Daily globe., 1879-02-11
PUBLIC IMPROTEMEN

among the people. One is a scheme to dis
tribute $l0,OO00O0, to be taken by taxation, in
loans to propertyless workingmen, with which
to go West and set up in the agricultural busi-
ness. The other is scheme to empty the pub.
lie treasury into the Mississippi river. by erect
ing dlkes, sea-walls and other works for the
benefit and accommodation of our wayward
brethren, the bankrupt democracy Of the
South. The schemes of equal merit, and
proceed upon the same principle-that Of the
protection or paternalistic theory; yet one of
them excites ouly public dersion, while the
other receives serious attention from a large
body Of statesmen, and elicits long and elabo-
rate arguments from Southern and Northern
demagogues in its advocacy. One of them has
only a solitary champion in the House, Mr..
Wright, of Pennsylvania. The other receives
the united support or solid South, and in
addition the favor of not q few dougbfaced
demagogues of divers party colors from the
North.
This comment comes from the Chicago
Times, paper that less than eight months
ago overHowed with abuse of what it called
'the false economy of the Confederate
House, in reducing the appropriation for
the outer harbor at that city. What has
this paternalistic government done that it
should merit this comment? We have in
our mind one thing at least. Some years
ago the bed of what had once been a creek
inhabited by bull-heads and crawfsh, was
discovered running through the site of what
to-day is called Chicago. Application was
made to the paternalistic government, and
it appropriated at various and sundry times
nearly eight millions of dollars for the i'm
provement of the creek. 1t was dredged out
and from the sewerage of the city filled with
mass of dirty water, sufficient in quantity
to float fleet of grain vessels, and that is
what has made Chicago what it is. The idea
was conceived shortly after the establish
ment of the city that canal from Lake
Michigan to the Mississippi river would be
of benefit to it. Accordingly the paternal-
istic theory was again brought to the fore,
and an appropriation of three millions OBJ
tanned to dig the ditch. 1t has now been
finished as far as Hennepin, aud will float
canal boat drawing nearly two feet of water.
Chicago is now clamoring for an additional
appropriation of a million and half to
complete the canal to the Mississippi.
Then, just about eight years ago the
people of Chicago, ably supported by the
Times and other newspapers, conceived the
idea of constructing a brake-water about
mile from the shore of Lake Michigan, thus
atfording an outer harbor for the accommo-
dation of vessels that could not reach the
mouth OF the dirty creek denominated the
Chicago river. The paternalistic theory
again came into play, and thus far moro
than three millions of dollars have been sunk
IN Lake Michigan in building dykes and
piers, and there is still a demand for more.
Again, subsequent to the fire, papa govern
ment was asked to appropriate money to
build custom house. A site was purchased
at double its value, and six million of dol
lars have been spent to build an unshapely
pile of stone, that is an architectural mon
strosity and disgrace to the government.
An additional million will be required to
make it habitable. Altogether Chicago has
received from the national treasury over
twenty millions of dollars for the improve
ment of its river and harbor, and for public
buildings. Perhaps the Times mig find
cause for it's invective by looking pretty close
at home.
What is this matter that provokes 80 much
indignation in the breast of the virtuous edi-
tor of the Times? 1t is proposition to ex-
pend little over q million of dollars III i'm
proving the main water way of the continent
less than one-sixth Of the amount spent in
creating river at Chicago, where nature
tod
without the expenditure of a dollar, has been
navigable for eighteen hundred miles
almost from the northern boundary of our
country to its southern limit. It traverses a
country Inhabited by ten millions of people,
who depend upon it in a large measure for
an outlet for their trade and commerce To
construct levees and dikes for the protection
of the fertile bottom lands from overflow
and for the convenience of the public is a
duty which belongs to the general govern
ment, and the people have a right to ask
for chat protection and convenience
far better right than the people of Chicago
have had or still have to rob the treasury
for the creation of an artificial river and
harbor there. It Ill becomes a CITY that has
more than any other on the continent, been
the recipient of the nations bounty to op-
pose the granting of such manifestly lust
and proper appropriation as that under dis
cussion. The country would be enriched
ten fold more than the amount asked bv a
judicious improvement Of the Mississippi
river. It would add q hundred per cent. to
the population and many times to the COM
merce Of the Mississippi valley. 1t would
even give to Chicago, by way of the canal
that has been dug at the national expense,
a better outlet for her commerce than she
now enjoys. We trust that the attack of
dyspepsia from which the editor of the
Times is apparently suffering will not be of
long duration, and that he will see the i'm
propriety of city that owes so much to ma
tional benefactions objecting to an appro-
priation for great public work designed
for the special benefit and protection of one
fourth Of the population of the entire coun-
try.
Let the War Go On.
To the Editor OF the Globe.
AS an example of holding out tho olive
branch" on the Minneapolis plan, / shall
merely state that have learned on good au-
thority that the Millers association recently
passed resolution that they would only give
agents had their offices in Minneapolis, Now
let the Fyar go on, We don't want to have anv