The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-24

bringing around, and the nations re-
qulrements twenty years hence.
What broad thoughted statesman,
fully understanding the resources of
this nation, comprebe ending its growth in
the past thirty years, aud gazing from
those two stand-points with almost pro-
phetlc eye into the future, but will grasp
the idea that where nature has placed
the water communication OF nation on
so admirable a scale as in this, the
rulers OF the nation fall far short in
their duty if they do not in their legisla-
ton rise TO the magnitude of its future
and improve what nature has 80 grandly
began 10 a capacity commensurate with
It's future population and commerce.
AS TO the cost Of constructing this
improvement, here briefly sketched,
some few estimates are proper. Mr.
Roberts made an estimate OF the cost of
eighty open dams, with sluices and
chutes, on Mr.. Haupt's plan to be 49,
OS0,OOO. The expenses of slack water.
ing the Allegheny has been estimated
at 81 100000. Mr.. Morris estimates
that dams, with double locks, on the
Ohio, will cost $500, 900 each. Six dams
of this description are all that would
perhaps be required-costing s., 0O0 900.
This makes a total of 100000. But
as the cost in carrying the theory into
practical work, would, as is most always
the case, exceed the estimates, it may
be doubled and the cost stated at Sl4,-
100000. This is large sum, but is it
any more than the six States, whose
shores the Ohio washes, could well az
ford themselves TO pay, to create a
great ship canal OF one thousand miles
in length? la that view, is it not
small sum for such transportation facil-
tiles as the Ohio would then furnish
for the heavy freights OF our inland
commerce?
1t i, harG'i necessary to dwell upon
the magnitude Of the inland water
communications Of this country to
which the Ohio is the key. The most
superficial examination Of the map
forces the thought, what nation ever
had SO magnificent avenues OF internal
water communication, and what nation
ever had legislators who so failed to
understand their value to the country,
or understanding, failed so greatly in
performing their duty?
And are not the people themselves
much 10 blame in resting content that
river whose navigation is so immediate
~ vital to the daily business wants and
commercial intercourse OF seven great
States, and hardly less so to the whole
Mississippi Valley, should virtually be
legislated into insignifcance by the trl-
fling appropriations Congress has so
reluctantly granted as all that its i'm
portance demanded? 1t is questioua-
bic if the legislator is competent for his
position, who fails to perceive how i'm
portant the Ohio is to the business OF
the whole Mississippi Valley, and does
not see in the development Of the coun-
try necessity that it shall be made the
capacious water highway, indicated by
the term "ship cana" What legisla-
tor can fail TO perceive that not only his
duty to his own generation, but his
greater duty 10 those who may succeed
him, calls for appropriations ommensu.
rate with the interests involved; and
what legislator will hesitate, if in unity
of action all the States interested in the
navigation of the Ohio shall ask, in the
name of their people, that ten or fifteen
millions be appropriated to make the
Ohio what it should be as transporta-
ton facility for the commerce of the
country? 1t is not only probable, but
certain, that the country would be bene-
fitted instead of injured, if fifteen mil,
lions OF dollars less Of the national
debt were paid for one year and the Ohio
river made into the grand ship canal 1t
needs to become, and can and should De-
To have the Ohio pass under the COL
troll of a corporation, in the form OF a
slackwater company, is objectionable;
vet that would be better than that the
nresent condition Of navigation should
continue. To have it improved oy
Joint participation Of the States along
its shores is open to many objections
although, as expressed in relation to a
slackwater company, that is better than
q continuation of the present condition
Of the river. To have it improved by
the General Government ls, In all re-
spects the best method. The turning
Of the Ohio into water highway equal
to q grand ship canal is a national
work, and worthy ofthe power and re-
sources of the country; an achievement
that would reflect credit on any admin
istration.
r. the States interested will ask in one
United voice that fifteen millions of the
revenues now collected be appropriated
n the improvement Of the Ohio. and
that much less of the national debt PAID
for one wear, their demand would be
listened TO- 1t is hardly susceptible Of
a doubt, that when Pennsylvania, ohio'
west Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, ILL
no;s and Missouri-and why not New
York and Tennessee ?-join in an uni
ted demand that such an Appropriation
he made, that it will be refused-sec-
ended. as their request would be, in the
minds of all intelligent Representatives
Of ,f' other States, as to the justice of the
demand, its necessity to those States,
and the benefit it will be to the whole
country.
For PENNSYLVANIA to ask such an ap'
preparation singly would be useless IS
For Pennsylvania and Ohio combined
20 u DO so. would be equally futile; but
;StLe eight or nine States interested,
mr;tins their sovereign powers in one
Voice shall do so, success would follow
TT,se money S go asked, should not be ap-
nropiated in sums, from year 10 year .,,
Put souareIy, decidedly, set aside from
~ ~ rsSennes of the country, at once, so
90 that no future whim OF iegislation