The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-03-03

have 70 charge, notwithstanding its superior
ity over the Buffalo route in the ease Of
transportation, which is unquestionable, four
freightages instead Of one, in order to keep
itself in the market as freighter in cempe-
titon with the Buffalo route, provided the
Buffalo route was in the same situation with
iteelf in regard to return treighJage And
the reason is unquestionable and decisive.
Our forward frcightage is worth an average
of less than ten cents per pound while our
return freightage is worth an average of over
forty cents per pound. 1t, therefore, requires
four times the tonnage to take our products
| to market, that it does to bring back the pay
for them.
The railroads take nine-tenths in value,
and two thirds in tonnage, of the return
through freightage and cry pound and
dollar that the railroads do not take, the
Buffalo route takes. That is one of the
advantages it has o-cr the st. Lawrence
| route.
The other advantage is. that II passes
through a region of country better than any
other on any existing route for picking up
return WAY freightage, and it IS this fact that
secures to it the return through freightage,
| for which 1T can compete with the railroads.
The frozen shores of Labrador, and the
bleak and sterile hills Of East Canada, can.
not compete with Central New York, North
ern Ohio, and the lumber regions that fringe
the Peninsula of Michigan, in the production
of way freightaees
These advantages enable the Buffalo route
to take our forward freightaee at an average
Of about two, or Two and a half treightages
On the same, while no other existing route,
or any, for the reasons already shown, rum
ming north Of the Buffalo route, can now, or
ever can, take such freightages short of three
| to three and a half freightages on the same
! Unless, indee the shores Of Labrador and
the sterile deserts Of East Canada should be.
come as populous and rich as Central New
| York. Then the St. Lawrence route might
| do; not before.
! Such we're the competing transport routes
that were put forward by this convention as
worthy of the attention of Congress, of the
PRECEDENT, and of the People.
Such a presentation appears to me unwor.
intelligence Of La Sale county. And, if
possible, a clause in the ninth resolution,
propOunding that "ihe maintenance Of Our
revenue to the utmost limit Of healthful eu>
durance" ought to be our financial policy,
will excite more amazement at its utterancs
by suca a convention than aught else they
L
THE utmost limit Of healthful endurance"
/ has but one limit--that il shall only not eI>
| coed the annual rate Of increase Of national
I wealth.
That increase is about eight or nine per
cent per aunun.
Such was the finance policy OF the con>
vention Can such things as these be re>
spected anywhere?
The proceedings of the convention have
fallen dead to the ground. and have done no
more TO give effect TO the interests of the
Western producer than though it had never
been held.
The mode Of giving effect to our interests
and causing our wishes 10 be respected. to
me, Is plain; but | acquiesce IN the nulity
10 which both ale condemned
have entered tins protest for the purpose
Of acquitting myself Of any responsibility for
that uullity and with a slight hope accom-,
pauying it, tina, it may be the means of lead.
ing 10 better things. If the citizens Of La
Sale county desire to yindicate Their intelli-
geace, the way is open before them If they
do not, perhaps they will endure any iguo-
Ininy tina, may be put upon them with
heroic equanimity.