The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-12-14
A BOUNCING INFANT.

we WISH 10 make remark On the sub
jcct of transportation. Many Of the readers
Of THE BULLETIN, have doubtless seen the
following brief dispatch which was recent,
ly sent to the press, viz
"The grain shipped to New
Orleans this year amounts now to
fifteen million bushels against six million
bushels shipped in 1870, over one hundred
per cent. Increase
We need not tell our readers that this
immense amount of grain, and more too,
was shipped via Cairo, nor that children
as rule, grow larger after they are born
This commercial infant IS a bouncing one
at its birth, 1t is healthy also, and its Eek
pectancy," as the life insurance men say, is
very protracted one. It's development
may, therefore, be safely placed at great
figure in The near future. over one hun
dred per cent, increrse in one year Truly
it is coming, that astounding grain pro-
duct of the great interior, and it will never
hereafter alter its channel or cease to
come. Incapscity, poverty or stupidity
may delay the contamination Of the revolt
ton nothing can permanently arrest its
progress. The shipments above noted are
no more than rivulet compared with the
mighty tide which must inevitably follow.
From six millions to fifteen millions in one
year would be an astounding increase but
for the more astounding fact that this man
ncr of shipment has been so long delayed,
That the mighty commerce of the great
interior has, for so many years, preferred TO
climb mountain range rather than float
with the current down the grandest natural
commercial chaanel In the world must
remain problem unsolved until
man including the producer, the carer and
the consumer-shall have thoroughly mas
tered end completely acknowledged the
laws Of transportation. Corn and whcatnever
had such an affection for watered railroad
stock as to wish to be consumed in order TO
put flesh on skeleton bonds. Yet they
have been consumed for that purpose alone
during many years past, The railroads
have invariably bought and sold by their
own weights and measures and at their
own prices. Given such monstrous advan-
tages, the trader who does not grow rich
rapidly must he a"scrub' fool. The railroads
have grown rich rapidly Notwithstanding
loose and prohigate management. They
have grown rich too rapidly. Even cor
poratlons are not invinclble in the pursuit
of wrong. They must every one be cast III
damages for each transgression-every one
must pay the proper fine for each mistake
Railroads will not be overthrown by water
routes, however, perfectly the latter may
be improved But something infinitely
better will hsppen--.he railroads will be
regulated and restrained within reasonable
bounds by the water routes. Running water
Is the benevolent father Of transportation
and his great wisdom and affection i'm,
pei him to rebuke with smart switch
those of his children who wilfully trans.
gress his laws. He is quite capable Of
switching those lubberly corporations
which think to ignore or defy him. The
railroads are with us to stay-fortunately
They will become more and more useful
and valuable. But they will gradually
put off the supercilious airs Of adolescence
and assume the more becoming manners
Of chastened but healthy and vigorous
maturity. The bouncing infant above
alluded to will contribute not little to
this happy result