The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-07-24

| HOAN ~ coNACA1CAOAy lAlC DEO
duce of the West to the distan
markets of the East, the West, ever
the extreme West, has seemingly
resolved for system of interna
improvements apparently SO vast
and expensive as that the more
cautious are inclined to shrink bach
in contemplating the extreme &c
which Congress may go in the de-
sire to meet what it supposes 10 be
the will OF the people in opening
up a down current to the Atlantic
ocean. The East joins in the de-
mand and schemes and projects are
presented and pressed which prom
ise a more successful opening of the
treasury than the water courses
sought to be made aud improved.
A bill, ii l remember rightly, was
passed by the House of Representa-
tiYes during the late session O!
Congress, which virtually placed
the mouth OF the Mississippi river
under the control OF one man for
eight years, the dement's of which
measure were sufficiently shown in
an able speech by Hon. Stephen A.
Cobb, one of the Representatives
from our State, who favored the
Improvement but opposed the plan.
Let us be careful that we do not
'.jump from the frying pan into the
fire" SO far as monopoly, eXtOrtion
and rates are concerned, TO say
nothing of the immense eXpendi-
ture and increased taxation TO be
borne in addition to the scorching
we may receive under hasty and
injudicious legislation comforting
special privileges for useless and
costly experiments in trying to
overcome obstacles which il re-
moved from one place will proba-
bly, arise in another, making addi-
tional sums necessary TO save, If
possible, those first expended, and
so on until finally exhausted, the
work lags, and nature asserts her
ali-pOwerful sway.
l am not opposed to internal i'm
provements by the general govern
ment, but must confess to little
conservatism OH such questions,
and believe that before the people
become involved in such a system
as was recently presented in the
United States Senate we should
consider the cost, reverse the pad
die wheels of pnblic sentiment and
save ourselves from a sea of troub-
lie. 1t might be well to wait for
more honest era to dawn on the
American people. / doubt very
much whether the country is III
condition, financially or morally, to
prosecute TO successful and salts
factory termination q system so
vast as the one recommended by
the transportation committee.
While 1 would not, therefore, de-
mand that all snch work should
stop, yet through the speaking
trumpets of the old ship of State, l
would call to the engineers to go
slow.
Now, as to policy for Southern
and Southwestern Kansas upon this
question, permit me to say that
whatever Congress may do i'll pro-
viding n system of artificial water
ways for the cheap transportation
of Western products fifteen hun
dred miles to Eastern markets, we
should cast our eyes to the Gulf,
about one-half the distance; and
following up the Mississippi river,
We may consider New Orleans less
than one half the distance; or Men,
phis, less than one fourth the dis
lance or even Ft. Smith, less than
two hundred miles from where we
are to-day, at which point both wa
ter and railroad transportation in
competition all the year round will
soon be available for Memphis,
New Orleans and Galveston. The
most practicable thing, it appears
to me, for Southern aud Southwest
ern Kansas to do, and perhaps tor
the whole State, is to seek and
strive for such facilities by railroad
competition as will at the least cost
and in the shortest time enable us
to reach the Mississippi ut some
point not higher than st. Louis,
when, by the cheaper method of
water transportation, we shall find
an outlet through the Gulf.
If to-day, you had railroad from
Arkansas City TO Fort Smith, Mem
phis, New Orleans, or Galveston,
tomorrow, so to speak, you would
have ore down the Arkansas or the
Walnut Valley, giving you connec-
ton with the north aud south, east
and west. Either project complet-
ed, insures the other; and it there
fore becomes You, III my opinion,
TO encourage the one that offers
first Then at the mingling of these
beautiful valleys, now dressed i'll
living green" circling your beauti-
full town, which attracts the eye as
the diamond in the bridal wreath of
a queen, the tropical productions of
the, South would meet for exchange
the multiplied productions of the
North, and the thunder of lOcOmo-
tiVes and the blaze of head lights,
would awaken even the slumbering
soil from its silent rest and infuse
new energy among the people, open
up new avenues of prosperity, Gre
ate new hopes, stimulate new en-
terprises, and bring to be enjoyed
by this, the comforts and blessings
of the next generation.
Large and elegant farm-houses,
backed by beautiful groves and
thrifty orchards, adorned with fra
grant flowers and choice shrubbery,
presided over by happy mothers and
handsome daughters, and ambi-
| tious fathers and stalwart sons, with
their cultivated fields and untold
herds, would indicate something of
the beauty, power and wealth OF
| this, the lovcliest of lovely coun-
tries. In the city fine brick blocks,
rock-pavcd streets, and stately man
siOns, would indicate the prosper
Gus condition of the merchant, the
mechanic and the artizan, while
over all the din and noise and con-
fusion incident to the mingling OF
the Representatives of different ma
tions, in the exchange and transport
alton of the commerce of a CONT
nent, may be heard the shrill voice
of an unwashed, uncombed and rag.
ged urchin, on his way to the Pres
idential Chair, crying out, as he
passes up Summit street, "Ere's yer
Daily Traveler-latest news from
London" Ten years will hardly
have passed away before it will be
apparent to many now here that this
is not ''all q dream" But much de.
ponds upon the energy and well di'
rected efforts of your city and coun'
ty. Poets, it is said, are not made
but horn; cities are not born but
made. Commerce, manufacturing
and trade make cities. Nature has
certainly favored you in these two
, great valleys, at the junction point
. of which your thriving town is sit
r uated. Assist nature and your OBJ
iect is accomplished.
II Your land question will leave t
: other speakers, merely remarkinl
+ that the Government should adop
= the most liberal policy for the set
3 tier in his effort To secure for him
: self and those dependent upon hin
q that which makes every American
e citizen truly independents home
But affecting your ability to Sc
= cure your homes; to make your in
: farnal imnrnVamants fO c0nEtruc