The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-05-12

The same rule Will hold good as to all
heavy freights from the east to the west
passing beyond the lakes. 1 think pro-
.ject of like Importance was never breach
ed to the United States which could be
accomplished at such q trifing expendi
ture. 1t is an enterprise affecting alike
the citizens of every state interested in
the question of cheap freights between
the east and the west. The expenditure
of a small sum of money for this improve.
ment will give to the people benefits
amounting to many Aillions of dollars
annually. The location of the work hap
pens to be in Wisconsin. The benefits
to be derived are principally east and
west of Wisconsin. 1t is work of ma
tional importance 1t is work the Gov.
eminent must undertake. There is no
point in the United States where the ex-
pendlture of the same amount of money
will contribute to the welfare of so large
a portion of the people. 1t is estimated
at rates now paid upon the Erie canal, the
yearly saving, with the present produc-
ton, would give the producer and con-
sumner each year at least three times the
whole amount of the cost of the work.
We desire that the United States shall be
reimbursed for any expenditure which
they may make for this work. 1t is easy
to see from the memorial, presented here
with, and the tables and figures contain
ed therein, that even one.fifth of the
frelghts of the west and the east are car
ried through this channel, rating the
tolls by those OF the Erie canal, allowing
for repairs and allowing the carriers a
fair profit, at least million dollars annu-
ally would be paid to the United States.
Thus within five years the general gov
eminent would be reimbursed for the ex-
pense incurred, then we could have Il
free canal from the Mississippi to the la.
kes, only paying such light tolls as might
be necessary to maintain the repairs of
the rivers and canals. a,e5 gtAi 9aI
We desire to urge strongly upon you
the national Importance of this great
work. Perhaps Wisconsion alone might
do it. 1t is OF less Importance to her, al.
though the whole work lies within her
borders, than it is to the states east and
west of her. Perhaps Wisconsin, Mime
sofa and Iowa might combine and do the
work, but it is of Just AS much Importance
tn the states south and west of us. In
short it IS opening up a national high
way and free route to all the states Of he
north, in which all are interested. Gov
ernor Austin, of Minnesota, has reported
to you the interests and wishes of his peo-
pie in this convention Governor Mer-
ril, of Iowa is, for the people of that
state, deeply interested in it, and have
given you their views and asked that
they be relieved from the great burden
resting upon them. Governor Harvey, of
Kansas, was here to represent their inter
ests in this respect, earnestly and anx-
iously wishing for the conspmmation of
this project, but was Unexpectedly called
away before the committee could give
him hearing. For the people of that
state he would make the same appeal
which we do. 1t is to be believed from the
great and unnecessary weight of corpora
ton freights, the weight of which is
grinding the farmers of the vest until
they burn their corn for fuel, that there
is and can be but one mind among them
rs to the Importance of this improve,
ment. Ply cheapening the transportation
in this way, the grain growing countries
of the west will be enabled to compete
better with the grain growing countries
of Europe in the markets of the old
world, aa 8aitEcmi bsJfG Ei
We trust and believe that you and that
Congress will listen to the cry of the peo-
pie for the relief demanded, especially as
chat relief can be givenowithout ultimate
cost to the government. Every dollar
will be paid back into the treasury in
such short time as you may determine,
and the whole cost of the contemplated
Improvement will be more than returned
each year from the time of its completion,
to the people who pay the taxes, and
large portion of the people of the United
States, including all from the Rocky
Mountains to the Atlantic, will feel the
benefit of it. fHel obs aa1ui baa iitl