The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-07
THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM.
Consideration OF the Subject I'm tho
house-Mr. Ramsey's Speech in support
or tho Project OF Government Trunk
Route.

Rouse-Mr. Ramsey's Speech In support
or the Project OF n Government Trunk
Route.
WASHINGTON, March Q, 1874.
The speech of Mr.. Ramsey republican, In favor
OF the bill having for its object the cheapening OF
transportation from the prairies of the West to
the seaboara OF the East, contains plain presen-
tatton OF the arguments OF the grangers for relief
from the extorttonate monopOies OF railways.
Mr.. RAMSEY OF Minnesota, called up the resolu-
ton introduced by him on Wednesday last In
regard to cheap TRANSPORTATION, and addressed the
Senate in favor thereof He said the annual
products Of Minnesota over 30 ooO 600 bushels
OF wheat, upon which the average freight to New
York was about ffty-seven cents per bushel in
winter and forty cents per bushe in summer. II
grain could be moved at half these rates it would
add nearly $4,000 600 to the annual income OF his
State The same might be said in regard to all
States OF the Mississippi Valley. There were three
practical ways OF doing this:-
p,, METHODS .I OF oaEArEN EN- TRANspoRT1rIoN
sissppi River from the Falls Of st. Anthony to the
Gull OF Mexico which could be easily and cheaply
lakes OF Upper Minnesota, storing 1T for the dry
season, and SO obtaining o uniform depth OF i've
feet for the Upper mississippi.
tween New Orleans and the Gull. These would
give cheap freight by barges to New Orleans and
Thard-By deepening the channels between the
lakes land but small appropriation from the
United States would be required for this purpose,
as Canada would do the rest, and then, under q
reciprocity treaty, our ships could be loaded at
Duluth for Liverpool, and SO have two competing
water ways.
Foalrth-Ali western States are not 30 favorabiy
situated as Minnesota, with two water routes to
Europe. The Western States want and must have
an all rail route Tor freight.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
to charter and aid such work Is uudOubted
Each state surrendered TO Congress the right to
regulate Interstate commerce, and thus &C ngress
obtained the right absolutely necessary to the
prosperity of every Western State to regulate
Interstate commerce in as complete manner as
q State can regulate the commerce within It's own
limits.
THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS PASSED.
the day OF small things, when wheat was imported
into Minnesota. The mere inspection OF the map
shows the Western roads radating from two or
three great centres and the hundreds OF Western
roads now open have only the same four trunk
lines that were IN operation twenty years ago,
when they had only millions OF bushels
OF grain. We must provide for hundreds Of mil
lions OF bushels We need reforms in the present
roads and q double track freight railroad char
tered and controlled by Congress, with maximum
rates of six mills ton per mile. This pracui-
cable, and with such q road competing with water
ways oy the river and by the lakes would give the
West what alone should supply access to the mar
kets or the world for the products of her fields,
now rotting In her granaries or burning for fuel.