Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-11-25
THE RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
Senator Window Speaks at Prairie du 0hien
PavOring Ship Canal.
Memorial TO Congress.

SIN were assembled at the court
house in Prairie du CHEN on the
evening Of the 10 b inst. The object
OF tho gathering wat 10 listen to the
address of Senator Window upon the
subject of cheap transportation and
the improvement of the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers. The following re
ferring to his remarks we copy from
the Prairie du CHEN Union.
On Wednesday evening, Senator
Window, of Minnesota, delivered a
powerful speech, at the Court house,
in this city, in favor of the coustruc-
ton of ship canal from this city -
the lakes by the way Of the Fox and
Wisconsin, rivers. His idea was
fully 10 accord with the opinion most
prevalent on this question and com,
ing from so distinguished source
carries with it additional force and
character. The Senator is an enthu-
siastic worker for the enterprise, his
whole great energies seem ben solely
| for the furtherance OF this great pro
ject, which, when compl ted, viii
givean additional lustre to his air ady
great name for if the great enter
prise is ever reality, it will be due,
greatly. to bis indomitable will and
his untlriug, ceaseless Efforts. The
array of facts ard figures be adduced
in favor Of the water routes, over
those Of rail. gave incontestable
evidence of their superiority. The
availability Of the proposed route
was consideration of no small
importance in hi+ mind, which could
not but be noticed by the most unob-
serving. No proposed route for the
cheap transportation of the manifold
c reals of the West 10 tbs seab0ard
markets of the East, was so aptly
adapted by nature as was that via
the Fox and Wisconsin rivers in con-
nectiou with the great lakes. 1t was
natures route Nature had marked
it as the great artery through which
the internal commerce of this nation
should circulate. TO make complete
hat nature had intended, it was
only necessary to construct ditch
] Is miles long u insure one OF the
e. e4test systems of internal water
communication knowAt) tn" world
LII what il wanted; it is an abs0-
ia necessity If not constructed
soon it will cost the farmers { The
great Northwest, ten millions ut
dol ars in excessive charges OF trans
portation, which cannot be saved to
them by the present system or means
Of transportation. His figures gave
evidence that the canal when COM
pleted would save to the people +
Wisconsin,, Iowa, Minnesota, and
other contingent States and Terrific
ries more than enough money in one
year, to pay the cost of its cbnstruc-
ton! In view # these important
considerations be deemed il abso-
lutely necessary that the peopl' of
these North western States should
rise up in their Gjesty and dignity
and demand of Congress that the
great work which affected their ma-
terial prosperity should be put to
speedy completion. 1t was their
right to make the drmand, IN man
ner that c0uli not fail to impress
Congress with the necessity OF imme-
date action 10 it's interests I'll was
imbued with the idea that no plan
except the broad, free chip canal pro-
posed by Gen. Warren shout | receive
any consideration or attention. That
what the demands of commerce
needed was reliability No route
liable to be constructed by the shift
ing sands was worthy of the consid-
GRAFTON Of men who had the work of
Improvement in their hearts az the
only means of relieving the farmers
and producers of the North W est from
the onerous burdens imposed by
existing means of transportation.
Speed was no consideration, so bng
as the great desideratum. cheap
transportation, was gained. lie
advocated the presentation of
memorial to Congress containing the
name of every man in the North
west, and with what, be thought
Congress might be induced 10 make
an appropriation large enough to
insure its construction in the earliest
possible time. His remarks in regard
to the future Of our city were very
fattering, and no doubt wi do
something towards enhancing the
value of real estate. 1t is certain,
that in the event of the completion
OF the canal, Prairie du CHEN will
rank among the most important
cities Of the W est His speech
throughout was listened to with the
deepest attention. A being inter
ested in the matter in hand.
At the close of his speech short
remarks were made by Hon. Geo.
Hszyl,on, Hon. J. It. Mills, Capt.
Benton, aud Hon. John Lawler, all
of which were happily received.
From the Courier account of the
meeting we copy the following mem
orial to Congress which was present.
by Hon. }. w. Abernethy, of the
Minnesota Farmers Union, and was
read by Senator Window with a re-
quest that it be circulated for sig
natures.
THE FOX AND WISCONSIN RIVER I'M
PRovEMRNT MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.
To the Congress Of the United States !.
Your petitioners residing in the
county of--State of--re.
specially ask your attention TO the
following facts, viz:
L During the last season of navi-
CATION, cereal products have been
transported by the Northern Water
route, embracing the Lakes. Erie
Canal and Hudson river, from east
| IL r