Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-08-24

S'iuttiS h'ttsnaTN No. matter what the cost,
you cannot allor! TO omit 1t. That its necessity
Is like that when the farmers plows are broken
up, his fences thrown down. or the storm has
carried away the roof oi his house. There Is no
debating the question; Improvement must be
made; cost must he incurred.
WE ARE NOT TOO POOR.
l am aware the country Is suffering great busi-
ness prostratlon. But this more strrniy entOrces
the duty OF energy and economy; and | main
tam that al this moment the Improvement OF our
rivers Is the dictate OF "A rigid economy and u
saShclous business prudence. Our people must
cultivate their farms, must operate their faclo-
ries. must work their mines, must turn To the
best account the poducts OF their labor5. Above
all they must econOInlZ- on TRANSPORTATION. If
they cannot afford 10 procure cheaper transport
tation by improving their rivers they must ac-
cept the Il, Arrest transportation from the rail-
roads. The distractions to navigation are con-
tinual drawbacks upon the profits of business.
And while We adopt no efficient plan OF river
Improvement because We are too poor. we arc
actually paying IN LOSSES IRON greater cost of
transportation, from increased rates OF InsuI-
nIc" on carSOea, and from the actual destruction
And damage OF property IN our rivers more than
Is needed 10 Improve them. OF late years il
sreiHs that no regular account has been Kept in
ST. Louis of the LOSSES from accidents on west
ern rivers. But IN nh able paper lately pub
lisheI by Mr. Charles L. thOuteau, who Is now
III London looking after the establishment OF II
through freight line of steamers from ST. Louis
10 Liverpool. there Is contained! IA partial Ac-
count of the losses on boats, barge- ami cargoes
on western rivers that iDots up So, O31, $50 Tor the
years l5i6 and ls... The statement WAS COM
piled by authority from reports 10 the ST
Louis Merchants exchange anu prufessedly does
not cover all the losses. ;" that at this rate our
people have paid tor ''snags. bars and logs, -
saying nothing Of losse. by delays. more than
so go On" IN lhr last thirty years; and Will
have to pay probably 500, 100 900 IN the next
thirty Years, and ali this Htcaus. we are too luor
10 Improve the condition of our rivers. Now is
II possible that this whole country with all its
res LTcrs IS too poor TO clear these distractions,
When d portion OF the people are actually paying
more than two millions per Annum on account
81 losses thus incurred | confess | ain not
much IMPRESSED by The poverty rgumen There
are other facts which are conclusive against II.
rLESTY OF MONEY FOR R~.lLRoAps.
Ia the year l-.6 there We're Constructed in the
valley I'll III" Mississippi ] .jjy miles Of railroad.
wtIt'i. at nl estimated cost OF $50 OOO u mile, ne
Ce5sItatct! an expenditure of $40. 10. 900 Not
long urlor 10 ms the government of the United
States expended in donations OF lands aud
moneys more than SlUJ, vV, 900 in the construc-
llon OF the Northern Pacific railroad and their
branches. These facts lead to two conclusions
FIRST. that the nation Is not too poor to under r
take II work Of such prime nee. ssity a5 the I'M
pr0vemeni of western rivers; Second, that il pri-
rtte individuals can find it to their Interest to
employ so much money IN the construction Of
artificial highways. the nation may judiciously
lay Out a smaller SUN ON It's natural and more
valuable highways.
have not hnishsd "a argument ! intended to
make on thu subject. I Will add This obstruc-
ton 10 navigation Is an lnsuncrable nuisance.
That II should have existed so long, in the face
OF petitions and circumstances. is IL most fs-
grant political injustice. The right Of our peo-
pa ~ ~ iltlb NbIl-ltSE lfIuit ittTO
prla,i"na for Improvement Is perfect, and if the
people are true 10 themselves the next congress
Will do its duty.
A SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
In these hard times when We are too poor 10
pay 2,tJO,"s II year Tor preserving the '.snags
anu bars and Does'' in the beds Of our rivers
there Is another work which / believe ought to
lie constructed on the score of necessity am,
economy. | mean u railway directly CONNECT
ing the southern part Of the Mississippi valley
with the Pacific ocean. In lso the Democratic
Lations! convention which nominated Stephen
y Douglas for president adopted the following
resolution as part Of their platform
'f"s"tc"d. That one of the necessities OF the
age IN q military, commercial and postal point
oil view IL n speedy communication hrtwr,n The
Atlantic and Pacific states; and the IieInocrauc
Larty pledge such constitutional governmental ard
a. VIII insure The construction OF a railroad to
the Pacific coast ut the earliest practical period. -
1ht same declaration WAS substantially made
10y ttit Democratic national convention which
nominated john {. BrcckinrItge FOR president,
and by the Republican national convention
which nominated Abraham Lincoln for presI-
dent That sl parties and all leading statesmen
OF HE Country should have cOncurre,i in the ne
ctsoitS Gl such n work ought TO be conclusive of
ITS "ls'ipin. II II ever occurred to any man that
one road connecting thest great regions was
enough. the thought must have been disua sse,i
at uICr.
Looking nj the connections created Ivy the
needs of our cuuiIu.rcs un the East, we lind no
less than slN great railway lines proceeding from
diuer"rt points on The Mississippi river and
reaching the sea AT rs many different points on
A.IN q u va
Why should not this Indicate to us what In the
course OF time Is 10 be expected 90 the West ?
