The DemocTatic Adroeaie Lewiston Falls Maine