The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-02-18
Improvement of the Ohio.

to the improvement oil this important avenue |
of commerce, together with the attention that
has been attracted to it from other sources of
influence and consideration, and the scientific
investigations which have been bestowed up
it, render the project at this time one OF
paramount magnitude to the interests and pros
perity Of Western commerce and trade. The
requirements Of the great and productive val
leys of the West and Northwest, for increas-
ed commercial facilities. have, for quite peri.
of years, been outstripping the most strenuous
efforts of human enterprise to furnish adequate
means Of transportation. The construction of
canals and railroads have supplied in part the
demands Of our domestic trade, but in most in
ances have developed new resources OF BUSH
ness, fully equal to their capacity to supply its
claims. These vast and rapidly extending
channels ofinternal trade, instead Of relieving
the demands Of commerce upon the Ohio river,
will continue to augment them in proportion
with their own increase, thus rendering its
services more and more indispensable as time
and trade progress. The conclusions of Mr..
ElIet's IAN eminent civil engineer) inyestiga-
tons, develope the fact that the avarage
ability Of the channel Of the Ohio, even to
maintain the present demands Of transporta-
ton is growing annually less.
The constant fluctuations Of the stream are
found to increase the impediments to naviga-
ton every year, and although much has been
done within a few years, by means of impro-
we'd modes Of construction of vessels to avoid
the difficulties growing out Of an insufficient
supply of water, yet to all such improvements
there is a limit. That limit seems to have
been nearly exhausted as the history ofthe
past years navigation amply testifes. There
never was question ofpublic policy presen-
ted to the people Of the Valley of the Ohio,
having relation to their immediate interests
and convenience, and the future material pros
perity ofthe country, Of comparable magnitude
with the project now being discussed for the
improvement Of the Ohio river. The present is
peculiarly an suspicious time for its agitation.
The arguments proving the entire necessity
Of improving the navigation Of this great COM
mercial channel are innumerable, and the ex-
periencc of every year only gives them addi-
tional force. The praticability Of some plan
by which it may be speedily and successfully
accomplished, is now the only problem to be
solved, and is believed by practical engineers
not to be difficult one. The ability Of the
country, either with or without national aid,
to project and carry through this niomentous
enterprise, cannot for moment be questioned,
when the wealth, influence and interest of all
parties concerned and to be benefited thereby
are taken into view. The timely aid, hovev-
er, which the National Government seems
disposed to proffer; the encouragement given
and the interest manifested by the Legislature
of Pennsylvania, united with the universal
acquiescence Of the commercial representatives
Of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, render
the project no longer speculative question
either in point of ability or expediency.
This enterprise will not be trammelled
with the prejudices and constitutional scru.
Piles which have surrounded the subject of in
ternal improvements in former years, when
the dominant political party Of the country
which now looks with favor upon such meas
ures held that the National Government had nc
constitutional power to aid in projects of this
nature. This revolution in public sentiment
has been created by the imperious demands o.
the laws Of trade and commerce, for increased
facilities and scope for their proper develope
ment; a more liberal construction Of apparent
constitutional restraints also prevails at the
present time by virtue of the same necessity
The question, then, appears Invested of all
legal, constitutional. or other formidable OBJ
jections. 1t presents itself whether or not
means shall be taken to improve the navga-
ton of the river; and, if SO, in what they shall
consist, would seem to be first IN importance
Plans have been submitted by competent
engineers, well fortified with examples of the
successful achievement and operation of even
more difficult improvements than any required
on the Ohio. 1t only remains for the Great
West to arise in her majesty and might, and
demand that the work be done. Her com
merce, her material prosperity, her every in.
terest in common with the whole country de-
mand it-both of necessity and Of right.
That her internal improvement interests
have been sighted by Government hitherto
has been boldly, and we believe, to some ex,
tent, justly charged. The West can now ask
with confidence, to be in part compensated in
deferred justice for her past neglect. The
speedy accomplishment ofthis highly necess-
airy improvement rests with the commercial
and mercantile circles of the Ohio valley, and
should not be permitted to slumber in their
charge.
NJ The London Christian Witness states
that there are 100000 Catholics and S.
25OOOO Protestants in the world. In the