The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1868-05-16

facts q fear 50 foreign to commercial
experience may be dismissed as q base
less apprehension.
The CREscENT has replied to the
same objection with substantially
the same arguments, which 1t is
worth while, however, to repeat IN
different and confrmatory forms.
It will also repay attention 10
consult the essay of Prot. Water
house, already quoted, WITH refer
ence to the magnitude of the trade
which the Mississippi river and its
tributaries promise to pour down
to New Orleans, if their navigation
be fostered and improved, as West
ern interests demand, By an equal
Legislation. We read that
The Mississippi and its aAluents
draining am area of more than / 1000, 900
square miles, and afording a water
carriage of more than $4,000 miles.
form system of river navigation une-
qualed in the civilized world. The en-
tire coast line Of the United States is
less than 1900 miles long; but the
river line, of the Mississippi and its
tributaries, including both banks, is
more than 30, 900 miles long. The trade
which now floats on these waters is i'm
mense. Its magnitude startles the
imagination. In 1860 the total foreign
commerce of the United States was
$3.50, 600, 600. In 1865 the trade ZIG nine
cities on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers
amounted to $747, 000,0 GOO. The annual
commerce Of the Mississippi valley is
now estimated at $4,000, 100000.
The bulk Of this trade consists
OF grain, as may be judged by the
statistics and estimates thus given
in the same paper; The following
table shows the grain crop Of the
eight Northwestern States during
the last three decades
Years. Bushels.
1910. .............. 165. Sos. 500
1850 ..........,,....,. $40, $50, 300 |
1860. ..,...... $50. col. 900 |
The Agricultural Bureau, basing
it's calculations on past results, |
makes the following approximate
estimate Of the cereal product Of
The Northwest for the next four
decades;
Years - ~ Bushels
1870 .,.....,........... 762, 200, 900 |
1850. ....t..,. $500. -, ,219, 500, 600 |
1890 ....... Il, 951, 232, 600 |
1900 ....,..... 10, 121, $40, 600 /
After this, the subioined remarks
1f Prof. Waterhouse may seem
.ervid and enthusiastic indeed, but
hardly as transcending the limits
# potentiality and expatiating in
he realms Of fancy:
The laws Of trade ultimately enforce
obedience. The imperial Mississippi.
which traversss the central valley of
his continent, and independent of its
washes the borders of ten
'tates, viii yet assert its commercial
overeignty, The God of nature has
invested this majestic stream with rights
n GIAANN tAAAIO Which, UQ IttAAEuA&A powers
i attorney can transfer The title of
he Mississippi river to the commerce
t this valley is attested with the divine
ignature. The productions of the West
I'LL be borne to the Underwater through
hannels which the architect Of nature
afmed Car Western rivers viii seen
a greater wealth Of traffic than
yer before ftOated on inland wafers IN
hat day the Mississippi viii bear upon
s bosom commerce richer than the
olden freights Of classic story, and
aster than the maritime trade Of any
eople on the globe. Our government
ught at once to prepare the Mississippi
y its glorious destiny.
The deeds Of bad soldiers live
ter them the good IS oft inferred
nth the campaigns. This para
hrase Of the old adage, at least
no Y,oaYa E5-oes An fI179sfpa4e D,.4I.,. !