National Republican., 1873-10-03
- SPOILED JOBs,o

A 81. Lofts paper, remarkable chiefly for
Its skill in appropriating the result of the
Industry and skill of other journals, prints q
list of what 1t calls spoiled jobs" which II
Is certain the late panic will certainly kill
when they come up, II they should come up,
for consideration in Congress next winter.
In the list we have, first of all, the Northern
Pacific jobs" the Niagara ship canal" the
assumption Of the Southern State debts"
the purchase by the Government Of the
telegraph" and then Il naively adds: 1.-THE
people will demand the most rigid economy
In whatever Investments are now to be made
to secure cheaper transportation. 1t will be
wise economy; not blind refusal 10 invest
anything In order to make our industry more
prosperous, but q cautious determination TO
put all the money we can spare into that one
place which will yield the largest and most
speedy returns for the investment. When
ever the people reach that frame Of mind,
they will apprehend that money expended in
making the Mississippi sufficient for high
way for the products of the Northwest viii
yield quicker and a larger return than any
which can be expended In any other way,
and will, therefore, incline TO throw over all
sceond-ratc and doubtful schemes, and put
whatever iunds VIC can spare into that one
undertaking"
Now, the improvement Of the Mississippi
river is the special pct project OF St. Louis.
We do not know but that 1t Is a good thing
that the proposed Improvement would tend
materially to the solution Of the transporta-
tion problcm but that 1t possesses transcen-
al, nfhor anhaD,a haa
not yet been demonstrated. What we par.
tlcularly object to In the paragraph we have
quoted is Its general tone SO far Us other en-
terprises of similar character and looking
TO the same end are concerned, We have no
interest In any one Of those mentioned, but,
Us q citizen Of the District, we have an
other project which our contemporary does
not name, but which 1t doubtless intends 10
place In tho same category, viz, the exten-
sion OF the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. II
Is only few weeks since convention was
held In Cumberland, Nd, to take measures to
properly present that enterprise to the Sem
ate transportation committee and to Congress-
Tho meeting in question was composed Of
very respectable gentlemen, men OF capital
and of close Identity with the Industrial In
forests of the country. 1t Is certainly unfair
to throw upon them the suspicion of fraud
and jobbery and corruption.
But there Is another point In the matter
II there is any one scheme which has laid
itself open to the charges upon which the 81.
Louis paper animadyerts II is this one to I'm
prove the Mississippi river. Only o few
months ago the gentlemen who are managing
II put in practice all the tactics known to the
lobby-dinners and banquets and free rides
over railroads for newspaper correspondents
and Congressman and their families. 1t is
certainly to the credit OF the rival projects
that those interested In their success have
not rcsorted to these Questionable tactics, but
have trusted to a simple statement Of their
natural advantages. The inteuse sectional
animosity exhibited In the article In question
is also Justly oonsurablo, The country Is be-
coming tired of all this rubbish about the
Mississippi valley. 1t simply the oldsouth-
ern game OF brag and hlustcr over again, and
Il Is about time there was an end Of IL