Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-02-05
ANOTHER ROUTE.
A Nav Channel to the OossH.-,AHOtlsF sF
Way for Freight.

Bv far, the most Important question to
be- solved by the people Of the West, is
| that of economical transportation tt Is a
question that does now, and will con-
Ilpue to govern the value Of field and IN sn-
ufscturing labor throughout the Missis-
sippi Valley. So long as the great bulk
of the heavy commodities Of she West
can fiud no way Of reaching the Atlantic
coast except by he use of railroads and
small canals, or by the way of the lengthy
and dangerous passage through the Flor
ida slrsiJs, so long viii the velue OF West
eFn industries DO determined, not by the
law of supply and demsnd, but by the
tariff Of charges that may be established
bT railroad combinations and mOnOpO-
lists. Until lately, there seemed 20 be no
other alternative for the Western pro
ducar but TO submit TO the terms offered,
aud Gcsopt the little left 20 them from the
proceeds Of sales in Eastern markets.
Now, however, a new idea has been sug-
gesJ8d, which, 81 carried out, will not
only give 20 the West the power of reach
ing the important markets of the world
n the lowest possible cost Of water trans
pJrtaticn, bus will also put this section In
direct commercial intercourse with con-
sumers in the Eastern States and in Eu-
rope.
Thsplsn proposed and recommended by
The late Commercial Convention Rt Gin
cinnati and which was brought TO the at
tentiOn Of the Chsmber Of Commerce Of
this city, a. It's las meeting9 bv the
protector Of the work, Mr.. Raiford, Of
Florida, Is one which must strike all who
will investigate the subject, as being the
most feasible yet suggested, by which
continuous tutGHd navigation can be
made between the waters Of the Missis-
sppi valley and harbors Of the Atlantic
ocean.
The pwposition, ss set forth by the
Convention c mmittee, is to unite by
short osnsls-m0stiy through the tide
marsh, the bays sounds and inlets of
the gulf shOre-snd 20 open a channel
across the peninsula Of Florida az g point
where the tide wa.sr of the Atlantic and
the Guf of Mexico ia less than fifty miles
apart and between which points the max
imum cutting viii not exceed twenty
i've feet and the average less than ten
feet.
The project, to those who have given the
subject no thought, would ssem to be Of
great magnitude; nevertheless, 10 is one
that doubtless may be chesply and quickly
accomplished, and when perfected will,
beyond all question, be Of more value to
a greater number Of States and those who
labor IN them than any other one i'm
proveInent Of this country; one years
saving 70 the Northwestern States by the
reduced cost Of transportation on the 20
900 900 Of tons Ofsurplus productions they
have for export would, 10 Is estimated,
largely more than pay the entire oosE Of
suca a work, 10 say nothing Of the new
business and new industries Il would
create.
Regarding this proposition, as We DO OF
high importance 10 the West ana 70 the
cities Of the Mississippi, We would
suggest 70 the leading commercial,
manufacturing and boating inter
est, the pTOpriety Of some prompt
and concerned action IN regard 20 it.
Give 70 Memphis and st. Louis aud
othern Western river oentars this direct
and cheap inland transportation with the
great thOroughfares of the worlds COM
marce, and they would become the gath
ering points OF nine-tenths Of the bread
stufs and provisions that are now carried
to the East at rates which absorb fully
thrse-f0urths OF their value. Build this
inland channel and our Southern Atlantic
cities will be as popul0us and as prosper
Gus a. those Of New York and Boston,
snd build up a business for the lines Of
fallroad reaching toward them that can
NOT now be conceived OF
The DAILY APPEAL can be had on the
day ofits Issue OF s. A. Wells, News
Agent, at all points between Memphis
and Little Rock, for $50 per month.