The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-12-17
WATER TRANSPORTATION,
The Best Routes for minnesota
An Address Delivered BY Hon. lgna.
thus DOnnelIy Before the 81. PAM
Chamber of Commerce. December
12, 1874.
Mr. President and Gentlemen:

YOU Tor the nlSH H0AOA yOu A"'o OOno
me in inviting me to address you upon
the question of free water transporta-
ton to the great lakes.
All can hope to do is TO submit to
your consideration such facts and sug-
yestions as may be OF use to you III
Your subsequent delibeI ations.
IMPORTANCE OF SUBJECT.
The subject under consideration is a
highly important one to the whole north
west; and you have done right not to
express your judgment upon 1t, until
YOU have viewed it in all It's ilghts ana
bearings. St. Paul has now reached
such dignity and Importance that It's
voice will be listened to with attention
throughout the nation. and doubtless
help to direct action upon the floor OF
Conyrcss. You should, therefore. weigh
we'll your utterances before you speak.
rgE CITIES DEFEND ON THE COUNTRY FOR
THEIR PROSPERITY.
Little argument will be required to
convince an association of merchants
that the prosperity of this city, and of
all the cities Of the State, necessarily
rests on the prosperity of the agricul-
turi,ts of the State. | was much
struck, some time since, by remark
made to me by P. H. Kelly, Esq, OF
the firm of Beaupre & Kelly Of this city,
that they had among their customers
those who now bought bills to the
amount of $4,000 at time, who few
years ago could buy only to the value
OF 500. This told the whole story.
The country merchants trade has
grown with the settlement of the State:
and in corresponding ratio his deal
ings with your wholesale merchants
has increased. 1t is not too much to
say, that every pillow that turns fur
row in Minnesota is felt in the business
prosperity of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
These towns are but ganglionlc centres
Of those nerves of trade and industry
which radiate to all parts Of the State.
It will be admitted by every one,
that if Minnesota could, within q year
or two, double It's present population,
the commercial and manufacturing me-
tropoli of the State would, with equal
rapldity, double their population. But
suppose the population of onr State re-
manned stationary, and from any cause
it doubled in wealth; would not the re-
suits be as great as if the population
doubled while the aggregate wealth re-
manned the same9 That is to say, sup
pose Minnesota, to-day, instead of hay-
ing 100000 inhabitants worth an
average, we will say, of $3.50 each ;
No., a( l.,
worth an average Of $500 each; would
not the trade aud commerce of your
towns be as great as though you pos.
sessed ono million inhabitants worth
SIPS each think they would. 1t is
an invariable law Of human nature that
our wants increase with our means. 1t
IS surprising to see to what narrow
limits poor human nature can reduce
itself under the stress Of necessity
and still more surprising to observe
how widely it can expand it's wants un-
der favorable circumstances. The Es.
quimaux, living in his ice hut on blub.
Der, is at one end Of the scale; the Ro-
man Emperor. spending a fortune on a
single dinner, is at the other.
Your city will depend for its pros
perity upon the prosperity of the peo-
pie tributary to it. If they are impov-
erished, and have reduced their wants
so the level of the Russian boor. trade
will languish in our streets if they are
prosperous they will become aware of a
thousand wants they will need better
clothing. better food, books, newspapers,
music, mechanical contrivances to lessen
labor. in short all the comforts and
many of the luxuries oflife and they
will look for ali these in your shops.
Hence, wheli you seek an outlet in
these dull times to prosperity you must
look beyond your own walls: beyond
your corporate limits you must con.
slider the condition of the whole body
of the people. and ask yourself. how
can we increase the prosperity of our
customers. for upon their prosperity
depends our own :"
1t is pleasant to think that mankind
Is thus knit together, not less firmly by
the bands of self-interest than by ties
OF justice and religion. 1t is rare in
deed that injury can be inflicted upon
She great body Of the community with.
out injury to each one of its members.
1t is in this enlightened conception of
the subject | shall endeavor to address
YOU.
aow THEN CAN YOU INCREASE rHR rsos-
rERIrY or THE STATE
lou have already taken many i'm
portant steps in that direction.
by your efforts in behalf of railroads
you have helped furnish the agricul.
turiSt with improved methods of trans.
Portation, whereby his fields yield him
better returns for his labor. thrust
not be supposed that we. who complain
OF the incidental grievances which grow
out ofthe conduct of the railroads. are
ignorant Of the innumcrab,e blessings
they bring to the whole people. or of
the Obligations We arc under to the men
who inangurated them. 1t is because
we appreciate so fully the fundamental
Importance of the railroads. that We
would prune from them the psrasitieal
avis which cling to them
Moreover, by your lively competition
enc with another, in your shops and
warehouses, you have reduced to the