The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-28
nrrocRArrc.LIBERAL TICKET.
REPUBLICAN TICKET.
RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA-WATEh
TRANSPORTATION.

Last week THE ARGUS gave somewhat
lengthy synopsis of remarks made by Gen.
Elliott in one of his speeches in relation
to the proposed Reciprocity Treaty with
Canada, and the opening Of an all water
route from the western rivers, via the Rock
Island and Hennepin canal, the Illinois
and Michigan canal, the Lakes, the st.
Lawrence river and its canals to Quebec
and out upon the open sea for foreign
market. The subject is one of vital i'm
to the whole West, and the views of Gen.
Elliott meet ready Endorsement from all
classes Of people. The removal of our old
reciprocal relations with Canada is desired
by that government and has been proposed
to the President of the United States. A
treaty to that effect is now pending. The
magnitude of the trade between the two
countries is shown by the report OF the
Bureau of Statistics for 1873, from which
we learn that our total commerce Win wild
Canada for the year ended June oO, 1910,
aggregated in round numbers the sum OF
49,. 3S5, 900, of which the exports from
Canada amounted to $43, $4,000, and the
imports to $3S, 1000, which IS about
equal to the combined trade with this
country of Scotland, Ireland, British West
Indies, Australia, and Hong Kong
The treaty which it is proposed to renew
is that of 1854, which was terminated by
the United States III 1866. BY the terms
of that treaty large list Of articles, EN-
bracing the chief articles of commerce wert
admittedinto each country spectivelytr
of duty. The most important Of these ar
ticles we're breadstuffs of all kinds, AMI
mails Of all kinds, fruits, fish products q
the dairy, ores coal, timber and lumber q
all kinds, firewood and wool. The etfec
of the abrogation of the treaty was t
cut down the trade between tn
two countries nearly $30,0O0,000
a single year. In the year 1866
the total trade was $S4, ZOO, 900, or $50
100000 more than that of the succeeding
year loss of nearly thirty five per cent.
and nearly 100000 more than the trad
of last. Under the treaty our trade will
Canada amounted to fifty-t two per cent. o
their entire trade, while under our changed
policy it has fallen to less than thirty five
per cent 1t is reasonable to infer that ;
renewal of the treaty would add thirtyiiy'
per cent which was lost by its abrogatiol
and our total trade would then amount t.
over $ll0,000000 yearly.
The benefits that would accrue to boil
peoples from a renewal of the Reciprocity
Treaty, or the adoption of one substantial
ly similar, cannot be measured in dollars
and cents alone The removal of the re.
strictions which are now imposed upon the
commercial relations between Canada and
the United States would not only brlns
about more noighborly and friendly feel
ing than now exists, but would do mucl
towards increasing the sentiment in botl
countries in favor Of reciprocity with al
nations,
And in connection with this Reeiproclt
Treaty Gen. Elliott desires to procure al
or funds from the United States to ope
the Western rivers to this trade, via tn
Rock Island and Hennepin canal and til
route indicated at the commencement
Of this article, so that the State of lllino
could extend our Illinois and Michigan c
nal to the Mississippi river. Gen. Ellio
has given good deal of study to this ms
ter and the producers of the West shou
make vigorous effort to elect him. Th
have the numerical power and can do it
thav will