The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-06-06
The Cost of TRANSFORMATION

THE internal commerce OF the United States
is greater than OF any other FIVE nations. But
the fruits Of this vast industry are harvested
by monopolists who oppress the agriculturst
and producer on one hand and the consumer
on the other. They control legislation, and
assume imperial powers over citizens as over
the industry OF the country. The rates OF
transportation are raised 10 the highest point
that will allow of the bare existence OF indus
try.
If those who were directly interested in the
industeay Of the country had built our rail-
roads, the carrying interest would have been
subservent and secondary, as il should 'be.
We should have now more as well as cheaper
facilities OF transportation, and the wealth
which is now drained from industry, and which
drifts into speculative channels, would return
into the legitimate channels OF industry.
Labor, both agricultural and mechanical, would
have been emancpated from serfdom, and the
dignity Of labor would have led to a universal
system OF industrial education. The exorbi-
tant cost Of transportation has more than auy
thing else enhanced the difficulty OF the labor
problem. 1t is because species OF capital,
elevated into and maintained as a monopoly by
our legislators, can make wheat which within
one hundred miles OF the Mississippi is worth
only forty cents worth 81 81 IN New York. that
the cost OF labor is so great, and great as il ls
unsatisfactory il is this which arrays labor
against every species Of capital. Industry
which engages labor suffers almost equally
with the latter. England, owing to her small
area, does not suffer from high transportation
as this country must. And as she competes
with US successfully through the cheapness OF
labor, becoming the workshop Of the world,
distributing not only her own immense wealth
in her own steamers, but also carrying the
mails and handling the exchange OF Europe,
Asia, Africa, and America. labor is oppress-
ed in England by land-holding aristocracy.
But the oppression Of labor in this country is
equally severe through the desposism Of mor-
opolists-so severe that Council Archibald. in
his report on the condition Of labor in this
country as compared with that Of English Ia.
Dor, estimated that the higher rate Of wages
was compensated for by the higher cost of the
necessaries Of life.
The exorbitant cost OF transportation dmin-
ishes our exports. The total export OF cereals
from Russia amounted in 1870 TO l32. 917, 900
bushels, ours to only 100000 bushels. This
is because Russia is active in projecting works
of internal Improvement, for the purpose Of
cheapening the transportation OF IT'S cereals 70
the see-board, and Is determined to hold her
agricultural supremacy in the markets OF the
world. OF the 15O0O0,O0 bushels of cereals
from this country ouly 47,1s5, $50 bushels.
Our exports OF coin equal those Of brea6stuf.
An important political effect Of high trans-
portation is its tendency to diminish the nutu-
al interdependence OF the various sections OF
the country-to isolate these sections, The
West and the South are beginning to feel that
they have long en- ough paid tribute to Eastern
monopohsts, aud that they must suffice for
themselves. Missouri has inexhaushble re.
sources of the best-known iron ore for the pro-
duction OF Bessemer steel. The leading men
in that state are beginning to consider the ex-
pediency OF reducing this ore within the limits
OF the State. In that case, as the Hon. II. 7.
Rolla School Of Mines, shipments OF the ore
eastward would cease, and tne added wealth Of
Missouri for each year would amount to twenty
dollars on every tom. G., s. per ton freight
to Pittsburg, 80 per ton back, and s10 per ton
profit in the works The South too. will, under
its improved system Of free labor. manufac-
ture It's own cotton to the extent Of S175,0O0,
600, and the value OF every pound would be in
creased fivefold II exported already manufac-
tured. The establishment OF an extensive
interest In the West would
furnish a new market For the products OF
Western agriculture, and we should no longer
hear of corn being used for fuel because 1t
could not pay for Its transportation to market.
The products Of tins new industry would-if
the cost OF transportation by the present chan
nels is not largely reduced-be diverted to
other channels; the welland and st. Lawrence
cannals would be enlarged so as to pass vessels
of 1000 tons burden In case busbel OF corn
,ould be transported from Chicago to Montreal
For fourteen cents. New York would suffer by
his diversion. EDrroR's HISTORICAL RECORD,