, 1873-05-05
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
Letter from tho Governor OF f1tHaourl
to tho Governor OF IOWN.

Letter from tho GoVCriOf OF NAlHaoufA
to tho Governor OF IOsvn.
6TATE OF missouri, ExEour1vn DErAnTMENT,l
Cry Or JEffEnsoN, April ", 1878.
ls E1ee!|eney G. Carpentry oogernor t a. e iG~s 2
full Of hound thought, and embracing 40 1nany
valuable suggestions, in regard to what coll |
colve to be the great question Of tho day, viz:
tho boBt and mo8t practicable neans OF ntta!ning |
country and tho Atlantic soaboard, was received
md read with great pleasure by mo, aomo days
ago, md should layc answorod 1t at once but
for tho dosiro On my rars to respond as aatisfac-
torlly az possible to tho specific questions pro-
pounded thoron.
THAT the holding of the Convention contcrn-
platcd by tho resolution adopted by tho Conyon-
tion at Des Moncs on tho 23d day Of January
docdod succcss, regard aa absolutely certain.
This opinion on my part IL chiefly attributable
to tho fact Of tho aimoat universal interest man.
itoHtca throughout tho country. and by oil
''cheap transportation, and in reforonco to tho
satisfactory and speedy solution of tho insoreat-
ing and absorbing problem presented, The
truth is our agricultural intereata must Inn
guish, and our vast Western domains 1ie waato,
unlosa something eau bo done 10 cloapen. tho
cost of tinlling way to market for tic products
Of cur soil. No remedy will ever bo afforded 30
long aB few 1onding lines Of transportation,
by unlimited capital, control our transportation.
A complete monopoly Of our carrying trade be-
tween tho great West aud tho Atlantic Ocean,
md particularly during tho winter months, ts
not bo mentioned BY nanle. Judging from tho
past those monopolios will not voluntarily relin-
quish single privilege or advantage they now
enjoy. On tho contrary they. will, by every
an; ' money command, Sidon tho fold of
their operations and tighten their grasp upon
tho very vitals Of tho prosperity Of the country.
As their capital increasea and aa our country do
nuttf 1s,,T IL
aolveg or loaBo from those who do, until tholr
combinations permoato Our entire country, and
they are enabled to place every producer at their
mercy, and 1oyy such q tax upon tho buanoss Of
without tho least restraint. No friend Of his
country, no lovor Of Justice, can contemplate
such result without horror and indignation,
nor can he rofuso to take any legitimate aud a.
lowable step that may DO within b bis power to
terprlao to which you refor is ono Of serios that
must be carried out to countoract the nalign in
fuencos to which have referrod. The friends
Of all theso dfiferent enterprises should DO
united, and should act In concert Hence,
in my Judgment, tho greater scope given
to tho held of our operations the better.
Tho Convention that le to meot in Atlanta, Ga,
on tic Goth Of May, to consider measure, as
tended effects to tho ono you hive at heart, will
| am satisfied, be worry fully attended, aud hope
| that important results will be reached by it.
| Now It occurs to me- that 1t would bo well to
bring the friends Of tho Goorgia and Iowa On
torpSiHos, aa will term thom, togothor. This
can DO dono, / am sure, by the adoption Of q
resolution by tho Convention at Atlanta, calling
| q convention to be composed Of delegates from
all the States Of tho Mississippi Valley. MS
Let this Convention DO hold In September or Oc-
tober, in tho City OF st. Louis and I venture tho
opinion that 1t will bo one of the largest and
most Imposing bodies Of men ever assembled on
this continent Lot tho farmer, tho mechanic,
tho merchant, and every interest in society DO
represented, and whom 1t speaks, lot il bo re-
garded Oh tho voice Of the people speaking au-
thortatiyey to Congress, as well as to the Legls-
| laturoB of all tho States.
I do not wish to be understood as bcng m
| enemy to railroads and railroad enterprises, or
as wishing to interfore with or violate in any
way a single vested legal right pertaining to
tended whorovor they arc not alrondy found, and
wherever tho commerce and trade aud con-
yenience OF the public domand them. But they
should not DO introduced as despoilers and do
| developers Of 1atent RESOURCES, tho artorieB
| through which the healthy l;fo blood Of com
ncrco mny frocly circulate. Nov what We ,want
| is cheaper transportation. This can only DO
competition. The greater number Of rival roads
we havo tho botter it is for ua, and just in pro-
portion to an increase OF competition between
the railroads Of the country will DO decrease
" tuo lAGo VI tIAuhI,oitAtlou AIo h|ufe!
Tho Same principle applios to tho compoti-
tion that must arise from tho connection
Of our grcat Western and Southern lakes and
rivers by canal with tho ocean. Give to the
Western farmer the choice Of transportation by
railroad or canal at MI Seasons Of tho year to
Easterh and Southern markets, and then he will
no longer DO placed at tho mercy Of oxacting cor
porations or individuals, but will bo allowed to
reap fair compensation from tho products Of
his TOLL instead Of bestouing all Of Ills profits
| unon those who carry it to market,
My conclusion ia that it would DO best to hold
tho Convention at st. Louis, at tho tmo intli-
catod. But should you and othors take diror-
ont viow. and determine upon q different place
In the result Of your 1abors, mud do all that
possibly can to mako the Convention B.tccesB.
With high regard, am your Excolloncy'a most
obodient servant, SILAs WooDsoA.
| A Spanish Prison.