The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-05-01
THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM.

Report OF the Chairman Of the Senate
Transportation Committee-It Recon-
mends the Construction OF Four Great
Water Routes-The Cost Estimated at
sta0.0OO,0OO 10 sI55,OOO,0O0.
Mr.. Window of Minnesota, has submitted
to the United States Senate the report of tho
Special Committee on Transportation, Of
which he is Chairman. The committee il will
be remembered, spent nearly the whole vaca-
ton travelling over the country gathering in
formation and obtaining the judgment of
persons interested AZ TO the relief measures
required. Senator Window. in his report
says the Committee have come to the conclu-
zion that no substantial reduction in the cost
OF transportation II TO be anticipated from un-
regulated competition between the existing
railways. nor In competition TO be induced by
authorizing the construction of additional
lines, II they are to be under private manage
ment and control. AS to the power OF Con-
gress, under the Constitution, to regulate
Interstate commerce, the Committee find that
Congress, in its discretion and under it's re-
sponsibility to the people, may first prescribe
rules by which instruments, vehicles and
agents engaged III transporting commodities
from one State into and through another,
shall be goVerned, whether such transportation
ls by land or water.
Second-That it may appropriate money for
the construction OF railways or canals where
the same shall be necessary for the regulation
Of commerce.
Third-That it may incorporate company
with authority to construct them.
FOufU-Ihat 1t may exercise the right of
eminent domain within 4 State in order to
provide FOR the construction of said RAILWAYS
or canals etc.
Fifh-It may. in it's exercise of the right of
eminent domain, take for public use, paying
just compensation therefor, any existing rail-
way or canal owned by private pers. ms or cor
polations. These propositions are discussed
at considerable length in the report Of the
committee, and the decisions of the courts
from which they were deducted are there
cited. After most careful consideration Of
the merits OF the various proposed improve
ments. taking into account the cost practica-
bility and probable advantages of each, the
committee have come to the unanimous con
clusien that the following are the most feast
BILE advantageous channels of commerce TO be
created or improved by the National Govern
ment, and Congress shall act upon this sub
ject, namely:
FSrst-lbe Mississippi river
Second-A continuous water-llne OF ade-
quate capacity from the Mississippi river TO
the city of New York. ria the northern lakes
Third-A route adequate TO tho wants of
commerce, through the central tier of States,
from the mississippi river, rio the Ohio and
ing The people themselves have neither
money nor credit, no place to go to, and
nothing to do. But this estimate by no means
discloses the distress of those residing on
small bayous and creeks, which have been
overfiowed by the backwater and floods of
rain. There, too, must suffer or receive as
sistance IL these be added the number
needing help is not short of 25 600 people III
the district referred 10.
The New Orleans Times SAYS the extent of
the damage which has resulted from the great
overflow is just beginning to be fully under
stood that it was vast was readily con
ceived, but that it should involve 5000, 0O0
of acres and population OF 17S000 was APP
parently beyond reasonable calculation vet
such il really the case in the cotton regions
1t is now ascertained that nine of the largest
and richest parishes producing cotton have
been inundated embracing fully $4,000
acres. The amount of cotton lands in these
parishes in actual cultivation il ascertained
to be $50, 900 acres, besides 100, 900 acres in
corn. These estimates include only the large
places, leaving out hundreds of small farms,
and ali estimates for cattle, hogs, and gar
dcns. The population Of these nine parishes
is 20, 1874 whites and 54.0S3 negroes, accord
ing to the census of 1870.
In the sugar-producing parishes ascertained
facts discover an equal, If not q greater,
amount of ruin and suffering. The overflow
in the sugar district covers nearly 2 500. 600
dcIte, IlllSu allu Untitled, l1CluullB prOOuc-
ton OF 80, 600 hogeheads Of sugar besides
large product of rice and the crops of small
farmers, of whom there are many hundreds,
who have lost their stock and pretty much
everything else they possessed. The popula-
ton of these parishes, according to the CEN
sus of 1870, was 5036S whites and 7224l
blacks, making total of 122, COO. In the
sugar-producing district, embracing about
twelve parishes, it is believed that moro than
20 900 people are now in actual suffering for
the necessary supplies Of life, and that in less
than GO days the number of those whose cir
will require alienation will be in
creased to more than SO. 600.