Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-05-01
The. West--Its Future

The west--Its Future.
/ If any individual % years ago had sat down
and gravely predicted the present condition Of
the West he would have been esteemed as little
I less than demented. Take for instance Chicago
as an example, and suppose he had made that
the subject of his prophecy-attributing to it the
greatness it has experienced, what would have
been his fate in the public estimation People
! might have been contented with calling him
visionary, Wild and fanatic, but the chances are
he would have been considered proper sub
ject for restraint
Is not the past clue to the future; and may
we not indulge in anticlpations OF the future,
which however extravagant they may seem in
and Of themselves, yet in the light of the past,
shall really be moderate and tame. Indeed we
think the past, remarkable as are its results,
is scarcely clue to the future. Think of the
difficulties under which were achieved the results
already attained. The circumstances under
which people can now emigrate west, and com.
mence new home, are very different from those
which surrounded the early pioneers, and i'll.
fnitely more favorable.
Consider the character of this country as com.
pared with that of the eastern middle states
! There is scarcely a foot of land in Wisconsin
which is not arabic or fit for some profitable use
and not only that, but very easily brought un.
der cultivation and very productive after it is
so brought under cultivation, while the states
above alluded are generally rugged lilly ana
i frequently mountainous-very difficult to be
subdued, and not remarkably productive after
being brought under cultivation Ana in re-
spcct OF WHITEWATER privileges, timber, lum-
ber mines, &c, &c, Wisconsin is perhaps full.
~ as well provided as any other state of the
| Union.
In short, those who look at the matter will
see and admit that the inducements for settle
mcnt in Wisconsin arc such that they must be
continually operating to draw population from
the less favored portions of the country within
her own borders.
Consider then the railroad facilities to enable
people to get here. Wisconsin is now connect
ed by railroad with every portion of the east.
II here Is not an eastern, a middle, or a northern
state, but has abunda MT railroad C, injection 70
enable emgrants to get here in the shortest pos
sibie time, with little trouble, and little expense
And these roads are being extended within our
own limits, to open up every neighborhood in
| it.
iheselnd Acenents too operate even more fore Y
/ upon the old world, and a stream of greater OF
less magnitude of her hardy and industrious peo-
pie must Tor long time flow steadily within
our borders and find homes here, from that quar-
| ter.
! Then We have yet thousands and tens of thous.
ands and we don't know but millions of acres,
OF land yet unentered or in second hands uncul.
tiyated and for sale
Water then, is not more certain to find its level
than is the popu lation of the country to find its
Observation-Disclosures being allowed them in
huehce' 1t must be apparent to every person
when they consider that railroads have carried
the west almost to the sea board as it were. that
there must and will flow to the west stream Of
emigration lasting until the level of population
is reached
| These idle acres will be sought for, they will
be purchased, occupied and titled. Immense
wealth exist i'll there acres, it will be developed
These lands must appreciate in value in virtue
OF this settlement and cultivation till the same
equilibrium Is attained that will be attained in
population. These people and the wealth deye.
/ ioped, will build up towns and cities, make rail
roads, institute manufactures of all kinds, in
short make the whole state from its remotest
/ boundaries to resound with the busy hum of in
I'dustry applied TO the development Of wealth in
every department.
Beyond question the west is the garden of the
world. 1t is no exaggeration whatever to say.
that no portion of the Globe of any extent offers
the same inducement for settlement. and the
| exercise of industry then the west does Then
streams are not more certain to tumble by force
of gravitation, from the mountains to the val
leys below,than is The population Of the world to
fdl. from the rugged homes they nhabt to the il.
viting valies of the West.
| Then we are not likely to be over sanguiue
as to the future. The promise of the pastl must
be more than realized. People need not be
afraid of adventuring in business, of investing
in property, of building railroads, and making
improvements generally for they may rest as
snred where there is now one man there " i'll be-
fore long be ten, where one blade of grass is
now cultivated dozen will ere long be made to
spring up, where one dollar of interest now
presses for Improvement of any kind dozen
will soon be pressing at the same point for the
same end
The future of the West beyond question is
growth and progress in all respecst
TT
On making up our form we find more articles
and more space devoted TO the Free Democrat and
ITS editor, than is perhaps agreeable or profitable
lie has SIX issues TO and as he has c, en- us
passing notice nearly every day fer week past
wehave been in measure compelled to these replies