The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-02-14
WHOLE NO. 487.
The Right Spirit.

| The spirit of Improvement is abroad in
our State with more than usual activity
, We find it operating in all quarters, and
with degree Of energy which leads US to
believe that it speaks of good things to
come.
The project Of an Iowa Central Railroad,
backed up by st. Louis, which is to pass
through our State from south to north has
| awakened an immense amount Of energy
and activity all along its proposed line. The
idea Of having railroad running through
| our State in tnat direction, connecting US
directly with the St. Louis and thence by
river with the more sou!herly markets,
| whether in summer or winter, is a
consumation that has long been wished for,
and one that seems certain. 1t is in the
hands Of merchants and capitalists who
know just what they are figuring at, and
who will be most cordially assisted by the
agricultural and commercial interests Of
the State.
Another movement in which this same
spirit is being finely developed, ia the car.
| the Mississippi Valley, from St. Paul to
| the improvement Of the two Rapids the
Upper Rapids, terminating at Davenport,
and the Lower Rapids terminating at Keo-
kuk. There is strong determination on
the part of population of several millions
in the Northwest, who are vitality iHterest-
ed, to have this work accomplished either
by canals extending around these Rapids,
Of sufficient capacity to pass boats draw.
ing six feet Of water or by cutting away
the rocks and Strengthening the chan nels
in the river. The demand for this i'm.
provement is immense. We in the North.
west, ought, at times, when the river is not
closed by ice, to have free and unobstruct-
ed navigation from ST. Paul to the Gulf,
and should have, but for these Rapids ob
structions. The country might well afford
to be taxed in order to secure such an i'm
mense blessing. II would pay in reduced
freights, reduced risks to steamboats,, and
increased facilities of every kind in river
navigation. May the tftrt now being
made prove successful-anG the day Of its
completion date not too far ahead
Another great pref ct is on foot, which
is fraught with untold Importance to the in
terests Of Iowa and Western Illinois, aud,
for securing which tremendous tff,rt is
being made. We allude to the extension of
the Illinois and Michigan Canal from La.
Sale to the Mississippi r yer somewhere
near this point. The ooject of this i'm
provemsnt is to secure cheap freights. The
products Of Iowa and Western Illinois are
enormous. A large share Of these products
must go east. The cost Of shipment by
rail has become burdenso.ne eating up
the profits of the products. Water trans
portation is the cheapest and water trans
- Ii
IF freight annually pass from West to East
and East to West, and the saving per
hundred that would be made by a canal
connecting the Mississippi River with the
great Lakes, would in a very few years pay
back ths mammoth expenditure this work
calls for. There IS no mistaking tie point.
Tne interests of five millions of people en-
gagged in active agricultural and CONNER
cial pursuits, demand the cheapest trans
portation to the eastern market. The peo
pie are earnest in their appeals on this
subject, and it is to b, hoped that success
will crown their efforts again. Through |
all these northwestern states the spirit Of
home manufactures is abroad This people |
are paying Gu! millions Of money each |
year for fabrics and implements. A large |
portion cf which might jrst as well be /
right in our own borders.
We can raise our owa wool. Is there any
sense in relying upon Eastern manulactur,
ers to make it into cloth The people say
no; and in all sections Of the Northwest,
wooden manufactures are springing up.
They can make their own farming inple-
nents as We'll. They will do it. The spirit
IF home manufacturins-keeping money
It home IS upon them May it leaven the |
.ntire loaf Ii is the right spirit; let US
nourish -Dacenport Democrat.