The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-06-25


this House for the brief time allotted to
me in this debate, namely: Fret, ito ims
portapce to the agricultural and product
i've interests of the valley OF the Mississ.
ippi and ito weston tributaries; and sc.
condly, the feasibility OF the project In
some form.
In representing the question Of the
importance of the measure to the House
I know shall be pardoned in taking my
outlook from among the new and happy
homes. the fertile farms. the busy work
shops and factories of the people who
sent me here.
And first, Mr.. Speaker, q correction Of
terms % to localities. Although 90 call
cd. I am not . western Representative,
nor 10 the legislstion sought. and that
which have spoken of and approved, in
reality western legislation. eBisect the
United States. not including Alaska. lon
eitudinally and you will bisect the State
Of Kansas, throwing more than seven
eiRhths of its population into the eastern
section. Bisect 1t latitudinally and you
still bisect the State of Kansas. So that
although I today represent in common
paflance frontier western State In this
House, in reality and literally belong
to no section, but am of the central State
Of the Union. In fact, I reside in the
eastern half Of the United States. So
vast and extensive 10 the territory Of nv
country that one must almost think twice
in order to comprehend its volume. One
must think oftener than this and keep
we'll on his guard not to be misled by a
term in common use. for even l an not
rom the West-l have not reac bed that
yet.
Mr. Speaker, . glance at the map Of
the country shows the Mississippi Valley
as an inverted pyramid with it's apex
resting on theGulf OF Mexico and its Ia
teral lines stretching outward at irregu>
lar distances from the Atlantic to the
sources Of the Ohio and its tributaries on
the right. and to the left along the Red.
the Arkansas. ana Missouri Rivers. to
their sources In the Rocky Mountains.
ito base extending away rom Lake Erie
on the essta long the line OF the British
possession, to Leech Lake, the upper
eprings Of the missouri: ana the great
Yellowstone Park In Montana. The
region ofcountry thus described in quanty
variety, and quality OF resources has no
equal on the globe. In minerals OF the
useful sort for man the supply 10 witboet
limit. IL contains greater breadth o.
arabic land IN one oody tnan 10 TO he
found elsewhere on the earth. VI he
forty million souls IN the United States.
eighteen millions dwell IN the Mississippi
Valley. Near the apex OF the pyramid
ana stretching northward toward Its base
are the only cotton lands OF the world.
That ID to say NO region OF count Try now
Know produces this great staple OF the
quahty, texture. and usefulness OF that
produced in this belt OF country known
Is the cotton belt OF the United States
North OF this coffin belt are tho great
farming states OF Ohio, Indiana, Wis
cons'n, ana Mihnesota, lying mostly to
the eastward OF tDe great river, With
their graneries which yearly eroan be-
meath tho weight OF cereals and products
Of agriculture Of all kinds; States posses-
sed Of soil 90 wealthy in producing
powers % to be capable under proper TIL
iaRe OF supplying food for all the starv.
ing millions of the earth. To the west
are the newer States Of Arkansas, Missou-
ri Iowa Kansas, and Nebraska. and the
of Colorado. Wyoming. Mon.
tans. and Dakota. supplemented by the
model of countries the Indian Territory.
vhich together With Northern Texas
and Wesfern Kansas yearly send ont in
,ncreasino nnmhers from their Great mas
toral reeions the beeves which sunnly
re Continent
NJ Sne.ter a vord descr;n,;ve of
of th,. nss,or.I reoion of the San,hves.
II ex,enda from the Gulfof MEXICO north
yard through ten degrees of latitude.
. ci;msss ~ such ro;lSness
=. - ,eCn;,e M shei,sr for dome.i;c AMI.
~. ,hrorchnrt ,he ve.r AIoro The
- ~. s,...n. .;,ar Sh;ch
~ .I-,... e,,.S -;,h .i..,
.". 80 $500 ID. hot,on
cunning a.. 81, ,;nhar :,
~ .Cseieu IT. 60, :. uob,ohen n,.;-
s.o IVuI n.S~,a,;a. .n,S.c.. of
I'S W Pl.'sssu :,,. s.sn.,,sd 49,. !" ns
v. VIZ 800. ~ ~. I r. herhsoe If he nlsias
y ~r .se w. 10Th f,;nev sr..e nos'
. oun. as.orderfniiv ,ntrisions elements
sn". Sh;ch The hufFslo subsists in
sI".o.. nfth. year vinter AZ veil "A
.c.~., Th;. Mani seems To have been
no n.imra soIeIv for the ,un-
nn.t If shese Wild cattle of the plains:
fnP II In 4 fact ~ 0lC0 Ill experience proves,
,h.t a the uffalo are driven westward |
by the ADVANCING Column OF civliizstlOn
.hs - sfePn line of the buffalo erase region /
,h., Rut the ve0;oo Il q
Feceoes VIZ" 'n
region of grasses OF spontaneous grown.
"A unon All which spring up, whether /
,,;o or.sas or thnea ME-,
DunaIo OF p'e ps
led BY the hand oil man, tne VAST nefds
n cattle and horses Of the Southwest l
thrive.
These pastoral lands of Americ, In my
opinion will forever remain the herding
grounds Of the continent. out Of which
will Annually be poured an immense sup
ply Of animal life for the subsistence OF
nan. This animal life must seek the
markets Of the world not Ike our cereals
md other productions OF the soil through
he nearest seaport, but northward in
Inmate Of sufficient rigor 70 admit ofslaugh
ering and packing. Experience has
hown that about $50 north latitude IL %
Or south - beef and pork can be profit
bly, packed on . large Cincinnati, Saint
.ouis. and Kan.as. quote from re-
ept memorial scale. Hence the immen-
Q business Of this sort done in the cities
'fthe Kansas City Bor d Of Trade