The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1857-10-24

{
,.t,r fom Chica-o is the whole length of Lake Mch
ran through TIC Straits Of Nackinaw, the whole length
Of Lake Huron through the Straits and over the hatS
of 81 Clair the whole length OF Lake Erle, whoie
l.rgtb nt Lake Ontario and the whole length OF the
river and Gr; Of the ST. Lawrence sailing distance
If over two thousands miles. the greater portion Of
which is tedious attended with much danger and vexa-
,jous elays and even tins route with all Its d'sad-
vantages is only opeu and only be used Tor hve
,opth in the wear We much fear that direct trade by
this route will never amount great DEAL though
none feel deeper interest ia chicago ana the Nor:n
west than ourselves and Eave stronger 1aith
than ourselves n the ultimate growth ana greatness OF
CLicaoo and the great Northwest. We propose now to
advocate a few ideas which new, aud we have no
doubt will be looked upon wild, untimed, and out Of
place but we shall present them to the world for what
they are WORTH leave to others who are better judges
than ourselves of tie praccabiiity OF our scheme'
IL we take the map of the United States and glance
,t it, we will perceive that the land the State OF
N;cheap. from Lake Michigan to Lake Erie is only
about one hundred aad seventy miles, and from Lake
Erie across the State of pennsy yvana in southeast
and northwest direction to the head waters OF the Del
aware and Chesapsa Bays, is only about three hundred
miles Our plan is to ship canal from Lake Mich
oau to Lake Erie and thence to the head waters OF the
Chesapeake and Delaware Bays Thus we have III our
own borders safe and direct communication with the
Atlantic Ocean nine mouths III the year, instead OF hve
b the route now to be used By the proposed route IN
reaching the ocean, We save al least twelve huhure"
miles and all the risks of delay, and the perl's to
great extent of the present OF navigator, ano
besides having four months in each year in which to
transact the carrying trade and vessels employed ID
the proposed direct European trade can 80 make Their
ARRANGEMENTS to be idle more than one month III
each year, If long time Whereas bJ the other route
they must either go into other trade or De IDLE at
least three months in the year by this proposed route
shippers produce have the choice of the four best
grain markets in this Baltimore, Phiiadephia
New loik and Boston, or they may eject to ship to
Liverpool direct, some other European port
There is no doubt but that many will say the "nder-
taking is too rea-lt never be done. In answer,
we say that lie undertaking IS not great one ior
the present day as when the New York and Erie Canal
was proposed to be built The carrying trade between
the East and the West is immense, and is yearly in
creasing and we think it behooves Of the East and
the est to adept some quick, safe and cheap mode Of
transportation and can be cheap as that afforded
by water. There advantages innumerab'e that
would arise from this plan, could it be carried cut; for,
instead of having one city to send grain to is
the case--for Buffalo handles nineenths OF the
grain shipped to the East by Lake-we would have the
choice of the four great commercial cities OF the Eastern
seatoarel, European ports if we preferred them
We will now see what cities and States are directly
interested in this great scheme Of States Wisconsin,
Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa. Nebraska, Illinois, por
ton Of Indiana large portion Of Ohio, the whole OF
Pennsylvania and Mary land and the large cities that
are directly interested St. Paul, Dubuque, and all
the cities and towns in Minnesota Nebraska and Iowa.
Milwaukee, St Louis, Chicago Detroit, Toledo, Cleve-
land Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston
New York would probably be the least benefited under
the present mode of rsach.g the seaboard but with
the proposed, she would be equally inter-
ested with the other cities along the Atlantic coast
There is no doubt in our mind that this route to the
Ocean will eventually be adopted and if it should it
would be of ncacuabe value to the West, aud Of great
benefit TO the East OF the expense Of such an under
taking would prefer to 60 into an estimate, but
snlice to say that large it is, if equally borne
by the States cities, towns and individuals directly In
erested in it, upon each the cost would not fall heavy
and when built would doubtless pay very hand
some dividend upon the cost of construction We have
no doubt that capital enough could easily be raised to
construct it, many portions Of Europe are as much
interested in the matter we of the East West
the cheaper and quicker grain can be gotten from
the West to Europe of the better for the con-
sumers Europe and the better for the producer in the
West.- Real Estate Register.