The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-09-23
INTERNAL TRANSPORTATI

object the Chcapcnng of rates of trans
portation. These schemes and projects
will be diverse in their character, and
while all are sailing under the same flag of
''cheap transportation to tide water" they
will involve different and entirely diverse
interests and rely for their support mainly
on local influences. While all. also. will he
agreed upon the main question, that we
should have M easy and cheap freight
route from the great west or, perhaps,
from the Mississippi river TO the sea
board, the eastern and western tcrmini, no
less than the particular route, will divide
those who are, otherwise agreed and may
defeat all measures for relief. Portland,
Boston, New York Norfolk. and host of
other 'sea ports" will, in turn, present
their claims for the Atlantic termni. each
set forth, and prove beyond the possibility
of doubt, that it possesses the largest,
best, aud safest harbor in this country, IL
not in the world. and that its selection will
alone secure cheap and speedy transpor-
tatiOn Of grain and other products of the Yves,
for transhipment To Europe. or for distrhu-
ton 80 the consumers and non-produccrs of
the east Before this rock. upon which the
whole matter may la -hipwrcckcd. is
reached, there is another question that
must be met and decided The old ques-
ton of how far the general government.
under the constitution. can go in the work
of building, or aid in building, lines of
transportation is yet to u certain extent.
an open question, and the old debates must
he again gone over with. The new lines,
which are projected OF suggested will
stand upon different basis from those
which have, heretofore been aided hy land
grants or endorsements of bonds. and must
be controlled by another course of reason
ing and constitutional construction.
We are not abou, to enter upon the dis
ciission Of the constitutional right and DOW
or of the government to undertake these
works, or to aid others that may engage
therein, although this must be first author
itivcly settled before such aid can he made
available Neither do wc intend. now, TO
consider the expectancy of such action up
on the part of the government, even il the
legal and constitutional right and power
was settled. Our whole object is 10 call
attention 10 one of the mos; stupcndo,is en-
terprses, as il seems TO us, that was ever
suggested by man, and by the side of
which the Pacific railroad pales into COM
parativc insigniticance. We all know the
immense good that has resulted from that
work, even when we take into account the
fraud, corruption, bribery. blasted rcputa-
tons, etc. that followed in its train we
believe that if the present project can be
consummated. whether with or without
government aid. the benefits to the whole
country, both cast and west, will be meal
culabe, and that its assured success and
completion would dispose of the question
of "termini,' without so much as touching
it, Briefly, this work is simply improving
the Ohio river by increasing the volume of
its water from the great lakes, thereby Sc
curing constant and uninterrupted naviga-
ton. This interruption OF navigation, by
the subsistence of the streani-:t certain
season of the year, and, sometimes. uncx-
pectedly-has been a grand ally for rail
road monopolists, because transportation by
the Ohio could not always I've relied upon,
and it was impossible to predict the length
of 4 particular trip. At other times, navi-
CATION was entirely suspended and freight.
consequently, was compelled to look else
where for an outlet These Interruptions.
temporary delays and at times, entire sus-
pensions have operated to play into the
hands of monopOlists, for the reason that
shippers could not afford to send forward
their goods upon an entire uncertainty as
to the time of their delivery. If the I'M
provements, which we shall presently de-
tail could he made, either by governmental,
corporate, or individual enterprise, we
think grand step would be taken towards
the solution of the problem of cheap tran.
sportation.
1t Is proposed and competent engineers
pronounce it feasible to establish rcscr.
voirs at fixed distances on Lake Erie, and.
by means If powerful engines, force water
thereirom into Lake thatauuua. thence
into the Allegheny river, and from here,
naturally, into the Ohio. II this could be
accomplished, an unobstricted navigation
of the Ohio would be assured. and an out
let furnished for heavy frcights from and
to the states through which II flows. and
through which the rivers. TO which il is
tributary, pass, and upon whose borders
are the great lakes which are. ,r can be,
connected with them. The great trouble.
however. is with that little word -'if."
To consummate the work wonld require an
original expenditure of millions upon mil
lions of dollars, and 10 keep the engines.
etc, in repair would require n further an
nual expenditure, the amount of which
would depend, of course, upon the tolls re-
| ceivcd. II, however, IL should I've made
government work, like the improvement of
rivers and harbors, ii il estimated that two
or three million of dollars would he annual
~ required for repairs. We doubt not, the
work once complete, that the benefit
thereof, by the lessening of rates of freight,
could hardly be computed by thousands or
millions of dollars annually. If one will
take map and examine the route, they
VIII see that at least sixteen states of the
| union-our own among the number--are
directly interested in this matter, from the
fact that some of these waters. their con-
nections or tributaries, border upon or flow
through their territory, while large num-
Der of other states ale indirectly interested,
because most, If not all, of the non-pro.
ducing as well as the producing states, are
affected by lower or higher rate of freight.
1t is, we presume, upon this large direct
interest, aided by those more remotely ben.