Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-10-23
TOtal... I69 ASP 9s5 10. 762s8 996. o2OI4 ,8Sl o

These figures, official facts, show what
immense feeders the Improvement would
| benefit and command. Hon. B. F. Fay,
in his,careful. report, dated Sept. IA, 1874,
states -
"In the year 1873, there were shipped
| by the Northwestern railroad, and by the
Milwaukee and st. Paul, from the stations
on the Mississippi river, and their lines of
road North and Yves. of Prairie du CHEN,
in Iowa and Minnesota, to ports on Lake
Michigan, -four and grain equivalent to
10000, 900 bushels Of wheat.2
Now, saving of 10 cents a bushel on
that quantity of wheat, would alone be ST.
100000, for single year, besides a SINH
lar enormous saving to producers and
shippers on other freights. Mr. Fay, after
experience and examination, estimates
that the aggregate saving to the people,
afforded,by this improvement, wo' q, in thrt .
years,or fvey years atfarthest ,pay the entire
cost of the whole work. My own exami-
nation of this subject. assau Its my mind
with the conclusion; that he is not far from
correct,
We know that the Erie canal, extend ing
from Buffalo to Albany, 1868, miles long
completed in 1925, enlarged from to 1885
1859 at an'immense cost, has, by tolls alone,
paid its original cost; paid its enlargement;
it's interest on loans;its repairs, management
and all expenses; and net profit of many
millions ofdollars. The net profits ofsaid
Erie canal,as stated in the Memorial to Con-
gress in 1868, had, to 1856, amounted to
| $15, 622, 1886, besides paying about $685..
100000 Of cost, enlargement and expen.
SEES. The aggregate net profits of the
Erie, to this year, over and above its cost
| and expenses, are, find, not less tn an
S27, 600, 00O,--a sum five times greater
than the entire cost of the Wisconsin and
Fox Improvement. We know that once
completed, this improvement by canal
would be the vortex of business and COM
merce, of freights and transportation, even
now tremendous in multitude, destined
to increase, year by year, growing with
the growth of the great and vigorous
Northwest, and strengthening with its
broad and widening strength.
IF this were mere chimera, l would fight
it, but it is fact it is figures; it is, as APP
pears to me, not less than demonstration
and business necessity. Ten cents saved
on every bushel Of wheat, 9 cents on oats,
7 cents on corn--saved and put into the
pockets of the people homed in the States,
mentioned aboye.-together with similar
saving on lumber and other freights,-a
saving amounting to surely 100000
every year, all to be obtained, with rea-
sonable expectation, by the completion of
this improvement, are facts demanding not
only study but action. Is it not true,
that "Thought and done |" should now be
the motto7 Why: oppose; why, delay;
why, neglect; why not earnestly favors
Having examined this subject, lndepcnd-
emily and frankly, my position is taken.
Right and justice, when understood, shall
rule me and mine A small toll would re-
;mburse to the General Government ell
OUTLAWS, with interest, and leave the re-
sources of the nation better than be.
fore.
I ask my fellow citizens of this District,
and especially Of the Wisconsin valley, to
stand bysme, and go as far as shall 20,
within duty and honor, if elected, to urge
and hasten this enterprise. Assisted by
you, and by them, [ may, possibly, be able
to do much; whatever can, I cheerfully
will: and, nowise oYerrating my expert
ence or ability, shall, if elected, yet
welcome the responsibility Of urging the
adoption and completionof the best plan
for a safe and permanent water commu>
nication between Prairie du CHEN and
Green Bay; and shall leave my laboYs, on
this subject, to the considerable judgm ent
of the peoplc. II ENRY S. MAGcea.
Darlington, Wis, October Is, 1874.