Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-05-18
OUR WATER ROUTES.

days ago, INDUCED in the following
low lived jealousy:
I'VE believe it was Mics,iganler who
proclaimed the financial doctrine that
The government ought to pay every citi
zen $40 in currency every Saturday
night at the nearest pOstofficr. Congress
has come as near rs it could to gratifying
this reasonable wish of the Michiganders.
1t has appropriated S569.000 for the
rivers of Michigan, which viii give $40
week to 5000 Michiganders for 10
weeks. Now who can tell whit are the
principal rivers of Michigan ~
Tie prosperity of this country depend
upon the prosperity of the agricultural
masses. Agriculture is the great wealth
producing element of our country. Up
ON it depends the welfare of all other in
lustries. The future anil permanent sue
cess of the greatest industries OF the ma
lion depend urou cheap transportation.
Thus far there will be no difference oil
opinion. The history of The transpoi-
taton business for the past few years
slow that upor the water routes depend
the solution of this great problem We
cannot do without railroads. They fill
place which the water routes cannot fill
but without the water routes they would
charge more than they should. All the
great trunk lines east and west have
pooling arrangement for their earnings.
What does this mean? 1t means that
1t is not their policy to carry at low
less and make more. This fact alone
shows the necessity for water routes.
Pools cannot be male on water routes
because each carrier OWNS lis own boat.
And right here is a reason, anil an in-
portant one, why the government should
expend money in improving the water
routes. Let il not be done at all, and The
great grain producing country of the
west is at the mercy of railroads. Let il
be done by corporations. and the water
routes are then in the same condition as
the railroads, liable to be run in the in
terest of the few, and not of the many.
The railroad interests have tried 10 break
down the water transportation in every
WY possible, and the Only way to pre-
vent it is for the government to improve
the water routes to that extent that the
risks of transportation will be lessered,
and thus reduce the cost.
The financial pressure which has Seen
upon this and all other countries for the
past few years is driving men from the
city into the country. Those who are
coming from Europe are those who Will
till the soiL The result Will necessarily
be largely increased production. Should
Europe become involved in general
war, it will, of course, make demand
for our surplus grain. But the country
cannot afford to depend upon war. 1t
may not GENE, and il it does, it will soon
be over. The issue that this country
must face. is whether or not we can sell
our grain in Europe. The answer TO
this problem is, we can if it does not
cost too much to get it there. and the
question will hinge upon a very small
sum. 1t is not simply question of a
difference of two or three cents on a
bushel of wheat to the producer, for it
really goes back to that, but whether
the two or three cents, or even halt
cent will stop the sale of our grain in
Europe. 1t is when we look at the SUBJ
ject in its true light that we see the inn
portance of the improvements Of Our
great water routes. The welfare of our
country present and future, depends up
on it.
The st. Lonis Post looked upon the
subject with feeling OF jealousy. or il.
never would have printed such state
nent. Michigan is surrounded by water,
the greatest inland water route in the
world, and upon its Improvement de-
ponds cheapness of transportation, which
benefits Michigan not so much as the
entire west aud north. The amounts
which are expended for the benefit of
Michigan alone are so small that hardly
n state in the Union which has any ap-
preparations at all but which exceeds it.
The Democratic members of the House
Judiciary Committee held meeting and
considered a preamble and resolutioe
relative to the investigation OF alleged
frauds in the presidential election in
South Carnlina InniSiana anl Flo ida |