The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-08-21
mileage of the United States:
Increase. 1877 per cent.

Increase, 1877 per cent.
The reduction in the rate of transportation
has more than equaled the increase in railway
mileage and freights. In 1860 wheat and corn
could not be carried by rail from the Mississis-
sippi valley to the Atlantic seaboard at such
rates as would afford the Western farmer fair
compensation for his capital and labor employed
in their production
In fact they were not carried by rail at all, to
any considerable extent. The lake and canal
line was almost wholly relied upon for this kind
of transportation, and even by that line the
charges averaged about % cents per bushel. AS
late as 1868 the charges by rail from Chicago to
New York were 42. 6 cents per bushel Both of
these rates were substantially prohibitory, and
rendered the permanent prosperity and progress
of the far West impossible In 1878 the average
water rates from Chicago to New York had been
reduced from - cents to SO, and the all-rail
rates from AZ 6 cents to 16 cents. Much of this
reduction is due to the system of internal i'm
provements that has prevailed under Republi-
can administrations, by which the lake route
and the Mississippi river have been improved
and brought into active competition with each
other, and with the railroad system of the
country. ! am informed that the rates this
year are even lower than in 1878, and that
1000 carloads of wheat have recently been
carried from St Louis to New York at the rate
of Z cents per bushel. This was brought about
through competition created by the jctty i'm
provements at the mouth of the Mississippi
river.
By reason of the policy of internal improve
ments and the consequent reduction in rates,
the farmers of the Mississippi valley are prac-
tically as near market to day as the farmers of
Central New York or Pennsylvania were in
1860. Indeed, the Minnesota farmer in 1879
can transport his products to the wharves at
New York city as cheaply as could the farmer
who in 1860 lived within ten miles Of that city,
but who was compelled to use the common
wagon road. It cost the latter at least
cents per bushel, and the Minnesota farmre
can ship from Duluth to New York at that rate.
Thus, while the cost of transportation has
been reduced TO less than one third of the rate
Of 1860, the tonnage has increased over $50 per
cent
These facts account, in great part for the
astonishing increase in our expectations of ag-
ricult}lral products, to which I have referred.
They account, almost wholly, to the large ex-
portation, of corn which, as just stated, have
increased 1852 per cent. since 1860.
This wise system of internal improvements,
adopted and carried on by Republican admins
tration, together with other measures for the
benefit of agriculture and commerce, have
given us the control of foreign markets, which
resulted last year in balance of trade IN oar
favor amounting to $257, SIS, 523. The balance
against us in 1860 was $20,040, 062. To the
same causes may also be attributed the unpar-
tories west of the Mississippi river.
Mr.. President, this material and Industrial
progress, under Republican rule, which have
tried to exhibit, will be better understood and
appreciated by comparing the following sum-
mary of results with the increase in popula-
ton:
Since 1860 the population of the United States
has increased only about so per cent.
Within the same period the official statistics
have quoted exhibit the following remarkable
results:
Per Cent
Increase in general agricultural exports...... 53S
Increase in exports of bread and breadstuffs. ga
Increase in exports of wheat and wheat -four. 430
Increase in exports of and corn-meal 1852
Increase in exports of provisions. ........... S43
Increase in exports of manufactured articles. 17S
Increase in production of pig iron $50
Increase in production of railroad bars. 800
Increase in revenues of the Postoffice Depart
ment....... Observation-Disclosures. 243
Increase in railway mileage. 1877
Increase in internal commerce. $50
These statistics, embracing all the principal
industries of the country, indicate that our ma
terial and industrial advance has been from
three and one-half up to thirty seven times
greater than our increase in population
They prove conclusively that our Industrial
and material progress for the last eighteen
years is without parallel in any period of our
history
achieved under Republican rule, that Mr.. Glad
stone recently said:
9The huge figure 81, 600 100000, which may
be taken roundly as the annual iucome of the
United Kingdom, has been reached at a sur
prising rate X u x But while we have been
advancing with this pretentious rapidity, Amer
lea is passing rs by in a canter"
These remarkable eXponents of national prog
ress under Republican rule are submitted
,y,Ixy