New-York tribune., 1869-06-26
IMPROVING THE OHIO.

the whole Of that vast region. All the great centers
of trade in the United States will be more or less IN
auenced by this great system of railways, and the
increasing implications of trade between all parts OF
Jur Republic will more than tax them to their full
capacity for the transportation of passengers and
freight AS yet the locomotive is relied upon almost
exclusively for this herculean work. and the con-
lecture that one or more waterliues from New-York
and other Atlantic cities extending to the base OF
the Rocky Mountains, if not even piercing them by
tunnels and unions with the great rivers of the Pa
cifc slope, would probably be regarded as the OH
spring of distempered brain. But why w0nld IL
be more wonderful for the waters OF the East ana the
West to meet beneath the Rocky Mountains than 1or
the ron-horse to course securely through the tound
tions of the Alps tunnel nine miles long has been
projected and will be completed soon In virginia
uniting the James and Kanawha rivers; and VINO
can say that more expensive work than this would
be required to pass q water-line beneath the Rocky
Mountainsi or who will presume to set bounds TO the
resisess energies of 1O0OOO0O0 of industrious tree
and intelligent freemen to possess this vast in
terror of the Republics
A question of pressing importance even now forces
itself upon the attention of the eastern portion OF
the United States What will be the direction of the
immense volume of trade that will soon come in like
a flood into the valley of the Mississippi from the
of Waters" and flow into the Cuff or will they sweep
Eastward. and pour their wealth into NewYOrk and
other Atlantic cities And here let not the Empire
City take up the empty boast "Ist queen, and shall
see no sorrow" The owls and satyrs have their habit
ations among the ruins Of Babylon; and New-York,
though her great commercial power is now felt in all
parts of the Union and the present tendency OF the
great currents of commerce around the globe, espe-
cially upon the opening of the Suez Canal, would
warrant the conclusion that she will soon grasp the
commercial scepter of the world should bear in mind
that with all her great advantages, eternal vigilance
is the price of her commercial supremacy. Few men
comprehend the Importance of this great subject the
necessity of opening great water-lines as adjuncts
to our railways. And even among the mer-
chants and capitalists of NewYork there is an indif
ference in relation to it incompatible with the magni
tude of the immense commercial interests at stake
II the trade Of the Pacific coming through the Golden
Gate if the way. trade of the whole interior con-
tinent and the development Of its mineral wealth
and other boundess resources, were fixed quantities,
we might be Indifferent as TO increased facilities of
commercial intercourse between all parts of the
country But the reverse OF this is tho fact The
power of production increases in geomerical ratio
over that of transit. And even now the great agri-
cultural products Of the Far West, that must seek
markets eastward, are losing half their value for
want Of cheap transportation, The establishment OF
great centers Of trade and Of large manufactures In
the popuIous West will, in measure, correct this
evil by creating good home markets. yet it is beyond
the power of human computation to calculate the
tunnage of heavy and bulky articles for which
transit must be provided in some way from east to
west across the barriers Of the Allegheny ranges,
and which will not bear the expense of railway
transportation.
How is this great commercial necessity to be sup
piled glance at the map of the United States will
present the great rivers the Missouri and its chief
aiuents IN the West, and the Ohio and its principal
branches on the east of the Mississippi which, in
their natural condition for a large part Of the year,
afford transverse channel Of commerce across the
Mississippi River for nearly twothirds Of its whole
sweep through the Republic from ocean TO ocean,
These mighty streams invite their improvement by
tho skill and labor OF man to make them what tho
finger of God seems have indicated great channels
Of permanent and benefcent intercourse.
Reflect also that the opening Of the canal between
the James and Kanawha through Virginia, and the
extension Of the waterne between Olean and
Pittsburgh, would bring this great central cont-
mental channel to New-York and other Atlantic
cities, enabling them to send barges 5000
miles TO the base even of the Rocky Noun
tains without breaking bulk. OF this grand
link for about 900 miles-from Pittsburgh to Cairo
and its improvement would not only be Of immense
advantage TO New-York but would also necessitate
the immediate improvement of the remaining por-
tions OF this grand water communication between
tho Atlantic aud the base of the Rocky Mountains.
The rich basin of this beautiful river with its rapidly
increasing population, offers in all the elements Of
wealth, advantages unsurpassed by any region Of
equal extent upon the face Of the globe. It's tsmmeuse
resources of agricultural and mineral wealth already
tax the utmost capacity Of all the railways leading
into it from the Atlantic cities, and yet their develop
mcnt is in its infancy. No other work of internal
improvement in the United States could have more
Of national character and every Atlantic city from
Norfolk TO the extreme North has direct interest in
its immediate completion. Even St. Louis destined at
no distant day to become the queen city of the valley
of the Mississippi and the largest inland city in the
world has an interest in this great work. not yet APP
preciated by her enterprsing merchants. The vast
implications of the foreign aud domestic trade, will
unite her moro and more slowly with New-York; and
while her floating palaces will bring up from the
Gulf a vast import trade, the Pacific and inland
trade of the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains
will pay her. IN its eastern flow, rich tribute, and
employ her steamers 10 carry 1t forward LOCO miles
on its way 20 New-York and other Atlantic ports.
An immense tunEagc Of heavy freghts coming into
St. Louis from the North and that by water as well
as by railways viii hug the watcr-line its eastern
course or else will float down to tho Gulf Improve
the Ohio river and this immense trade will DO se-
cured to tho Atlantic cities. and tho Ohio would
bear upon IT'S surface tunnage exceeding that of all
the inland commerce which now floats upon all our
great rivers and lakes Extrayagant as this asser-
ton may seem 10 somo, little reflection will suffice
to satisfy any rejecting mind Of its truth.
The Ohio improved would be TO st. Louis what
the present lake navigation is TO Chcago-the gov