!h': CITY OF y Louis Is about midway between
Ne" orleans ami the British possessions.
TWO RAILROADS N THE NORTH.
But in the northern portion of the valley the
wisdom vi Congress has determined there Ilrist
oe " lines OF railway running west; one from
Duluth al III" heat of Lake superior 10 the Pa
c!ic ocean, ! believe ut Fuget's sound; and
one from Omaha, Nebraska, to the Pacific
ocean al san + francisco: And these lines have
received from congress the most magnificent en-.
,iowmcnts OF land and money ever known in The
history OF the government.
40 uoAp SOUTH.
Now You observe IN all the Southern portion
of the valley rom the Mississippi river west,
there Ii no outlet TO the Pacific ocean. This on
the Hrst blush would seem to be unjust, he.
cause unequal. Why did congress lay out snd
-ndow two railroads in the north and none il
the sVnth? Why WAS not Il ronti provided 10,
each section repeat tie very statement o
the facts implies Inequality, unfairness, injus.
tice. The more We look into 1t The more mark.
"t ihe injustice arpcais. If the people Of tn
southern portion of the valley have II right TO NJ
outlet Ia the Pacific ocean at all, il should b,
direct. They should not be compelled TO seek Il
through Mexico, d foreign state, or by way o
II. Louis, Omaha, and the Union Pacific rail
road To California, 4 journey of two or Ihre,
thousand miles: They have As much right 70
safe. direct and convenient outlet TO the Pacific
COAST as the people of the northern states. Ii i
not reasonable, ii il not honest, 10 require
citizen of Mississippi or Louisiana To trans
port ms commodities Ia mark e 4, 900 or 100
miles when il might be only one-third OF tn
distance. II Is neither reasonable nor honest L
shut out by acts OF conlm i-sion or OMISSION an,
portion Of our people from fair and eaua
chances of success IN business.
TIE COUNTRY OF THE SOUTHERN ROAD.
railroad Is intended to pass Is oGa Of great ex
tent and fertility. II is - country of wheat. bar
ley. rye. oats, Indian corn. tobacco. indigo
sugar, cottan, horses. mules, cattle and sheen
Its agricultural area. covering the state q
Texas. the Indian territory aud parts of New
Mexico, Arizona and California Is larger thai
the states OF Missouri. Illinois. Indiana. Ohio
kentucky and Tennessee. Its mineral rigion
exclusive OF the tIliable area Just mentioned
larger than the state of West Virginia. Now
hold that the southern people are entitled @
r'ght. not only TO the development of their ow
inttrnai resources. but They are justly entItle
10 the development Of the resources of adjoinin
states and territories They have q right I
every reasonable facility ,ha, VIII attract I
ihcir section the of Texas, Mexico
New Mexico, ALTOONA. California, China an
INDIA They have AS much claim upon the gov
,rnment for the construction of q great nations
highway that shall secure to their section III
present AMI future trade of these countries Il
The northern states had TO the construction {
highways securing to them the commerce. ,
thos" vast inhabited anu uninhabitrd regions (
their section. So much tor equality.
AsouTuKnS PACIFIC RAILROAD A NECESSITY.
\ southern Pacific railroad is "A necessity
the particular region through which it Will pass
The country Is nearly without rivers. Great 9
are It's resources they must remain unhevetope
for an lnacAnits period without railroad cor
muaicatiou. Ii rs Impossible they can ever |
developed 10y means nf the Northern Pacific raj
roads II is a more desirable country than an
through which either of the northern railroa,
) Is located. lis soil is richer. more proiuctiv,
lis climate mli1er; ice and snow. those ieartI
impeiimenis to the Northern Pacific railroad
| sometimes closing them for a third of the yea
are unknown-travei and transportation thraug
II being practicable at all seasons. The south
ern section af the Mississippi valley has the san
claim 10 an outlet through this country TO II
Pacific ocean. which It has to AN unOhstruct.
outlet FROM the Mississippi river to the gul
The rational voice of the nation demands tn
!, So opu'ent and grand a region shall not !
dormant uncultlvated, unknown. A raj
{ road 10 Il necessity to tie operations of Il
| government. The country To be penetrated 10y
| Is tilea with tribes Of Indians which must
I looked alter with expense of troops, garrison
| transportation of munitions OF war and militia
: stores, which, without IA railroad. can he NOV,
g only by wagons and teams. Rpa at enormo'
: cost. The government is Liable at any nome
: to be involved in u war w;th these tribes at q co
t of millions. With y railroad AMI postal servi
e traversiRg this region there would 20 forward
{ tide OF emigration. without cost to the nation.
occupy and cultivate the land, more efficient
Iepress and repel Indian hostilities than all Il
n soldiers the government conld send into it
, Its present condition. If such a road could
: built II would save the government and poop
from eight to ten milliona of dollars u year
I transportation. have no doubt 4 road can
constructed IN such q manner rs to make il
economical duty Of the government to aid in
construction.
! A HELP TO LABOR.
, The execution OF the great public works
| have mentioned would give employment
: thousands OF IDLE and honest hands now cage
: ly waiting an opportunity to earn a livelihoo
revive the Tagging industries of the country al
d of the new prosperity which We are all so Gag
, 10 behold again. | am not ignorant OF the ia