Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-07
The amour: Of freis hit sent inward from
Chicago to the same places, a. near 40 can
be ascertained, Was % to!lws

Cildiluie6 aIu SuuurlcS, los :
Even these figures do not cover the entire
ground, as much is sent in and brought for
ward of which no account can be obtained.
Tsy-eight mutton bushels of grain and
nearly four hundred Thousand tons Of mer
chandize, besides an imnensity of other
freight, are now subjected to the exhorb-
tsnt charges Of the railways. who take from
the people OF these States over s25. .000, 900
annually. for freight.
comparison Of the western railway
tariffs with those Of eastern canals, will
readily demonstrate the saving that might
be effected. II costs as least three times as
much TO transport grain or ordinary com
modities in the west as it does by the Erie
and other canals Hence. could The rule he
made to work equally well here, the people
OF the west would retain fifteen or sixteen
millions annually which they now pay out
to transportation companies. There is little
doubt but the rates At present pai,. could be
reduced cne-half at least by the construc>
ton OF the canal Even the moderate esti
mate Of one third would leave in the pockets
OF the people . sum Of over eight millions
annually, or more than half the price Of the
eutire work. 1t must be remembered that
this trade u the growth Of . few years.
When placed beside the returns Of . year or
two back the contrast will afford the curious
= very correct estimate Of how fast il is
growing, and how urgent 10 the necessity
for adequate provision. 10 few years the
returns annexed will look diminutive COM
pared with the figures It will reach The
west 10 oew . growing youth, strong, in.
deed, but moro pigmy to the giant it will
be when matured.
The people Of Illinois receive the advar-
tage they would reap from this canal, not
only as 0eans Of cheapening transport
tatioD, but for tho reason that this State
would he thus made more than ever the
great highway to eastern markets. They
are willing 70 undertake the greater share
Of the expense. bus do not think they should
bear it all. The densely populated east,
with oil ITS absorbing manufacturing inter>
ests, look to the west fsr cheap brsadstuffs.
The present high rates Of freight are not
only burden to the producer, but also to
the consumer. With sufficient ship canal
an impetus would be gwen to agriculture in
the west. Millions Of acsss are yet unre-
claimed, and invite the entcrpris,ng immi-
grant. In the general veal Of the nation
the east 10 % clnsely interested - the west,
and while strong States, like Illinois. are
willing to do their shsse, the National CIV
ernment should aid weaker ones, when
that ard will be more than repaid in gen.
eral benefit. Congress is asked for an
appropriated Of six o. seven millions,
to aid this enterprise. BY the returns
given. il is seen that au annual saving
Of q least eight aillions Of dollars
would be ct once secured. 4 Minnesota o.
Iowa fAs0sr pays thisty pr osaa.. Of his
crop 70 g. Il 70 ChiAop - Mnwaukee, and
BY the tine it rooeAeo de seaboard % much
more 10 requissd. Goods from Chicago to
towns on he Missisdppi and the interior Of
the new States pay from 80 cents to $l.a5
per cwt. The West is now the granary of
the world, and on ito productions, in many
cases, depends the tone of the market. A
saving Of eight millions would benefit the
producer, as It would undoubtedly operate
equally in favor Of the consumer. For this
reason, a. we'll as to assist in filing up our
new country with needed population, the
East should and doubtless will assist IL pro.
ducir & . national grant for the canal.-
With il constructed, the people Of the far
West will be relieved from the system Of
monopo!ies which now oppress them. OF
course the canal will be built, but should
the entire burden be thrown on the State ol
Illinois, she would be obliged to re-imbusss