The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-04-08
THE MIGHTY WEST.

AAOuNOu NVOAs l
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
THE MIGHTY WEST.
From the Superior Gazette.
While the New England States, New
York and Pennsylvania, have grown TT
through the protection given by tho
government to their manufacturing in-
terests, and in their self conceit still ar
rogate to themselves the "power behind
the throne !" in shaping the policy OF the
government, the great west is beginning +
to claim not only their attention but
also that Of the old world; and they
are at last alive to the fact that in order
to sustain their factories they must
cheaper their bread.
They are beginning to be aware that
one of two things will shortly have to
take place-cither thoy must bring the
west, with her bread, closer to their
doors by cheapening transportation or
inevitably, their factories as we'll as their
operatives must move to the west, in or
der to compete with the manufactures |
springing up on every hand throug hout
the establishments of self defense
against tho extortions IF their eastern
brethren.
And Why may not the West hold the
balance of power in the nation Why
should the wool of the west be shipped
east to be returned to US enhanced in
some instances thousand fold or the
cotton of the lower Mississippi valley
when the bread has to accompany them
to feed the operatives? Whymay not
the west keep the material and bread
and compel New England capital to come
to her OF remain idle and consequently
prodtless?
The mighty valleys Of the Upper
Mississippi, Missouri, and those Of the
lesser streams that flow into Lake Win
nipeg to tho northwest, are to be the
worlds Eranary for centuries to come.
Nowhere in the worlds history can be
found such a stride in greatness as tie
last four decades have witnessed in the
country west Of the Alleghanies.
Prior to the opening Of the Erie Ca
nal in 1927, the total tonnage crossing
the mountains, and from the great lakes
to New York, did not exceed $4,000
tons. In 1877 the tonnage on the canal
had reached 965, 904 tons. In 1867 the
united "tbrough" freights, Of the FIVE
great lines between the two sections,
the Erie canal, the New York Central,
Erie, Pennsylvania and Baltimore and
Ohio railroads, equallcd 100000 tons,
having value Of 81, 200, oo0, 900.
| This il but In index to the future.
Each year witnesses greater and great
er ratio of increase in population. New
England is almost decimated of its male
population 70 swell the tide, and women
and children, under limitation prescrib-
ed by the lax,sars tho operatives whose
services rest,rn such enormous dividends
from the factories; while the old world
is pouring in steady stream its hardy
population to this Arcadia, with a cur
rent that is irresistible, and knows no
haltiDg TIL the "West" is reached.
This Empire, in itself, must be cut
loose from the transportation monopo-
lies that have such hold upon its vi.
tails, before its greatness can be devel-
oped and its two great arteries -water
communication with the st. lawrence
and Gulf of Mexico-must be improved
and brought into general use.
Then, and not till then, with these
two great arms stretching out at almost
right angles, to bring and carry, with.
ak,syfsir Of monopoly, can tho west
hope to succeed to the greatness that is
awaiting her.
New England has a vital interest in
this matter, and before too late-before
her manufacturing interest is crippled,
should join hands with the Northwes,
inopeniug up a direct all-water commu.
nication between the head of Lake Su-
perior and the sea board, commensurate
WhhShes business to be done, and aid
in building short, direct railroads from
here to the heart Of this granary.
TIE INVENTION o. LITaOGKAPuY.
The impatience Of German wash
erwoman led to the invention of lith-
os7pby.% The history Of that elegant
art begins With a homely domestic
scene, which occurred It Munich about