The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-05-30

I
must be strictly adhered to.
mere expedient, which. in the end
will surely disappoint public expec-
tation. We do not want expedients
or partial remedies. A cure of tile
evil is demanded by the farming IN
terest of the country, and TO 10th
! ing short of this should we look for
permanent relief. In seeking this
relief the first step TO be taken is
to find less costly mode of trans
portation than that by rail. Exper-
fence teaches us that water furnishes
the cheapest means of transporta-
ton known TO the commercial
world; and there is but little rea-
son to doubt that the solution of this
whole question will be found to rest
upon the construction of great lines
of water communication between
the West and the seaboard, wherev-
er nature has provided n way. Build
the Niagara Ship Canal, connecting
the lakes by an unbroken chain of
navigation from Chicago to the sea
connect lake ChampIain by ship
canal with the Hudson enlarge the
Erie canal, if feasible: extend Your
water lines from the Lakes to the
Mississippi by every proposed route.
where nature has provided a way
improve the navigation of your riv-
ers, so that barges may pass through
their entire length without hind
rance, and YOU will haye done more
to relieve yourselves from your
present troubles than you can justly
hope to secure by any other means.
In this way the railroads may be
made the feeders and distributors
for your great trade arteries, and
the causes which now induces them
to enter into extensive leases and
in many instances so
injurious to the public interest,
would in a great degree cease to eX-
list.
4 glance at the map will be sufii-
cient to show that from the great
lakes to the Mississippi river there
is a vast eXpanse of country, diYid-
ell by the Appalachian chain, which
separates the waters of the Atlantic
from those which flow into the Gulf
Of Mexico. The Ohio and the James
rivers have their sources among the
OF this mountains of this
chain; and further south, also the
the CoOsa and the Oc-
Recent surveys have DEM
0nstrated that it is feasible to con-
lect by canals the Ohio and the
James river, and the Tennessee with
he Ocmulgee, and thus, so to speak,
urn the Mississippi into the Atlantic
It Norfolk and Savannah. The
merits of the James river and Kan
lwha canal have been fully discuss
I'd, and will not pause here to repeat
he many reasons which have been
offered in favor of this great work.
crave your attention, however, for
moment, while | point out some
If the advantages which would flow
rom the construction of the Attain
ic and Great Western Canal. con-
Iecting the Mississippi, through the
tennessee river, with the Atlantic
cean, at Savannah, Georgia.
The Tennessee enters the Ohio
hoIt distance above the confluence
f the latter with the Mississippi.
rom this point the general direc-
ion OF the Tennesse is southeast to
Is great bend at Huntersville, in the
tate of Alabama. At that point
ne Coosa and the Tennessee APP
roach each other, there being only
narrow neck of land between
lem. Across this isthmus d canal
lirty-two miles long would con-
ect these two rivers, and open nav
cation TO Rome, Georgia. From
,ome the route follows the Etowah
} its nearest point of approach to
he Ocmulgee river, and down the
liter to the cityO'bf Macon, and
80 NnfT hau oil
eady supplied the greater part of
his route, and it remains for us TO
omplete the work which she has so
rell begun. The route has been
lrveyed by distinguished engineers
the War Department and has
cen pronounced eminently feasi-
lie.
1t offers to you the following adj
lntages: First, cheap transporta-
on. According to the official re-
ort the cost of transporting a ton
T grain from st. Louis to Savannah
y this route would be SASS. It
,sts by rail Sl4.40, The saving
pom each ton would be S9.25,
in the aggregate TO about
ii 100000 per annum upon grain
one, to be divided between the
roducer and the consumer. Sec
nd, this route would be open the
attire year, never rendered imprac-
cable by ice in winter nor by
routh in summer. Third, it would
realty increase the coasting trade,
employment during the
inter months (when the Niagara
Zip canal shall be opened) to the
and other vessels engaged
uring the summer upon the lakes.
ourth, the route passes through
immense forests of yellow pine, and
on would be enabled TO obtain the
est lumber in unlimited quantities
nd at low prices. Fifth, it opens
, you all the Southern States east
f the Mississippi river as market
,r your grain. bacon, hay and other
the demand for which
ill constantly increase. In this
larket you would be absolutely
,ithout n competitioD. Sixth, il
vould furnish cheap transportation
Dr. rrw cotton TO your section, and
Or the manufactured article in re-
Urn. Such advantages would cer-
Iinly develop the manufacture of
1tton TO a vast extent, in the West
m and Northern States.
l would take great pleasure in
leetiug with the farmers of the
Vest and Northwest, and uniting
18th them in considering the vast
lterests involved in the question
riefiy alluded TO in this address.
1rdially invite the oranges in these
tates to send delegates to the pro-
osed convention, assuring them that
ley will meet O hearty welcome
ON our people. Let us meet face
, face and see il there is not safe
nd sure way of escape from the
'oubles in which our respective
.ctions and people are involved.
JAMES M. SMITH.