The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-03-27
RIVERS AND RAILROADS..

RIVERS AND RAILROADS.
The navigable rivers of the country are
just now attracting attention. The railroad
mania has about spent its force. The states
from east to west, from north to south, are
bound together with iron ties, strong as
hooks of steel, and other lines will vet be
constructed. For years past railroad build
ing has absorbed the attention OF municipal
state and national legislatures. Taxes have
been levied, bonds issued, and subsidies
granted. AS a result a net work OF railroads
covers the land. The past two decades of
years have constituted period of surprising
national development. Forests have been
penetrated, mineral districts reached,
and the most fertile portions of
the vast country brought within
easy distance to the great marts Of trade.
Commencing with 1880, when there were
out twenty-three miles of railroad in oper-
alton, the building has gone. rapidly forward
until 1874 when there were completed
-, 623 miles, involving a total capital &C
count of 81, POI, 1854. Such Advancement
in single enterprise has no parallel in the
history of any country. AS we have re-
marked building railroads for time obscur-
ed the importance of river transportation.
But the laws of nature are once more
beginning to assert their supremacy, and the
mighty rivers of the continent are demand
ing recognition. The highways of CON-
merce hewed out by omnipotence can
not be ignored. They were created
for a higher purpose than that Of
simply flowing in silent grandeur to the sea.
They are the arteries of trade and commerce,
burdens upon their bosoms, that the pro-
ducts of forest, field and farm may have a
cheap transit to the markets of the world.
In future the railroads will be in a large
degree tributary to the rivers, bringing the
heavy products of the interior to their
shores to be foated to the seaboard at lower
rates than the railroads can afford. 1t should
be remembered that the great rivers of the
west are national highways of trade, and as
such have admitted claims upon the ma
tional treasury. Hitherto appropriations
have been grudgingly made, but in the
western river Improvements are to occupy a
prominent position in national legislation.
The brilliant success OF Captain Eads in
deepening the channel st the mouth OF the
Mississippi has created q new era in the
commerce of the west. 1t has been shown
that from September 1 to March l of the cur
rent commercial year New Orleans exported
3,4O2, 900 bushels of grain against $4,000
bushels for corresponding period of the
previous year, and it is stated that these
facts are attracting much attention in COM
mercial circles, and it is predicted that grain
will be carried from St. Louis to New Or
leans at three cents per bushel. River inn
provements are now demanded, and the
public mind is rapidly unifying
upon the subject. The Mississippi, from
its mouth to st. Paul, the Missouri, from the
Mississippi to the Yellowstone, the Ohio,
from Pittsburg to Cairo, are to receive atten-
ton. Nor is this all. Every important
tributary of these great water highways will
in due time be cleared of distractions and
have their channels deepened. The trade
between the United States, Mexico, Central
and South America, so far as the west is con-
cerned, will eventually be via the Missis-
sippi rlver and regular lines of steamboats,
from New Orleans, and no railroad SYSTEM
no matter how perfect or extended, can
/ overcome the natural laws which regulate
/ this trade. The only difficulties now
+ in the way are uncertain channels
/ in the rivers and lack OF money
/ in New Orleans. But the channels of the
rivers will in due time be deepened, anc
this done. capital will be supplied at New
Orleans to transact all the business tina
offers. The producers of the west are to b'
indefinitely benefited by these contemplated
changes, for with cheap transportation Their
will be something left for them In the wa.
of profits upon investments and labor.