New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-17
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
LETTER FROM JOHN TYLER. JR.

IN FRANcb-CANALs NORTH, SOUTH, AND EVERY
wHEnE-PLENTY OF PUBLIC WORKS AND EvERY-
BODY HAPrY.
TO the Edttor or The Tribune.
SIR: The obligations existing between the
citizen and the Government must be held to be recpro
CAL and should at all be exercised TO aid and
strengthen each other After the desolang effects Of
the late war between the States had fully realized
and the credit OF the Government found in pre-
crios condition, the people the country generously
responded To the oxigency OF the Government and
In their united wealth lent to it their powerful aid,
less than hey had previously done with teir united
physical strength, and now gave to the Government
such Endorsement carried its bonds above par.
At the present juneture the situation Of these parties IL
reversed While the Government has nothing TO cmbar-
rass IT, save the peaceabe solution OF Presidential
test tie people in Distress without money sufficient
to carry on their business industries and at the
time destitute OF all proper means Of credit whereby 10
obtain IT, Trade langlshes and gloom the land.
Poverty and priyatOn exist among the people. Their
minds and hearts alike oppressed with want Gaze,
and anxiety While they in the future but little hope OF
relief
It would seem TO he the highest duty Of the Gov
ernmcnt 10 come with its powerful aid and ll-handed
resources TO the rescue of the people in their distress
even A. the people had come to The OF the Gov
ernment first when in peril and when similarly in
distress Napoleon Ill., of whom IT may be justly said
tines, Notwithstanding his ultimate overthrow through
the enviOus Vaccinations OF his aspiring enemies
biued with the ignorant and imbrIted OF the
Commune on entering upon his duties Chief Magistrate
of France found the nation burdcned with debts incurred
In the of the first Napoleon unreeved by suhsc
quent administrations, and all the great industries
the people in anguishing condition, while the people
themselves were alike destitute Of money of credit and
Of emplOyment-prOstrate in their energies With
comprehensive conception Of the situation aud a bold
and vigorous hand he took hold Of affairs At one and
the time he retst3blisied the Bank OF France
with directions to loan in the most liberal manner
within the Bounds OF safe discretion, and
brought to bear the whole power and credit Of Gov
eminent in aid Of the people through judiciOus tariff
system IL is true, but chiefly through inducements to the
investment 81 capital and the employment Of labor the
direction or vast works OF public improvement--rc-
engaging capital and labor and thereby retnci gz!ng
trade, commerce. and ndus;ry-and which, in their
pction Of such incstmable value the nation that
tho incurred in their erection have ons
been entirely forgotten, out the immense pecuniary
aud exacons OF the Prssian have been redeemed,
almost nracuOusly, a consequence OF their erection
and the additional resources Of the people created
through their fundamentally and valizng influences.
May net the political economists and OF the
United states learn from this chapter in The history Of
France lesson in solution OF the problem Of our
financial depression and industrial prostra;oni 1t is
Illuminating reflect that yet has
in the United States with such comprising powers Il in
teect and practical mental grasp as to master the
problem Of fnanc al and industrial SITUATION and
give to the country system OF that viii afford
relief 20 the people and rebound TO the permanent pros
per1ty and advancement OF the nation With resources
far superior 60 those of rance. IL is difficult 10 under
st nd WHY they may be used in a similar manner
and With Ike bcEclcent results, supcriulucing the
active investment OF capital boarded Up by millions
In cities for the want Of proper inducements 70 its
liberation distribution through SAFE and remuner-
alive channels OF investment, employing the INDECENT
labor Of the country that through want and suffering is
importing society, developing mmcasrrably tho ma
tional resource, increasing permanently and incai-
culaby general wealth, and achieving prosperity,
ia Dpiuess and c0utentmcut among the people
The monetary lOss alone incurred IN the course OF
few months by France destrucuyeIy in the with
Prussia forced upon Napoleon III b. the aspiring lead
ers Of faction and the dcmacogcs CT the Commune,
tenold greater tan the amount Of all the expenditures
that had been devoted her public improvements and
yet the last AZ limited they in compa'.on ena-
BLEED France bear all the burdens imposed ny the dSt
Napoleon. what would not have been the advancement
in the wealth and of the United States only
"a he of the eleven billions OF values destroyed IN the
recent war the states had been devoted TO ru
lie improvements unlocking the storehouses OF boun-
teous Nature enhancing our p0sscssons, and engaging
our industries An increased annual taxation Of hity
millions would scarcely now be felt II tho Industries OF
the people actively engaged and YET AT nFe per
cent that would be only Tie amount OF Interest re-
qurcd Annually TO he guaranteed by the Government
upon All Investment OF thousand millions so appro-
plaed aud which would become ~ view Of the rich re-
salts effected bacatee, az in the ease OF France
although the fruitful investments 80 made III France
were infinitely less.
Let the Government Of the United states extend It's
beneflccnt arm in behalf Of tie people IN aid of the
Ieveeing OF the Mississippi River completely throughout
Its length IN ad OF the James River and hanhwha
Canal transit between the of the Ohio River and
those of the Ches1peake Bay to its completion III ala Of
the Tennessee Georgia, and Alabama Canal transit con-
Meeting the waters uOlstCu with those OF the Cur
of Mexico and those Of the Atlantic Ocean, tef me plan
Of Fuebe and the bill OF the Hon. Mr Price, reported 10
the House Of Repre- scntativcs In ISL Ia ad OF @sp
canal around the Falls OF Niagara on the American side
IN ard OF snip canal connecting the waters OF tue North
ern lakes with those OF the Mississippi RIVER IN all OF
tLe finland Coast Canal sweeping around rum Texas 10
Florida and Florida connecting the waters Oh Tue
Gull with those OF the Atlantic in avoidance oI All tHe
dangers Of navigation over the waters OF 'ie Jun a
around the keys Of the Peninsula OF Fiorld' AFTER 'he
pu OF Raiford; and ali Of Southern railroad c"hec
ton between the OF the Mississippi RIVER ana
those Of the Pacific Ocean, together with other great en-
tarurises OF national import aud uldouDted hationh
fruition Such enterprises vigorously entered upon uer
The fostering care Of the Government woud soon sDor
nat an the atries o. politics liberate the hoardcd CAPT
IA o. the country. AMI reaaHate the Industries Vi INC
people giadltning The national heart
n the Government saoud give its Endorsement TO
these great public enterprises, enabling companies 10 DC
formed in their prosecution IN such manner as 10 induce
the necessary Investments 10 assure their conpeuO
the immense capital locked up in the ctis ""nid
be AZ once SET and thrown into active cireua'oh'
and soon woI be heard The lines Of al these great
-. m, ANN, NJ b,,y Gls;ry. stimulated into uc|
I, and energy Dy the means drawn from these ne" res
eryoirs Of rnoury which capital would How ana the
peouIe would give al due credit 10 tbs Government f"r
ria benign REAR, % necessities. and hHd new cause