The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-11-18
AN APPEAL TO UNITE FOR A PRACTICAL
GOOD, STATE AND NATIONAL.


The Transportation movement" of the past
four or five years, during the late election
contest was as entirely abandoned as if there
was no need of better utilizing of natural
resources, and as if the question of such ne.
cessity had never been raised. This defeat
! is due TO the misguided sectional and party
influences and selfish interests IN part, and
in part to fatal failure to single out from
the great bundle of proposed measures that
which is the true key to unlock many diff.
culles, and which is to re known by Its
correspondence with the great natural fea.
lures Of the country and with the labors of
man.
Of this character is the reasonable, suitable
improvement, at moderate cost, of the inland
navigation from Lake to Gulf via the ILL.,
nos and Mississippi, which virtually i'm.
proves the inland navigation and transporta.
ton Of the nation, and the advantages of
which our very highest military and civil
official said, were "too obvious for argument"
and yet this was mutlated, and vital part
omitted from the great budget of the L. S.
Senate Committees report, the entire move
ment has miscarred and is now abandoned
by all parties.
If the pin is removed from the coupling
behind locomotive engine, 1t is not at all
strange il the tram is soon left standing on
the track, and then if the next train perhaps
should be destroyed.
But there still remains chance of con
Meeting the late Transportation movement
in these United Starno -'i,L sood aud Jrotn
cont result ~ all, before its momentum In the
public mind is lost-but there is no time to
lose, and the means is very safe, lawful and
proper.
The present constitution of Illinois practi.
ca!ly prohibits the suitable completion of
the connection of the great Lake and MIssis.
sippi systems by this state, and in view of the
paramount nationality of this vast navigation,
il is in harmony with all political theories
md party creeds from the time of the ordi.I
nance Of 1887 to the present hour that it be
tatIoaoI, and for the people of the nation,
'N' i''PN''O, "ht ava 'utlI use anu Up0tutl
Whatever the motive of the prohibition OF
better and more complete navigation, it NAV
Grove for the best in the end, provided the
pest results TO all are faithfully labored for in
Illinois.
On the other hand New York, IN the adop-
ION of her new constitution, expressly refused
o prohibit the suitable completion of her
anal uniting the Great Lakes with the IIud.
on and sea, which may fairly be considered as
Equivalent To an intention on the part of that
tate at a future day TO enlarge the work, al.
eady one of the most useful and beneflcent
the Hudson beng the northern
Iateway OF our inland navigation, rs the
mississippi is the southern; the one a short
lveF IN one state, the other the trunk OF a
asst system whose branches extend from the
Alleghenlcs To the Rocky mountains, and the
Whole coast and inland navigation east of the
Rocky mountains to be benefited bv that
nifty and completeness which it seems now
10Th the duty and interest of Illinois TO pro.
note-and that at once. |,
And the path for the performance of this |
luty is plain and safe, though difficulties [
nay be made by misguided interests, and
opposing influences ,
The enlargement OF The Weiland canal in
lanada Is now progressing To completion. 4
nd TINS Will soon admit, tor about half the I
ear, of the passage TO the Lakes and 70 Chi.
ago of most of the worlds shipping, whetb.
r commercial or naval vessels. and erery /
oaStderdtt0a 81 patriotism and selCiatercst Of. '
0tioRd ecoROHH unity and d,f;fice. demand, I
he ddopttoH cf an efficient system 10 clear o,,r |
idiH rirer chiEEe's # Trccks and sHags anil
omp'oto q suitable connection Of rirGrs ana |
ules ria ne iHiHois ricer and canal /
And the very fact of all political parties $
nd sections of the union, Illinois included I
avlng about equally failed in Their lutv in :
ms matter IN the past, may prove an inccn l
I'VE to that unity Of patriotic effort, which il /,
as so long seemed impossible to obtain. 4
The enlarged Welland Canal ought ia no ,
allied with favor, and yet IN the present sim. :
ton of our highways and resources il will
enciit England FAR more than the United {
'taics, nor will il benefit but a few of the /
'reat mass OF our people in Illinois or add :
o The general interests and true welfare of q
he North West unless the Grea, Creators q
of those resources and HIGHWAYS |
s studied aud fulfilled, with view 10 the !
ieneral good. The five Thousand wrecks of {
'oats on the southwestern boundary of hi ',
lois' lhe expenditure of a specie product un. {
5quaited on earth in ancient or modern I
Iules, 'he export OF every possible agriculiur. {
q ana mineral product. supplemented by the ,
'aie OF bonds IN unlimited amounts, the {
lulldlng oil seventy thousand miles of rail- !
Dad with no provision for facilitating even
nat navigation essential 10 ecom.c iron pro.
luctIOn by admitting of the easy movement,
" combination Of the materials nerr the !
,Teat L aife and River svs,eyns ali fn,gtca,a ,