The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-09-27

their energies the national wealth and
repayinp the outlay. But let some
: further statistics be heard.
There we're in the other eight states
interested in the Ohio river in 1850
; about 4s46.793 inhabitants in 1870
0 there 6,742, 1913 or an increase ofthirty-
three PEI cent. in the last ten years.
. At the same rate Of increase there will
!, be in forty years from 1870, a popula-
ton of 1874. 262 inhabitants--as
, many as there now are in all the coast
states, and half as many as there will
be in those states forty years from now.
1t also appears that at the present time
, there are.n the seven Ohio states within
ten per cent. Of the population of the
coast .es aud in the seven Ohio and
: eight Mississippi states interested in
navigation of the Ohio, there is twenty
seven per cent. more population than in
the seabolrd states and that in forty
years will be over fifty per cent. more,
even Of those states, maintain the same
ratios of increase as in the past forty
years.
The appropriation. then, of any SUN
of money on the mere basis of govcan-
mental expenditures in proportion to
population seems settled in favor of a
large appropriation for the improve
ment of the Ohio. As the incomes Of
the government, being chiefly obtained
from the people, would naturally, di-
rectly or indirectly, be derived from
the different sections, in sums accord
ing with the bulk Of their population,
it is evident that those states most di-
rectly interested in the navigation Of
the Ohio, must contribute to the ma
tional revenues the greatest proportion
of whatever sum may be taken there
from TO be expended on the improve
ment of that river; and in like man
ncr to any Improvements made on the
scacoas,~ or elsewhere in the national
domains. When those, then, who con
y tribute SO largely ask, under grow
n ing necessity, for liberal appropria
d tions, out of the very revenues they q
e greatly help to create, the equity of tn
: demand is plain.
II Any OF the plans proposed Tor TIT
n improvement of the Ohio would mo,
c probably consume ten years in compile
'e ton. Assuming them to cost $50
;, 100000, the outlay would be bu
l. three millions year. Is this such a
!. extrsvagant sum for more than one
ID halfof the whole population Of the ma
1t ton to demand for their benefit? An,
J not sclfshly, as subsequent statistic
d will show that the benefits of increase
n navigation capacity in the Ohio ar
not alone to the Ohio and Mississippi
Valley states. Would three million
, year be thought an exorbitant sum TO-
the government to cxpend for tel
e years for the transportation wants o
b the whole country? 1t is thought too
: much to expend annually on the nayi
y cation wants of the seacoast. Yet tn
ii population Of the Ohio states alone i
CT now within ten per cent. Of all the sc
sc coast states, and that of the Ohio an
tx Mississippi states nearly thirty pc
p cent greater. Would three million
re year be deemed enormous TO expen
ut in railroads for ten years, to provid
u such transportation as the Ohio vii
Is afford to the whole population of til
Of nation. Has not ten times that sur
d been yearly expended in the past tel
z years to that end? Do not the censu
v ratios show that population equal t
to that of the whole United States il
al 1870 will within forty years be de
5, manding all the capacity of the Obi
1t and its tributaries for the interna
n commerce of the seven Ohio state
= alone? While under the same ratios
: within ten years, or before any. of tn
: plans proposed will be fully completed
Is populotien of over one half the pres
It ent one of the nation will be living, toll
1t ing and accumulating national as We
as individual wealth within thos
y states.
5, 1t is hardly probable, from the dat
&c OF any plan yet proposed for the in
h proyement Of the Ohio to render it III
:, water highway it should be, tina, lie.
At than S3O,0O0,000 will be require,
Doubtless many wall will be raised
at congress aud elsewhere over the euol
at nifty OF the sum which it is propose
ne " induce the government thus to eA
r pend. l. there a doubt that could Il
OF control Of the navigation Of the Oh
IT, be given to corporation, that con
OF pany would soon be formed to mai
en- the improvement aud find ready sa
-, for their bonds or stock at the rate
"a twice three millions year, under Il
'"' the ultimate returns that even the f.
sea statistics submitted fore-hadow
yer The geographical position of the Obi
mo as before observed, Indicates what
mt will have to become under the upper
OF tive demands for transportation arisi,
ieS from the enormous population So SOC
ma 10 I'LL It's valley, and the recipocitics
'Ia the trade Of the whole nation. Shou
cat the government not perform the wo
'nc 50 clearly their duty to at oucc begi
W the absolute necessities of transport
mo ton will surrender, sooner or later. t
coi control Of the Ohio TO corporation
liu' great as the cost to the public will tn
io !, be. Does not the duty of the peor
WIN OF the Ohio valley to themselves inc
aus aus cate how decidedly they should ins
'n1i upon the government undertaking. /