North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-09-23
ship Canal.

ship Canal.
In the Oshkosh, Daily North Western,
of Sept. -, we find the following letter
addressed to the editor. We copy it be-
cause it is more statistical than we can
write, because the subject is an important
one and because the writer is McGregor
man we'll posted on the subject.
McGREGoR, Iowa, Sept. 10, 1868. j.
thank you for copy of your paper OF
the 18th inst, containing the proceediDgs
of meeting held at Prairie du Chicn,
Wisconsin, on the Goth Of August last,
and YOUR comments thereon. You may
rest assured that the people of Iowa, Min
nesota. Nebraska and Southwestern Wis
consin. are as much alive to the improve
ment of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers as
those of the eastern part OF Wisconsin.
The imuro1e1rent Of these rivers is not
mere local improvement, benefstiDs the
few persons who happen to live on the
rivers, but an Improvement Of National
importance benefiting greater portion of
the country than any other Improvement
ever projected, save the Pacific Railroad,
and in case of war with England, one of
absolute necessity to the government. 1t
is only necessary to call the attention Of
the people to the advantages Of improving
the navigation between the Mississippi
and the lakes, and they will speak out in
language that every member Of Congress
will understand and none dare TO despise.
Every dollar saved in transporting wheat,
corn, oats, pork and cattle from the West
10 the East, and every dollar saved in
transporting the produce Vt the East to
the West adds so much to the wealth OF
the farmer and the manufactures, induces
trade, calls in capital from abroad, and
thus reduces taxation.
Nearly every acre Of land in the New
England States, capable of cultivation, is
under cultivation, and yet these States do
not raise enough to feed her people one
month. This statement extract from the
report of cOmmi ttee made to the Ship
Canal Convention held Mt Chicago, June,
1868. New York only raises sufficient to
keep her people six months. The State of
Ohio exports only $500, GOO bushels, Penn
sylvania none. 1t is estimated that the
States of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and
Nebraska will export 4O,OOO,O 900 bushels
Of wheat this year. These States furnish
nearly all of the wheat for export, besides
feeding New England and the South, and
will always be the great grain growing
States Of the Nation.
TIE grain shipped from Iowa to the
Lakes costs from 10 to 30 cents bushel,
and on average @ cents. II boats could
load Mt the various towns and cities on the
Mississippi, ascend the Wisconsin to the
'sportage," thence to Green Bay, the cost
per bushel would not on an average exceed
8 cents. Here is saving of IA cents on
each bushel of wheat. The States of Iowa
and Minnesota this year will send at least
25,O00,0O0 bushels of wheat to the lakes,
and supposing there is only difference of
ten cents per bushel, in the cost of trans
portatiOn between water and railroad, the
saving tc the farmers ofthesc States alone,
this year, would be s., 800 900, more than
half enough to make these rivers navigable
from spring till fall. In these States there
is not more than one acre in ten under
cultivation. If the improvement should
commence next spring and be pushed
with vigor, before Nle work could be coin
peted the States above mentioned alone
would export not less than $4,000, 900
bushels, and the saving on one years crop
would pay all the expenses of making the
Improvement. In this calculation, have
left out Wisconsin, Nebraska and Illinois, |
The amount saved to the New England
States in the transportion of merchandise
is about the same as that saved the farmer.
And, in case of war, gunboats could be
built on the Mississippi and transported
to the lakes to defend the cities on the
lakes, and vice versa.
DO not relax yoar efforts to accomplish
this great project, but constantly keep it
before the people.
j. w. VAN ORMAN.