True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-11-04
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

The go-ahead principles oil The Amer
leans, place them indsputably in advance
of the old nations Of Europe, and is the
principal reason of our extraordinary
progress in population, wealth and occu-
patton of territory. So long as men are
held in the bonds Of long established Gus
toms fostered ly rulers, who desire no
change, except for their personal aggran-
dizement, so long are the energies-men-
tal and bodilv--chaihed The conse-
quence is, that, as regards internal i'm
proven ents, in some parts of lhe old con-
tinent of Europe, there is relrogresslon
in science and the true principles of civil.
ization checked; for progress and civili-
zalion must 90 together. In such things,
there cannot be mere stand, a nation or
people must advance or relrograde.
TO this England is a partial exception.
As regards internal and national improve
ments. she is second to the United States,
but'as regards lbe education Of the people,
she is a century behind; and until she
establishes public schools, she cannot COM
pete with US. The people 10 appreciate
improvements must, be educated. The
great mass of her railways and other en-.
terprises are carried on only by few
who have intelligence, and the greater
mass of the people look on them with
indifference, iOr they cannot appreciate
their value.
But the reverse is the case in our own
country. The longest and most success
full railroads and canals, have been built
by the people. Every individual feels,
either directly or indirectly, that he has
something at stake and that it is to his
interest, either for the present or in the
future, that all parts of the country should
be made easy of access to all, he is sure
Of profit-then he goes ahead. When
De Wit Clinton struck the first spade in
the great new New York Canal, the tor
por and ice oGages was broken, as regar
ded what man could do to conquer the
omissions Of nature; as the Government
established al our revolution struck fatal
blow at the time honored idea of the Di-
vine right oil kings. Thousands Of miles
0f canals now traverse every part Of the
country but water could not always be
found TO supply those means of internal
navigation yet American. energy could
not stop. and the result is, that railroads
arc so common that the region that has
none is considered fM behind the age,
and is looked upon with contempt. The
result is that the wealth, mineral and ag
ricullura, has been exposed, of large re-
gions. which, without the research neces
Sary 10 establish suitable routes, &oulC
never have been known. Gold is founC
where il had not been dreamed of, ant
coal and Iron, which are infnilel.
more valuable, are laid open in abun
dance.
The day has gone BY whenit was sup
posed that New Orleans would suffer
the Ohio river closed its navigation, an
heprairies Of Illinois, have shown th;
they baye coal fields equal TO the mour
iains and hills Of Pennsylvania, and III
Great Central Railroad cannot freeze u
its transit remains throughout The yea
and Illinois compe,es. by internal in
provsments, boldly with her Eastern
val. The iron mountain of Nilsson
laughs al the mines Of other States, ar
,allbongl lIlere is no Juniata to bear IL
;oar or blooms upon her bosom, the iro
horse whirls with her loads 10 the banl
of the mississippi, and New Orleans al
be Car South depend no longer upon u