Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-08
YICYSBURG WEEKLY HERALD, FRIDAY. FEBRUARY g. ISIS.

the ST. Paul River Convention held last
October. Amongst these I recognize
Mayor Joseph Brown Of ST. Louis,
Hon. John Hogan OF the same city,
Hon J. n. Davidson, Of ST. Paul, Hon.
N. Y. johnson, of Galena, ILL.,, and
other live men from the banks OF the
Mississippi, who are not here AZ lobby.
let, but a. delegates from the st. Paul
Convention to ask Congress to do a
simple act OF Justice 10 the 10000 900
Of people in the great valley of the
West. Their memorial sets forth the
claims of the people to prompt and
liberal action, In a clear and forCible
manner. giving the proposed work It's
true character of a great national nccea.
sity. The sentiment Is improving every
dsy, and the spigot and bung.hole
economists, who grow pale With fear at
the sound of that terrible word sub
udy, begin to see that il they can add
five millions a year 10 the aggregate
wealth of the Western country by
spending two or three millions alto
gelher in a work of improvement, that
The dear peopl will bless them all the
time for granting subsidies of thai kind.
The press and people Of The West
should do oil in their power to ho'd up
the hands of their Representatives and
delegates.
But even tho Mississippi and its
tributaries, with their ile'n thou.
sand miles OF navigate uer, a
only begin 10 supply he internal trade
and transportation wants Of the great
West. A country whose annual trade
and products nov amount to $5.OOO,-
100000, needs still greater facilities for
transportation, and ia necessities In
this respect are increasing from year to
year. In the great Southwest lies a vast
region of undevtl ped wealth, bo.h Of
the soil aud the mine, including the
Territories Of New Mexico and Ari.
IONA with gold, silver and copper
enough to enrich an emplr' and with
out a mile Of railway or navigable
water. These Territories, with North.
western Texas aud the Indian Territory
remain to be settled and civilized by
the presence OF the irOn-horse, the
great wealth creator and civiliZer OF
modern times. Congress is fairly
awake upon the necessity Of a South.
ern Pacific railway, not only to meet
the wants Of The Southwest, but to save
the whole country from an snnual tax
of 10000 600 in exOrbitant charges by
The present line, and to relieve the tinan'
cial aud Labor famine OF the Na'iOn by
putting many millions VI idle capital
into active circulation and giving
hom,s aud probable empIo! mtnt to
more than u million OF people. A
score of bills are before Congrcs, upon
this subject, prominent among
which is the bill introduced BY Hon.
Alexander H.. Stephens, to secure
the completion OF the Texas aud Pacific
from Fort Worth to San Diego. Thi-
bill AXIS tor the good will OF ID" Gov
eminent to enable the company 10 eel
their bonds at par, aud thus ne able to
build the road cheap and iurni-h cheap
transportation to compete with the
present line. For this good " il *
pressed in the form OF n %gnarante" u
interest on construction bohd.. the con-.
pany offer abundant security, and 'hi'
tact coupled with The considers - thai
the measure Ia lrsught with mmcu-'
advantage TO the whole country, !
gaining new friends every ia and i
considered a. rendering Is .ucces'
certainty.
But the Great West needs not oni,
interior channels Of trade to carry IT,
products to the sea. board, but chesT
transit thence TO All the markets OF The
world. This latter desidcratum /,
to be achieved by encouragement
to ship builders and ship.0wner'
to increase efficiency Of II mercnaI
marine. These men will establish
ocean lines Of steamers to all the greaI
commercial marts OF the world upon
the simple condition Of being paid :
moderate sum for the transportation o.
our foreign maill. Experience shows
that such lines have added enough t
the revenues Of government by open,
lug new trade, TO pay four or five time
over the small amount allowed then
for carrying the mails, and at the SAINT
time have added largely 10 the protitI
of producers. The National CONNER
cial Convention to be held in Washing
ton on the 10Th of February, SHOULD
have representatives from every BoarC
OF Trade or Chamber OF Commerce II
the West. When they are here the!
can speak upon all their great inter
eats, including the restoration Of silver
On This subject Ben Butler ssys will
regard 10 a threatened veto. "lleaC
him Or die" and be will do It,
j. L T.