The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-06-12

turnpike IOau1. lutl Mtlt uo1llY DuiAt
by incorporated companies, were a decided
convenience to the public, and as a general
thing, a source Of much profit to the stock
owners. The only road built by the United
States was the noted National road, from
Cumberland to Wheeling, over the Alle
ghany mountains, which first brought on
the discussion of the power Of the general
government in this respect The National
road was sustained on the ground of a
military necessity, to connect east and
west and enable the Government to pro-
tect the thinly settled region west and
northwest of the mountains Then followed
canals, which were undertaken mostly by
the States, and they were the great talk of
the times. We recollect the excitement
about Clinton's Big Ditch, as it was
called, the great canal connecting
the waters of Lake Erie with the
Hudson. 1t was thought to be very
doubtful undertaking, and there was much
opposition to it, but it was finally COM
pleted to the great honor of Gov. Clinton
and to the lasting benefit of the State.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania followed
with their noble canals, connecting the Della
ware and the Hudson, and the Delaware
and the Ohio, and canal connecting the
Chesapeake and Delaware bays, was soon
constructed. Virginia commenced her
James river canal and the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal, and the States of Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois all went to work at canals,
within their respective borders. But we
believe none of these canals proved very
profitable, except the great Erie one, which
is crowded with boats and heavy freights to
this day They were doubtless, of great
public advantage and were very popular at
first. In ouryounger days, we have travelled
over several of the canals mentioned, and
we found them quite pleasant and considered
them great convenience. They were slow,
to be sure, but they were safe. The only
danger was the humping of ones head Ocea-
sionally against bridge, but that Is pre-
ferable to being blown sky high from a
steamboat or being thrown over an embank-
ment or precipice and mashed up generally.
The invention of railroads soon threw
shade over the popularity of canals.
The world was getting too fast for them
and railroads become all the rage. Since the
first one in this country of any extent was
constructed 1--WE believe it was the Boston
and Lowe1) the amount in miles of finished
railroads in the United States is astonishing.
Even Texas, where but few years ago the
Indians and buffaloes had full possession,
and which was hardly known when the
Erie Canal was completed, has now 11O4
miles of railroad in running order Canals,
until short time since, were hardly talked
of and'seemed to be almost forgotten.
But a change has como. 1t has been
found that railroads, with their present
charges, are very expensive conyeyances for
freights The farmers of the Northwest
who can and do raise any amount of pro-
visions-enough.to feed the world, if neces-
sary-fnd they are laboring almost in vain,
for their productions are well nigh value
less to them, from the cost of getting them
to a market The railroads charge so high,
insisting they cannot afford to carry for
less that for purposes of freight, any con-
siderable distance, they cannot be relied on.
This has caused an inquiry into other and
cheaper modes of transportation. The pub
lie attention is again called to the improve
ment of rivers and the making of canals,
because water transportation can be af-
forded much cheaper than railroads can fur
nish it. Long lines of water communica-
tion, by means of rivers and canals, are
talked of and contemplated. Conventions
have been held and committees appointed
and discussions had in relation to this i'm
portan. matter. Lately, convention of
Governors, so-called, was held at Atlanta,
Georgia, and correspondent of the Mis-
souri, Republican gives a long and eloquent
account of it. 1t is proposed to connect
the waters of the upper Mississippi with
the rivers of Georgia and Alabama, and thus
give an outlet to the sea for the vast pro-
ductions of the Northwest, which now
have to be sent of by the expensive rail
roads to Boston, New York and Philadei-
phia fora market. Grand canals are TO be
built, connecting the rivers running into
the Mississippi with the rivers emptying
into the Atlantic and the Gulf; and
a United States engineer has pronounced
them practicable and not too costly. One
OF these is to connect tho Tennessee and
the Coosa river The question mostly
mooted At the Atlanta Convention, was
whether these canals were TO DC built 10y in
corporatcd companies, OF whether the gen
eral government was to be called On to
build them. There were some members OF
the convention who still retain old LASH
ioned notions Of State rights, and Of the
limited powers Of the general-government,
and who doubted the right Of the latter to
construct these canals, If not needed for
military purposes. as undoubtedly they are
not. Finally, son Of compromise was ef-
fecte,l. and It was determined that these
improvements should be made by incor-
pointed companies, and that the general
i government should be called on for AID,
and memorial was therefore prepared to
be presented to the next Congress. This
Was somewhat Of a whipping Of the devil
around the stump, but so We 50 in these
days. 1t was agreed that railroads do very
well for the conveyance Of passengers, bul
that they would not do for heavy freight.
hong distances. Well, .Ne shall sec what
We shah sec
TnE attention Of all teachers Of publ.
schools is called 10 the proclamation Of lhl