Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-18
W estern N otes.


CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DAILY sPY.1
WORCESTER, August, 1871.
My last letter came 10 sooner than the writer
and hence add few closing jottings, omitted
in previous correspondence. Wherever we have
been the fields indicated, and the farmers con-
firm it, that the crops were never better. Not
as usual, either wheat, corn or fruit short, but
all crops are abundant. 1t is year of plenty.
The trouble in some sections seems to be to find
a market at rates that will pay. Transporta-
ton from the producing TO the consuming sec
tons is a problem that ought to be solved
quickly and satisfactorily. There must be a
way found, or both east and west will suffer-
The manufacturing sections need cheap food,
to have cheap labor; they need lower wages to
compete with Europe and the growing manu-
features of the west, else we lag in the race to
our local and national detrimeut. Freight rail-
roads, managed not by incompetents and
swindlers, not by Jim Fisks, but by able and
fair dealing men, seems to be the most avala-
BILE remedy, and may be the only practicable
one.
Whether Hon. Hannibal Hamlin has the de-
tails properly adjusted in his bill for this pur-
pose, we are not prepared to say, only presum-
ing, from his talent and general character, that
he has. 1t may be that the Washington govern
ment must intervene, and under the right to
regulate commerce between the states" con-
troll it. We repeat it is a problem Western
and eastern business men demand satisfactory
solution. Their complaints and plans deserve
full and impartial hearing. Behind them are
the masses, so largely dependent on the moving
of every product cheaply. If railway corpora
tons did not leave entirely out of view the in
terests of future stockholders, but gave them
due consideration, and paid heed to somethin :
else than mere temporary market values, they
would see that this question cannot be blinked
out of sight; that corporations are merely pub
lie servants, and that here, as elsewhere, en-
ployers will govern employees in the long run,
though an occasional spooky Bridget may seek
to control the household. We have some rail-
road ''Bridgets" that need looking after by their
employers; and if they request ere long, their
agent-congress-to look after these corpora
ton upstairs, the 'Bridgets" must not COM
plain.
In many respects the Messrs. Pullman have
set them an excellent example, in the inception,
and growth and management of their concerns.
They began a few years since-in a small way
against the bitter and determined opposition
of some roads, to run their palace cars. But
quietly, and resolutely they have pushed their
way until now they are running over 400 parlor
and sleeping coaches on more than IA 600 miles
of road-in every quarter from Quebec, on the
st. Lawrence, to San Francisco; from Bangor,
Me-, to the gulf.
Why7 Because the people demanded, and
we're willing to pay for more comfortable cars by
day and by night The result everyone knows
We take pleasure in saying that, having tray
eled I'M the Pullmans 1900 miles in the
last year, in no instance have we met
with any of the discourtesy and rude
ness SO often complained of in ordinary
cars-by any of their employees. So far as we
know, all who have Travelled in their coaches,
make the same return. We know not the rea-
son unless it may be that the Pullman brothers
wha are at the head of the company,
are gentlemen-in the best sense-themseves;
and mean that their patrons shall have core
spending over treatment from their representa-
tives. 1t is an example worthy of imitation by
every corporation, in these abrupt, hustling,
hurrying and pushing, and "look out for num-
Der one days"
The same commsn law is as applicable to car
rying freight as conveying passengers. 1t is
the last straw that breaks the camel's spine, so
will high and constantly shifting rates snap the
| tyrannous rod of some needless and overbear-
| ing corporations. There is force behind their
| ephemeral throne that can crush state statutes
as Bengal tiger crackles ribs. Let them give
ear to the murmuring monitions on every hand,
| if they would retain cOmely place and power
From Quebec we returned on the Grand
TO Lennoxville, where breaches a new line
the Massawippi, continuation of the Passump-
| sic. 1t runs past the mountain bordered lake
Massawippi, just skirting the edge for some nine
miles. All the way to White river junction is a
succession of hills, valleys, mountains and
streams, filling the 100 mile journey with O
repetition Of charming views, hard to parable
| from a rail car window. On one side Lake
Memphromagog and the Green mountains; OF
the other the White hills, the winding Passump
sic and the stately moving Connecticut. The
attractions of this line have only to be known
to insure it crowded summer patronage.
Inc mountain journeying is increasing every
year. Besides the land and water scapes, there
is rarely any close, sultry heat; but an atmos
phere that braces and tones, whettng the appe-
tite and invigorating the debiltated. At Co
coana, 1875 miles down the St. Lawrence below
Quebec, which is the chief Canadian summer
resort, there were 600 guests at last accounts
hotels overlooking, with a goodly proportion O
Americans. This is the principal starting poin
to go up the renowned Saguenay, giving tn
widest and most majestic scenery of any nav
igable river on the continent, save the Colum
bia, in Oregon. Large steamers ascend sxt,
miles, and for the entire distance the banks OF
both sides average some HOO feet in height, ant
quite perpendicular. 1t is two or three days
trip, out and return, from Quebec.
The Dominion is projecting and building rail
ways in many directions-long and importan
lines An unwonted vigor and purpose is spur
ring them on in various enterprises. Hthert
there has been considerable tagging, OWN,
, mostly to petty feuds and disagreements be
tween the several provinces. The Canada,
Pacific road is under way. survey through
) the widest portions is going on. Notwith
standing contrary statements, by intereste,
, parties, the line will probably be built in tn
next FIVE years.
These English perform what they undertak
especially in transportation matters. The
have belted the globe with their colonies, fort
and warships, and no obstacle of a rough an
wild country will prevent this line going through
The Inter-colonial railroad, continuation
g the Grand Trunk from its eastern terminus
d Riviere du Loop to Halifax, is ordered by I'll
e Dominion government. The commissions
II nave just been over the proposed route-layu
IS 1t out. When this is complete, and the Paci6
y England will have no broken rail connectio