The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-12-20

tfiar. - -ta fa-- ifiNN.'r-
, 80. .......t.E.- -f.I bod
the ,.os.e ati- 81. res a. oa~s
A. - 81, = ac1se g r.
ling and trans..4.i-- our e ~
water. We are conE,sa o. s.. .4s. s.s.,.
course. The Erie Canal @atae q fksa
Northwest sent fifty millions :. esrae
grain, but is utterly inadequate TO Ia
off aur present surplus Of upwards OF cns
hundsed and fifty millions OF bushels. -,-- ---,
1t is almost idle 10 extend the Internal
improvements Of the Northwest, or to urge
the farmers to produce more while every
acre cultivated rdds to the volume oil Su-
siness which alreads chokes the narrow
channel. OF the Erie Canal and three trunk
lines of railway A broad water-course
from Lake Erie to the Hudson, through
which our lake vessels can float without
breaking bulk, will cheaper the cost OF
TRANSPORTATION to the point at which we
can supply the European marketp tprohtably
under all circumstances.
A leading com Eercal house in London
writes .Of the present population OF
Europe. which i. about two hundred and
eighty millions, about one hundred and
ffty millions are consumers OF wheat,
using annually upwards of one hundred
millions Of quarters, or one thousand mil
lions of bushels This mass OF people may
De considered to press always upon the
the means OF subsistence, or supply OF
food since there is no instance within the
ne.or of man Of any large accumulation
of wheat for want OF buyers or consumers;
il is only by 4 succession OF two or three
abundant harvests that prices caa be
brought in Europe 20 low level, say los
per quart i'll England, and sos On the Con
tiuent Such WAS the case oncs IN tits col0i
-rv-n 1885 Overwhelming i'm 2ortatlou.
from vour country would operate in the
same way as Succession OF abundant
crops in Europe These would IN course
Of Tine. deyress prices 10 the minimum OF
35s in England AID Cos Ia EurCpe-(ihe
auerace price OF wheat in England for
twenty-five yc.r. has been ols ID per
ouarterl Such state would presppole
that American could furnish an annually
increasin. imn.c7.ss supply at the cost OF IS
Al er IS cents per pusshei on board at the
shipping ports. aud probabsy no less
quantity than five hundred millions OF
bu.he!, would have that effect. This re-
laoie and carefully anvi ed statement
seems conclusive in regard 10 the nlaekets
There l. an almost unlimited demand for
our pr8duct.-wLeat, Indian corn, barley,
and provisions
| Tie question of Transportation Is vital to
| the interests OF our agricultural State -
/ Illinois has for two Yeas seEt Away food
| enough to supply ten millions 0. people,
I aad November of each of the last two
wear. has closed down upon a surplus of
food in this state as large rs that sent off
in the shipping season. At this moment.
oaly q fortni-h. after the close of n.vigst-
ion, all the lines Of railways east from Chi
cago are blocked with beef pork. -four
and every description OF provisions. Il
NAV be sad that this is exceptional in con-
sequence of the loss OF the los, of the
southern trade, but il IS hardly the case
Iowa and Missouri suffer more from the
loss Of the trade with the South for the
grain OF those States cannot afford the
railway transportation from thence TO the
lakes Their crnps are largely In the hands
Of the producer, waiting for the opening Of
the Mississippi
Nine-teuths Of the products of Illinois
grown near the lines Of railways construc-
ted within the last fifteen years, and upon
which over three -forths OF the population
Of the State. reside, have hitherto been
forwarded 70 eastern markets If the
southern trade was resumed at once, it
would, doubtless. be found at tie close of
of food will he left in the country, solely
from the want of means during the peri
DDS of open nayl CATION OF the lakes and
canal to take forward the surplus.
Every experienced farmer will confirm
the statement that it requires four or five
years before new settlers. even upon our
easily managed prarie soils, can furnish
large surplus or market, and, think, will
~, Nt}a Of Ia a
emig, alton to this State, between 1852 aud
1896, warn not apparent in the surplus
products until the harvest OF 1860. We
have now been blessed with abundant
harvests and have over-taxed all the re-
sources OF the avenues of transit to tide
water to such an extent that our own com-
petition to sell has destroyed aur profits
The charge by water upon busshel OF
corn to New York, Ter instance, has, for
two seasons past, been four times as great
as the cost OF producing 1t. We must
regard this question, not only as essential
to cur own maintenance and prosperity.
but as one of the highest national import
anoe.
This food producing district should have
closeI connection with the commercial
interests of the East and of Europe, by
NATIosAL CASAL Every fiber of the ma
tional wealth and prosperity will be
strengthened thereby. The parvests from
our prairies will double our foreign exports,
when tbs grain is poured out as rapiely as
it can be furnished even by our present
population.
Within fva years after the construction
of ship canal from the Erie to the Hud-
son, a necessary outlet fram the lakes to
the aea, the experts OF grain from Chicago
alone may safely be estimated at two hun
dred millions of bushels
For two or three years past we have had
a surplus equal to ten time oar local wants.
and vastly beyond the capacity of the canal
or railroads to take away The cost aud
DELAYS of transportation are so great that
the farmers in this State reap no fitting
reward for their industry. Their crops
are wasted, and living in this abundance
which is wanted everywhere else, they
are poor, and need the comforts and luxu-
ries Of life. Single handed, they cannot
remedy this evil. For aid they must look
to national resources. The work Is of Ra
tional Importance and must add immense
| ly to the national wealth -
| would respectfully suggest that your
State Agricultural Suciety should consider
this matter; if in your judgment it is wise